(October 14 ad in the Cowichan Valley Citizen)
Elections BC investigating election ad placed in Cowichan Valley Citizen
Publisher David van Deventer says 'it’s been dealt with' and 'we can move on now'
Elections BC has referred a complaint related to an election ad in the Cowichan Valley Citizen to its Investigations department.
The quarter-page ad, which ran October 14 and includes the typo “conucillors,” is a plug for Chris Wilkinson, Joyce Behnsen, Mike Caljouw, Bruce Findlay, Becky Hogg and Tek Manhas on issues related to property taxes, improved public information and community safety.
The person who placed the ad is not identified, and there is no indication whether that person is registered as a third party advertising sponsor. https://elections.bc.ca/local-elections/local-advertising-sponsors/
David van Deventer, publisher of the Cowichan Valley Citizen, told Six Mountains on Friday: “I’ve spoken with Elections BC and it’s been dealt with” and that “we can move on now.”
Asked to elaborate, he added: “I don’t have to tell you anything” and “I’m really happy that you think this is a story, so go for it. Have a great day.”
Elections BC did not respond Friday to a request from Six Mountains for comment on van Deventer's remarks. But Six Mountains understands the matter is still under review by the Investigations department.
North Cowichan Coalition, which is registered as a third party sponsor, has published its own list of candidates to support.
(North Cowichan Coalition)
In the 2022 election, Cowichan Works was fined $750 for “failure to register before sponsoring election advertising,” a contravention of the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act.
Read more: https://www.sixmountains.ca/article/e669a74d-920b-4d58-a986-2de4c69eb36a
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ON-LINE INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES POSTED
The Chemainus Business Improvement Association has posted on-line interviews with most candidates in the North Cowichan municipal election.
The videos are labelled “conversations on the future of North Cowichan.”
The videos come off as casual coffee chats rather than more formal all-candidates meetings.
It's worth checking out, including to compare the comments of mayoral candidates Rob Douglas and Chris Wilkinson: https://www.youtube.com/@ChemainusBIA
Speaking of Chemainus, council candidate and CBIA executive director Krystal Adams has been doing some novel work helping to educate voters on various issues.
On her website (https://www.voteadams.ca/ ), Adams posts several explainer videos, with extensive graphics, on the role of the mayor and council, economic development, infrastructure, property taxes and the Official Community Plan.
(Graphic from Krystal Adams' video, Infrastructure Explained)
Adams says the videos have “received an overwhelming positive response” and she plans to keep producing them if elected.
She also promises to hold two-hour community coffee chats weekly, rotating through North Cowichan’s communities.
“Community engagement shouldn’t begin and end with an election, an open house or three minutes at a microphone,” Adams says.
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AL SIEBRING: DID HE EVER LEAVE?
It’s no secret Al Siebring was a controversial mayor.
He squeaked in with a 10-vote margin and 38 per cent of the vote in 2018.
One of Sebring’s most unpopular acts during his four-year term was his decision to hold a second lengthy public hearing in 2019 on a proposed expansion of Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit.
Siebring initially expressed support for the expansion, but changed his mind in the face of clear public opposition.
That left councillor Tek Manhas as the only one in favour.
As the 2022 election loomed, Siebring decided not to seek re-election, and moved to Alberta.
Rob Douglas handily won the mayoralty, earning 756 more votes than his closest rival, John Koury, who is currently seeking election as a councillor in Lake Cowichan.
But did Siebring ever really leave?
He showed up in person at a public hearing on Nov. 19, 2025, to support an application to amend the Official Community Plan and expand the Urban Containment Boundary to allow development north of Herd Road in the Bell McKinnon area.
(Al Siebring, top left, addressed Nov. 19, 2025, public hearing)
"Some of you are probably wondering what the heck I'm doing here, what my interest is. I'm retired and living in Alberta, but I still have investments here in the Cowichan Valley, including stuff that potentially goes to land use, so, yes, I have some vested interests here."
Siebring continues to pop up from time to time on local right-of-centre social media.
As recently as this week, he was on Facebook talking about the Official Community Plan, reminding folks that he voted against it in 2022.
Six Mountains reached out to Siebring on Friday, but he did not respond.
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Read Larry Pynn's latest investigative article: North Cowichan councillor sees no issue with $750 campaign donation from fraudster
https://www.sixmountains.ca/article/041f9c96-1545-4e0d-b630-b44d2fbc1590
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GET OUT AND VOTE
General voting day is Saturday, October 17, from 8 am to 8 pm, at the following locations:
Chemainus Secondary, 9947 Daniel Street, Chemainus
Crofton Firehall, 1681 Robert Street, Crofton
École Mt. Prevost Elementary, 6177 Somenos Road, North Cowichan
Maple Bay Elementary, 1500 Donnay Drive, North Cowichan
Municipal Hall, 7030 Trans-Canada Highway, North Cowichan
Quw’utsun Secondary, 2003 University Way, North Cowichan
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— Larry Pynn, Oct. 16, 2026
