homeowners business directory

HomeownersBUSINESS DIRECTORY

Ladysmith Chemainus

Client & Contact: LDCU. Docket: Project: Mortgage ad Due:

Size: 7.25x9.2 Inks: cmyk Qty:

Publication: Chronicle Home Guide Placement: Run: Oct /12

BBMR.CA Studio –T & F: 250.751.1967 E: [email protected] Director:

Artistic Director: M Robinson

Client & Contact: LDCU. Docket: Project: Mortgage ad Due:

Size: 7.25x9.2 Inks: cmyk Qty:

Publication: Chronicle Home Guide Placement: Run: Oct /12

BBMR.CA Studio –T & F: 250.751.1967 E: [email protected] Director:

Artistic Director: M Robinson

“I love my LDCU.”MORTGAGESDESIGNED FOR YOU.*Save with Better Rates*Save with Lower Fees*Flexible Terms

Ask us how an LDCU mortgage will work for you.

330 First Ave., Ladysmith BC (250) 245-2247www.LDCU.ca

2 www.ladysmithchronicle.com

Ladysmith Chemainus homeowners busIness dIrectory 3

AccountAntsAtchison Palmer Leslie Chartered Accountants#101-626 1st Ave, Ladysmith, 250-245-1429www.aplaccountants.com

Are you looking for some help with your accounting? Whether you need help with the small stuff like year-ends or income tax returns, or you are looking for full-scale accounting services, we are here for you.

bLIndsTidal [email protected]

We are locally owned and operated, where you receive “Good Old Fashioned Service”. We also offer window blinds made in B.C. Call us for “free” in-home quotes & consultations and delivery.

buILdInG/hArdwAreLadysmith Home Hardware Building Centre1010 Ludlow Road, Ladysmith250-245-3441

Your stop for lumber and all your home improvement needs! Open 7 days a week.

conFectIoneryMr. Popper’s Sweet Shoppe1-32 High Street, Ladysmith250-924-8486

Locally made fudge, British candy, Dutch licorice, cotton candy and hand-crafted kettle corn.

countertoPsMid-Island Granite MOVED (from 1030 Oyster Bay Dr. Ladysmith in front of Home Hardware)

NEW LOCATION 2059 South Wellington RoadNanaimo (before you get to Duke Pt. Ferry) 250-591-7795 extension 120www.mid-island-granite.ca Specializing in custom kitchen and vanity countertops.

eLectrIcALAmMeter Electric10777 Guildbridge Road, Ladysmith, B.C.250-754-8886250-246-4899www.ammeterelectric.comservice@ammeterelectric.com

Our company has been doing commercial, marine and home electric problems, internet cabling and electrical work for over 20 yrs.

AdvertisingDirectory

Table of Contents

3-4 Find our Advertising Directory5 What is the local real estate market like?6 Who is the typical home buyer in the Cowichan Valley?7 Give yourself peace of mind with home insurance9 When do you need a building permit?10 How many building permits have been issued so far?11 Find out if a house is for you with a home inspection12 Are secondary suites legal in Ladysmith?13 Save the planet to save money14 What do you need to know about recycling in Ladysmith?15 Small projects make a big diff erence around your house

FALL 2012PublisherTeresa [email protected]

P.O. Box 400,Ladysmith, B.C., V9G 1A3 Phone: 250-245-2277Fax: 250-245-2260

Th e Chronicle does its best to ensure content accuracy. Th e Chroni-cle is not endorsing any product or business contained within.


FInAncIALLadysmith & District Credit Union330 First Avenue, Ladysmith, 250-245-2247www.ldcu.ca

A full service fi nancial institution to help you with your fi nancial goals.

GLAssDobson’s Glass Ltd.186 Ingram Street 250-746-4824www.dobsonsglass.com

Serving the Cowichan Valley for over 100 years. Specializing in windshield and rock chip repair and household glass.

hIstorIcAL socIetyLadysmith & District Historical Society

Unit B - 1115 First Ave. (Behind Tim Horton’s)Ladysmith Museum, 721 - 1st AvenueArchives 250-245-0100Museum 250-245-0423www.ladysmithhistoricalsociety.ca

Inexpensive books by local authors, historical cookbooks.

home InsPectIonHomesafe Inspections250-802-1440www.homesafeinspections.ca

Providing potential homebuyers peace of mind when it comes to health, safety and structure. Thermal imaging is available to assess heat loss, insulation thermal value and moisture detection.

InsurAnceLCU Insurance Agencies Ltd.330 First Avenue,Ladysmith, BC250-245-2268www.lcuinsurance.ca

ICBC, private auto, house, business, marine and travel insurance. ICBC approved agent for driver’s licensing.

Vancouver Island InsuranceCentres Inc.#15-370 Trans Canada Hwy, Ladysmith, BC250-245-8022 www.viic.caVIIC, the island’s largest privately owned brokerage fi rm, specializes in residential and commercial insurance products.

LAndscAPe & mAsonryVan Isle Slate3420 Smiley Road, Chemainus250-246-4773www.vanisleslate.com

Featuring fl agstone, tumbled stepping stones, masonry thinstone, wallstone, patio slabs & steps, landscape stone.

LAwyersBastion Law Group410A First Avenue250-753-5372 www.blgn.ca

Divorce & family law, criminal law, civil litigation, immigration, corporate & commercial law, wills and estates, ICBC claims, wrongful dismissal, real estate & mortgages.

mArInALadysmith MarinaOak Bay Marine Group12335 Rocky Creek Road, Ladysmith250-245-4521ladysmithmarina.comladysmithmarina@obmg.comBoat moorage and storage.

newsThe ChronicleLadysmith250-245-2277www.ladysmithchronicle.comYour source for what is happening in the community. All local news, events, sales and classifi eds.

notAryRichardson & Company, Notary Public379 Davis Road, [email protected]

Your only notary for Ladysmith & Chemainus! Sales & purchases, wills, powers of attorney.

Pet cAreWalkabout Canine Consulting250-618-8647www.walkaboutcanine.com

Training, grooming, teeth-cleaning by appointment. Home calls available.

PooLsAquafun Family Pools & Spas5265 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan250-748-2611(1-800-496-2611)www.aquafunpools.ca

Your Valley pool, hot tub and sauna store. Hot tub sales, service and repairs.

PrInters & PubLIshersBlack Press Ladysmith940 Oyster Bay DriveLadysmith250-245-0350www.ladysmithpress.com

Quality web printers, fl yers, magazines, newspapers, maps and more.

recycLInGJunction Bottle Depot149 Oyster Bay Drive, Ladysmith 250-245-7376

Accepting drink, beer, wine and spirit containers, computers, monitors, printers and TVs, small appliances, household paint and milk containers.

shreddInG/ document storAGeIsland Document Storage & Shredding#6-13136 Thomas Rd, Ladysmith250-245-9180www.idss.ca

Island owned and operated, we provide on or off-site shredding, document storage and records management services for the island.

VehIcLe rePAIrsVan Isle Truck Tech Ltd.1280 Rocky Creek Road, Ladysmith250-245-3092Toll free 888-545-3092www.vitrucktech.com

RV, Pick-up, and Heavy Truck Repairs by certifi ed technicians. CommercialVehicle Inspection Facility.

wIndowsSud Off ServicesWindow Installation, Cleaning and Maintenance 628 Walkem Road, Ladysmith, BC, V9G [email protected] or [email protected]

Installers of new and renovation vinyl windows and exterior domestic and commercial cleaners.

It’s a buyer’s marketInterest rates are low, and there is more inventory

It’s a good time to be buying a new house in the Ladysmith area.

“Why should you buy? Histor-ically, interest rates being as low as they’ve been, and we’ve got a bit more inventory than normal, so there is more opportunity,” says Guy Bezeau, managing bro-ker of Re/Max Ocean Pointe in Ladysmith and president of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB).

Bezeau says this area is a very unique market that appeals to many people.

“We boast tremendous lifestyle here,” he noted. “We’re also a melting pot — we have the ben-efit of having seniors, families and young people. I think we’ve got lots of amenities for all types of people. Also, we’re in such close proximity to Duncan and Nanaimo, so it affords us the luxury of being able to commute either way.”

Multiple Listing Service (MLS) sales summary data released by the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) shows housing sales activity across Vancouver Island declined 18 per cent in Septem-ber compared to last year, while average sale prices dipped five per cent.

Across VIREB’s coverage area north of the Malahat, sale prices dropped in every area when compared to September 2011, with the exception of the Port Alberni/West Coast region, which recorded a 79-per-cent increase in sales activity when compared to the same month last year.

The average price of a single family home sold within the VIREB region in September was $327,437, down from the

September 2011 average price of $344,437.

The number of reported unit sales was also down in Septem-ber when compared to a year ago. In September 2011, there were 318 single family homes sold, while in comparison, 262 unit sales were recorded in Sep-tember 2012. The dollar value of properties sold in September across the VIREB coverage area when compared to September 2011 was down 22 per cent.

“The general cooling of sales activity over the summer months in Victoria and across Vancouver Island will likely con-tinue this fall,” explained Cam-eron Muir, Chief Economist with the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA). “Moderate sales activity is largely the result of tighter credit conditions and a more tepid economic growth. However, I do expect some increase in consumer demand in the 2013 corresponding with stronger labour market conditions.”

There was a four-per-cent in-crease in the number of homes listed on the MLS in September when compared to a year earlier.

As of the end of September 2012, there were 2,905 single family homes available on the MLS within VIREB’s coverage area, down slightly from the 2,952 homes in the system at the end of September 2011. In September there were 710 homes listed north of the Mala-hat on the MLS system, up four per cent from the 680 homes listed during September 2011.

“It has to be recognized that while the monthly sales figures were down from a year ago, the actual sales prices of the homes sold, as compared to the aver-age price of a year ago are only within five per cent,” explained Bezeau. “The buying public are benefiting from historically low interest rates and a terrific inven-tory of available properties.”

Comparing September 2012 to September 2011, the average sale price in the Cowichan Valley declined 12 per cent to $315,442, while the price in Campbell River declined 10 per cent to $262,083, the average sales price in the Comox Valley increased seven per cent to $366,019, Nanaimo’s average sales price remained virtually

unchanged at $360,913, Parks-ville/Qualicum prices were up by one per cent to $393,166, and prices in Port Alberni/West Coast dropped two per cent to $181,793.

In terms of unit sales year-to-year, there was — as is often the case — a wide disparity among the different zones in Septem-ber. Port Alberni / West Coast unit sales for example were up a massive 79% compared to Sep-tember 2011, while Cowichan Valley unit sales were down 32 per cent as compared to a year ago, while Port Alberni/West Coast unit sales jumped 79 per cent. Comox Valley recorded a 31-per-cent drop in unit sales on a year-to-year basis, while other areas of Vancouver Island reported sales declines ranging from eight per cent to 25 per cent.

Bezeau says the fall market is traditionally one of the most ac-tive ones, and all indications are that this will be the case this fall.

“Historically, up until the kids go back to school, we typically find there are distractions to buyers buying, and as we go into September, October and No-vember, we typically see more business,” he said.

Bezeau says there have been modest movements in sale prices in the Cowichan Valley, but the average price of a house hasn’t really changed much in the past year.

“We expect overall our amount of unit sales to be comparable to last year,” he added. “We don’t see a massive fluctuation between last year and this year. My feeling is by the end of this year, the numbers might not be the same as last year, but they won’t be much different.”


Th e typical home buyer

Have you ever wondered who the typical home-buyer is in the Cowichan Valley area? Where do they come from? Are they buying their fi rst home?

Th e Vancouver Island Real Estate Board keeps track of the answers to these and many more ques-tions through a questionnaire survey given to home buyers purchasing homes through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system in 2011.

Th irty-six per cent of buyers in the Cowichan Valley area — from Ladysmith south to the Malahat —came from within the same area . Nineteen per cent of buyers came from elsewhere on Vancouver Island, while nine per cent came from Alberta.

Most buyers (56 per cent) had lived in the com-munity less than one year before purchasing their home, while the next highest category was 20-plus years. First-time buyers accounted for 18 per cent of purchases made in the Cowichan Valley in 2011.

Th e top selling price was $300,001-$350,000 at 16.4 per cent, followed by $250,001-$300,000 (15.1 per cent) and $350,001-$400,000 (13.4 per cent).

Did You Know... that a Notary can provide the

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379 Davis Road, Ladysmith

250-245-7127

Gary Richardson Notary Public

Notary Public


Ladysmith Home hardware

building centre1010 Ludlow Rd. | 250-245-3441

Home Owners helping homeowners

Your stop for lumber and all your home improvement needs! Open 7 days a week.

lumber, paintkitchen, bathlawn & garden

Cowichan Valley Area — Typical BuyerTable with the highest frequency or most common valuefor each category, illustrating the “typical” buyer profi le for 2011

Information Category From Questionnaire Survey Highest Frequency %Buyer origin Within same area 36%Major reason for purchase Principal residence 96%Time resident in community prior to purchase <1 year 56%First-time purchase of principal residence No 82%Purchased as retirement home No 88%Used RRSP for downpayment No 62%How buyers fi rst became aware of propery Introduced by a REALTOR 30%How buyers fi rst chose a REALTOR Recommended by family or friend 21%Form of agency provided by REALTOR Single agency - representing only buyer 69% Home Characteristics From Corresponding MLS Data Base Highest Frequency %Selling price range $300,001-$350,000 16%Home type Single family 55%Number of bedrooms 3 46%Number of bathrooms 2 46%Exterior Vinyl 24%Parking Garage - double 47%Site characteristics View - mountain 45%


Insuring your biggest investment home insurance gives you peace of mind

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250-924-8486

Mr Popper’sSweet Shoppe

#1 - 32 High St., Downtown Ladysmith

Come in for your complimentary candy sample

14 flavours of ice creamSo many goodies plus our own

• Kettle Corn • Cotton Candy • Fudge

Landscape & Masonry StoneChemainus Industrial Park

250-246-4773www.vanisleslate.com

VAN ISLE SLATE

Your home is your most important investment. Th at’s why it so important to make sure you have the proper home insurance.

As LCU Insurance Agencies Ltd., a subsidiary of the Ladysmith and District Credit Union, states on its website: “Your home and its contents may well be the most valuable assets you have. Many years of hard work and energy go into creating the place you call home. Give yourself peace of mind knowing your assets are protected if the unexpected should ever happen.”

LCU Insurance Agencies off ers Smart Home, a comprehensive insurance package that off ers policies for homeowners, condominium unit owners, tenants, mobile home owners, and for other residential property.

Smart Home provides unlimited replacement protection for most homes and personal prop-erty. It also includes $1,000,000 comprehensive personal liability coverage, with higher limits available.

LCU Insurance manager Cindy Cawthra says the most important thing is to make sure you insure your home at its proper value.

“A lot of people are under-insured because you are insuring to the cost to rebuild, not to replace old,” she explained. “Th at’s why cost evaluators are done. What I do personally is if you just took pictures of everything in your home and put it on a disk and put it in a safety deposit box or at the in-laws’ or somewhere else, that’s good be-cause no one remembers everything they have.”

If you rent a home or own a condo, LCU Insur-ance insures your contents only.

“To get the worth of your contents, go through your house with a calculator and go through a catalogue, then start adding tax,” advises

Cawthra. “It adds up prett y quick. If there was a total loss, they would be replacing old with new, so you add tax. You’ll be amazed what you have.”

Cawthra also believes it is important to main-tain a relationship with your insurance agent 2so that they are always aware of anything changes with your home.

For more about LCU Insurance, call 250-245-2268 or visit www.lcuinsurance.ca.

Ladysmith area residents can also fi nd home insurance through Vancouver Island Insurance-Centres (VIIC).

Offi ce manager Millie Stirling says home insur-ance is important because it is protecting your investment, and it is oft en a requirement.

“It’s a fairly substantial investment,” she said, of a home. “A lot of times, it’s required by mortgage companies that insurance is on your home, and if you don’t have a mortgage, it’s your invest-ment that you’re protecting.”

Like Cawthra, Stirling believes making sure your home is adequately insured is key.

“You need to be clear and understand what your policy covers; look at your deductibles, look at the exclusions,” she noted.

Earthquake coverage is a big thing, noted Stirling.

“A lot of mortgage companies do require that you have earthquake coverage,” she said. “Earth-quake coverage is changing, so you can have diff erent deductibles.”

VIIC off ers exclusive Residential Insurances Programs for homeowners and renters. Th ere are three distinct policies.

Th e homeowner insurance policy off ers comprehensive coverage for home, outbuild-ings, personal property (even when temporarily removed from the premises), additional living

expenses, up to $5 million liability, all risk coverage, bylaw coverage, guaranteed replace-ment on building, replacement cost for personal property, and payment of expenses resulting from identity theft .

Renters are covered with VIIC’s tenant pack-age that off ers policy coverage for loss of per-sonal property (even when temporarily removed from the premises), additional living expenses and replacement cost for personal property.

VIIC’s condominium insurance policy off ers comprehensive cover-age for personal prop-erty, up to $5 million in liability coverage, replacement cost on personal prop-erty, additional living expenses, additional 100 per cent of your contents limit for unit improve-ments and bett er-ments, and pay-ment of expenses resulting from identity theft . Th is policy also automatically includes up to $25,000 for any assessment deemed neces-sary by the Strata Plan policy’s deductible.

For more information about VIIC’s policies, call 250-245-8022 or visit www.viic.ca.

8 www.ladysmithcchronicle.com


• Electric & Communication Servicing

• Maintenance Troubleshooting

• Relocation

• Home Theatre & Distributed Audio

• Service Changes / Upgrades

• Certified Computer & Telephone Cabling

• Parking Lot Lighting Repairs

• Manlift Available

Industrial Commercial Residential Marine

Chris KaelbleLocally Owned

& Operated25 Years Experience

Chris KaelbleLocally Owned

& Operated25 Years Experience

AmMeterE L E C T R I C24 Hour Emergency Service

[email protected]

250-754-8886250-246-4899

Servicing the Island from Mill Bay to Parksville

You’re excited to start a new building project on your property, and you can picture just how great it’s going to look when it’s done. But before you get too excited, take the time to fi nd out whether or not you will need a building permit — you’ll be happy that you did.

All too many homeowners have experienced the joy of complet-ing a home improvement project, only to learn upon completion that the project is not in adherence with local laws. Th at realization, while heartbreaking, is oft en the result of a homeowner’s failure to secure a build-ing permit prior to starting the project.

Tom Skarvig, the Town of Lady-smith’s building inspector, says building permits are required for any kind of structural alterations to your home, such as sun decks, carports and any accessory buildings that are more than 10 square metres. All brand-new buildings require a permit as well.

If you are putt ing in a driveway and didn’t have one before, you will need a driveway access permit.

Skarvig says if you start to do a build, and you don’t have a permit, he can put a stop-work order on it, and you could possibly be fi ned. If you have all the footings done, you may need an engineer to see it before Skarvig can issue a permit.

“When in doubt, come see me,” he said.Skarvig’s offi ce is in the Ladysmith Public Works building at 330

Sixth Ave. His hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, but he is out doing inspections oft en, so he says the best time to catch him is 7:30 a.m. Skarvig’s direct line is 250-245-6443.

“I’ve got a fairly open door here,” he said. “Th ere’s only one of me, and I’m in and out, so it’s best

to make an appointment.”Skarvig says he is happy to help with any drawings or applications. Application forms for building permits and other permits required are available at Public

Works, at City Hall and online at www.ladysmith.ca.

Visit Public Works for plumbing permits and driveway access permits as well.

“All permits are done through the Public Works yard,” said Skarvig. “Th ey used to be through City Hall, but now all the applications come to Public Works, and the permits are issued here too.”

Gas and electrical permits are administered through BC Safety Authority in Nanaimo, which is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be reached at 250-716-5200 or [email protected].

When do you need a permit?

For information about bylaws and permits in the Town of Ladysmith,

visit www.ladysmith.ca/city-hall/city-

departments/building-department

So far in 2012, the Town of Ladysmith has issued 72 building per-mits with a total value of $8,768,205.

Here is a breakdown of permits issued from January to September:

Commercial: 5 permits valued at $2,175,795

Industrial: 0 permits valued at $0

Institutional: 1 permit valued at $5,000

Residential (new): 30 permits valued at $5,953,286

Residential (additions, renovations, other): 36 permits valued at $634,124

10 www.ladysmithcchronicle.com

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Choose a Certified Professionalto Inspect Your Home

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If you’re ready to make that big investment and buy a new home, Rod MacNeil wants to emphasize the importance of gett ing a thorough inspection.

MacNeil is the founder of Homesafe Inspections Ltd., a Ladysmith-based company that provides home inspections in the mid-Island region.

MacNeil says his company primarily provides pre-purchase home inspections.

“Th ey’re really valuable to homeowners because they give them a good idea if the house is for them or not and if they can handle some of the upgrades required,” he said.

MacNeil says there are six major components to a home inspection — the roof, the structure itself, the foundation, the electrical, the heating, and the plumbing.

Th ese major areas have their own sub-areas that must be checked, he noted.

MacNeil uses an infrared imaging system, which allows for the assessment of insulation, moisture and energy effi ciency.

“Our inspections are non-de-structive testing,” said MacNeil. “We are not allowed to take anything apart to see what’s underneath, unless we have the express permission of the seller.”

Th ermal imaging is used particularly to check the thermal value of insulation in walls, look for heat loss through windows and assess the value of insulation in an att ic and in some cases, to detect moisture, explained MacNeil.

Th ere are many things to look for during a pre-purchase inspection, including asbestos, particularly in older homes, and vermiculite in att ics, explained MacNeil.

MacNeil says electrical can be a bit tricky because the building

code has changed over the years, so a 25-year-old house may not have ground-fault circuit inter-rupters, for example.

MacNeil says clogged gutt ers are a big issue in Ladysmith.

“Th ere’s so much wind, and people don’t clean their gutt ers enough — they need to be done at least four times a year in this area,” he said. “In high wind areas in the spring and fall, there’s so much airborne debris because we’re close to trees; it clogs the gutt ers. When you have a drain tile problem, it gets very expensive. Clogged drain tile is a huge problem, and sometimes people don’t want to tackle it.”

A home inspector will check health and safety issues like mould and railings.

“Th e thing to remember is most of these houses have stood the test of time over the years, but the building code has changed,” said MacNeil. “Th e role of an inspector is to assess and inform the buyer what they need to do to bring [the house] up to code, make it safe for them and their family and make sure there’s no mould. It basically boils down to if someone is buy-ing a home that is 25, 30 years old, there have been changes in the building code along the way, and you need to give them enough information so they can make an informed decision whether they can handle the upgrades and whether they can aff ord it.”

MacNeil tries to educate fi rst-time homebuyers about what they need to look for in their potential home.

“Usually, the realtors are good in that regard because they have a property disclosure statement, and most of it’s answered in that property disclosure statement,” he noted.

Get the facts - get an inspection

It’s been a year since the Town of Ladysmith made in-home secondary suites legal.

Aft er a long public process, secondary suites within single detached homes were legalized in Ladysmith in September 2011, but suites are still not al-lowed in detached buildings.

“Secondary suites are an excellent way to off er aff ordable housing in the community, both for renters and for the home-owners who need a mortgage helper,” Ladysmith Mayor Rob Hutchins said at the time suites were legalized. “Th e new rules refl ect citizens’ priorities for safe, legal suites within single family homes. We understand citizens’ concerns about suites in detached buildings and will take the time to consider the issue carefully before moving ahead.”

Th e decision to legalize sec-ondary suites came aft er months of public consultation and input. Th e process, facilitated by CitySpaces consulting, involved several open houses and online and telephone surveys. In all, some 350 people took part.

Th e results showed strong support for the legalization of existing suites and a very high level of support for suites within the main home, according to the town. Suite safety and adequate parking were also a high priority for participants in the secondary suite consultations.

In Ladysmith, a secondary suite is an additional dwelling unit fully contained within and subordinate to a single family dwelling.

Anyone wishing to build a new secondary suite must ap-ply for a build-ing permit. Home-owners do not need to register existing suites, but they do need to apply for a building permit if they choose to renovate.

Under the town’s bylaw, secondary suites are governed by the BC Building Code, thus ensuring appropriate safety and liveabil-ity standards.

Th e Town of Ladysmith’s by-law says secondary suites must not exceed 40 per cent of the gross fl oor area (or 90 square metres) and that off -street park-ing must be required as per the town’s parking bylaw.

At this time, the Zoning Bylaw does not permit suites that are separate from the main dwell-ing. Th e town will further exam-ine these types of suites, includ-ing carriage house suites and ground-oriented cott age suites, as part of its review of the Zon-ing Bylaw. More consultation and planning will be carried out before any bylaw and design guidelines are introduced.

Th e town gave the go-ahead to bring in the phased implemen-tation of secondary suites in June 2011.


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250-753-5372Fax 250-753-5368

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Are secondary suites legal in Ladysmith?

Save the planet to save money

Being environmentally conscious has always been on my priority list, but not until recently has it become such a profi table commitment.

Aft er 14 years of real estate investing and renovating, I’ve learned that eco-conscious renovations are a win-win choice. First of all, and most importantly, the pressure on the planet is signifi cantly less if you have an effi cient home and use cleaner products. Secondly, with the increasing cost of energy, there are signifi cant savings with reduced use of utilities.

Here are some eco improve-ments that will save you a bundle and put you on Mother Nature’s good list:

• Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Upgrading your att ic insulation is one way to re-duce your energy consumption and costs. A simple DIY project is to top up your att ic insulation, which will increase the energy effi ciency of your home. Use an easy-to-use loose stone wool in-sulation product that can simply be spread by hand throughout the att ic on top of the existing insulation.

• Household appliances can be energy drains. Replacing your furnace, hot water tank and air conditioning unit with highly ef-fi cient models is usually a good start when reducing the energy consumption of your home.

Before doing work, check with your gas/electric provider in your area to see if there are any rebate programs.

• Windows can be a major source of energy loss. It is usu-ally obvious when it’s time for new windows. And the technol-ogy that goes into today’s win-dows is far superior to anything more than 20 years old. If you want to reap all the benefi ts of new windows, be sure to tell the installer doing the measure that you want them to be “brick to brick,” not “inserts.” Inserts leave you with smaller windows placed into the old, ineffi cient jambs.

•DIY details. Th ere are a few quick, simple improvements that will increase the effi ciency of your home for very litt le cash invested upfront. Here are some quick eco to-do jobs that can be done in a day:

• caulk around windows• add weather stripping to

door gaps• install low-fl ow shower

heads• put aerators on faucets• switch to compact fl ores-

cent bulbs• change your furnace fi lter• set up a programmable

thermostat

Sco� McGillivray is a full-time real estate investor, contractor, television host, writer and educa-tor. www.newscanada.com


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Keep up with all your local news, events and sales.

Subscriptions: 250-245-2277ladysmithchronicle.com chemainuschronicle.com

Ladysmith & DistrictHistorical Society

at the Ladysmith Archives (below Tim Horton’s)and Ladysmith Museum, 721 - 1st Avenue

We have inexpensive books by local authors,historical cookbooks and Marianne Torkko Prints.

Gifts for Every OccasionGifts

Archives 250-245-0100Museum 250-245-0423

www.ladysmithhistoricalsociety.ca

By Scott McGillivray


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ACCEPTINGElectronics (TVs, Computers, etc)

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Recycling in Ladysmiththere are many options

Ladysmith has built up a reputation as a very green com-munity.

In 1995, Ladysmith was the fi rst community in the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) to introduce curbside recycling pickup, and in 2006, Ladysmith was the fi rst community in West-ern Canada to provide curbside organics pickup.

Th e town makes it easy to lower the amount of waste going into the landfi ll.

Recycling pickup is every other week, alternating with garbage collection, and residents are allowed to recycle unlimited quantities of acceptable items.

Organic waste is also picked up in unlimited quantities, and collection is every week.

Th e town limits garbage to one 30-litre container per household, and garbage is picked up every second week.

Recyclable materials that are not picked up through the town’s curbside collection program can be taken to the CVRD’s Peerless Road Transfer Station at 10830 Peerless Rd.

For more information about

recycling and garbage collec-tion in Ladysmith, visit www.ladysmith.ca/sustainability-green-living.

One great option for recycling is the Ladysmith Junction Bott le Depot at 149 Oyster Bay Dr. beside Home Hardware.

Along with accepting return-able pop, juice, water, beer, wine and spirit containers, along with milk containers, Junction Bott le Depot now accepts a wide range of appliances and electronics.

You can bring in electronics such as televisions, computers, fax machines, printers, VCR players and more, as well as small appliances like microwaves, bread machines, coff ee makers and vacuums. You can also bring in power tools, sewing machines, exercise equipment and house-hold paints.

Th e CVRD is draft ing a new curbside collection plan for Electoral Area residents — in-cluding North Oyster and Saltair. Residents would receive easy-roll totes for recycling and garbage where applicable, and the totes would be picked up by automat-ed dual-compartment trucks.

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Today, while we may not have the necessary budget to tackle a major home improvement proj-ect, there are many homeown-ers who are choosing a more strategic approach to remodel-ing — by refreshing rooms and undertaking small projects one at a time.

Here are a few tips for remod-eling your home in small but eff ective ways:

1. � e everyday touch

Invest in items that you see and touch on a daily basis. Th e perfect example is a kitchen faucet — it’s some-thing you use multiple times every day, and it can truly be the ideal fi nishing touch to a “remodel-lite” kitchen project. Updating this mainstay can create a functional and fashion-able change that everyone will notice.

2. AccessorizeYou can easily transform the

look of any room with a few key pieces. Choose items that can multitask to make the most of your investment. Examples include an ott oman that doubles as storage and seating, or a fl ip-

top sofa table that can open up to be used as a buff et or desk.

3. Day by day, one step at a time

Start by looking at the rooms you use the most — typically, the kitchen, master bedroom and master bathroom. In the bedroom, the perfect “remodel-lite” project is a do-it-yourself closet organization system.

4. Begin to dream again

With just a few updates around the house, you can quickly move from survival to revival. If you simply don’t have the budget, surround yourself with things that refl ect your personality or people close to you — pho-tographs, family heir-looms and souvenirs can help

you reminisce about special days.

5. Style statementFinally, don’t neglect your

sense of style while you’re watching your budget. You can simply dress up the basics with your personal fl air by adding a stunning statement piece. Try a new area rug, piece of inex-pensive artwork or a collage of family portraits.

www.newscanada.co

Small projects make a big di� erence

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