I haven’t lived there since the early 1990s. I have been in my current house (in a different city) longer than any other in my life.
But if push came to shove, the overwhelming whiff of childhood nostalgia will always have me feel like Duncan is ‘home’.
Thanks to an annoying pandemic and some even more annoying surgeries, I’ve only been back a handful of times in the past few years.
But no matter where you might be, there’s still often a sense of ownership – or a least a continued curiosity – about the goings-on back home.
So, earlier this summer, I was surprised to see a story on the Cowichan Valley Citizen website, penned by esteemed colleague Robert Barron.
‘World’s biggest hockey stick at the Cowichan Community Centre to be taken down’ shouted the headline.
OK, it didn’t actually make noise from my phone but it might as well have shrieked at me.
Really?
The big stick?
Why?
The last time I actively thought of the old community fixture was a while back, when apparently a city near Chicago was planning to build a 250-foot stick (besting Cowichan’s by 45 feet) outside an arena project there.
I remember thinking “if it’s not going to be the world’s largest, is there really much point in keeping the old twig?”
But then I quickly corrected myself, knowing that it would simply be wrong to not be able to drive by the community centre and see the stick.
No spectacular reasoning, just my own gut feeling. Surely that would hold some sway.
Guess not.
Previously, according to the Citizen, the Cowichan Valley Regional District had suggested several options for consideration for the future of the giant stick, including replacing it with a similar or different design and materials, keeping it the same size or making it bigger, or removing the stick and not replacing it at all.
A public engagement survey revealed the majority indicated it’s not important to maintain the world record for the largest hockey stick and puck, and that the hockey stick doesn’t provide significant importance to the region and it shouldn’t be replaced.
Ouch.
How can folks be so callous? I guess if you see it every day, it’s not as interesting.
I remember when some community-minded types managed to get the thing over to the Island after its brief stint at Expo 86.
My first question was similar to my reaction to hearing of its demise.
Why?
Who needs that?
Then it arrived, and it was somewhat fascinating. I spent a few years pondering a new question. How can my buddies and I get up there to slide down the thing?
Since then, it’s just always been there. Much like seeing Mt. Prevost from any angle immediately makes me feel at home, driving into town and seeing the stick just felt right.
I get that it would cost a ton of money to maintain, and governments of all stripes already tend to have little trouble going overboard with taxpayer cash. But, I mean... it was just always there for me. A piece of home.
The Citizen also noted Shawnigan Lake’s Genuine Collectibles Inc. will be taking possession of the stick (and giant puck), with plans to recycle the usable material into unique, authenticated collectibles.
A portion of the sales from the collectibles will be donated to local sporting organizations and charities.
Change is inevitable and that’s an admirable initiative.
And in the end, especially if it’s the will of the people, it’s probably the right thing to do.
I, however, just can’t help feeling it isn’t right. Every single time I drive down-Island to Victoria, I loudly complain about them taking out the old go-kart track just outside of Mill Bay. Decades ago.
Now, I’ll be adding a mournful soliloquy about the loss of a landmark I’ll seemingly miss more than most.
PQB News/Vancouver Island Free Daily editor Philip Wolf welcomes your questions, comments and story ideas. He can be reached via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca or by phone at 250-905-0029.
