For years the World含羞草研究社檚 Largest Hockey Stick has loomed over the entrance to the Cowichan Community Centre含羞草研究社檚 arena doors. If plans in Lockport Illinois proceed, however, the World含羞草研究社檚 Largest Hockey Stick in Cowichan, will become, just a really big hockey stick.

A proposal is brewing to construct a 250-foot-long hockey stick outside a recently approved ice arena dome in the small city near Chicago. The size of their stick outdoes Duncan含羞草研究社檚 Big Stick by a good 45 feet, which would oust Cowichan含羞草研究社檚 stick 含羞草研究社� made in Penticton of Douglas Fir and a remnant of Expo 含羞草研究社�86 that the community fought hard to have relocated here in 1988 含羞草研究社� as the record-holder.

含羞草研究社淭he Stick含羞草研究社� was authenticated in the 2010 Guinness Book of Records, and is represented in the Resource Centre, part of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, says a CVRD information sheet.

含羞草研究社淲hile the CVRD is not in a position to comment on the Lockport proposal, they would like to highlight the current World含羞草研究社檚 Largest Hockey Stick and Puck at the Cowichan Community Centre has been a community icon and supported nationally since coming to Cowichan in 1988,含羞草研究社� said CVRD spokesperson Kris Schumacher.含羞草研究社漈his community asset would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of community members and has been a factor in the region含羞草研究社檚 overall economic development over the years.含羞草研究社�

According to oldtimers, it was a 20-year battle to get Cowichan含羞草研究社檚 Big Stick recognized as the World含羞草研究社檚 Largest. Prior to it earning the official record, a 71-foot stick in Minnesota was considered the biggest.

Dick Drew was part of the committee formed to acquire the landmark, along with Bhagwan Mayer, Len Goodman, Karl Schutz and Ron Austen 含羞草研究社� who all worked tirelessly first to secure the World含羞草研究社檚 Largest Hockey Stick and Puck for the Cowichan Valley after Expo 含羞草研究社�86 and then to move it to Duncan in August of 1987. It was dedicated on May 21, 1988, two years to the day after Expo 含羞草研究社�86 opened.

In 2019 the Big Stick saw a lighting upgrade to allow for colours and patterns within its 665 LED light display. Various light schemes are used to acknowledge events at the Cowichan Community Centre like Cowichan Capitals games, as well as holidays, and awareness days throughout each year.

Most recently, Cowichan含羞草研究社檚 Big Stick was in the news last year for housing a rather pesky woodpecker. A plastic owl now sits atop one of the stick含羞草研究社檚 supports to dissuade any other potential residents.

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