hello | Warmland Magazine

our mission

If you've never made it out this way, now's a good time.
We're close by, easy to reach, and worth more than a passing glance - good food, good shops, and a pace of life that's harder to find than it used to be

hello there

Thanks for visiting! Welcome to Warmland Magazine.

Summer is here and things are hot!

This is a magazine about Lake Cowichan and the communities around it - Youbou, Honeymoon Bay, Mesachie Lake - for people who live here and people thinking about coming. You'll find what's on, where to eat, which trails are worth the walk, and the occasional bit of history that explains why our beautiful corner of the world looks the way it does.

I spent most of my life on Vancouver Island without ever seriously considering this area, which is most of the reason this magazine exists, too many people drive past something good.

If you are a writer or photographer or simply know something about this place worth telling, I'd like to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Bill Reburn

Editor

why we made warmland magazine

After spending the better part of my life on Vancouver Island, I never considered living here, until the day we drove into town and got hooked instantly. It's a hidden gem tucked away from the overflowing shopping super-centres and time-eating traffic of larger destinations - the kind of place where you can actually slow down. Outside of our highly popular river floating experience, some visitors don't know what's waiting for them here, and that's exactly what we want to change.

Lake Cowichan and the surrounding communities, serve as the gateway to the Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park and are just as beautiful outside of summer. Come in the quieter months and you'll find the same warm welcome, a little more room to breathe, and plenty of good reasons to visit - school breaks, retirement travel, and local events all make a great excuse when the crowds have gone home.

This magazine exists to put Lake Cowichan and our neighbours on the map, not as a place to stumble onto, but a place to plan for. And if you already call this home, we hope it's a reason to rediscover your own backyard too, especially in the quieter months when local businesses need you most.