A park in the Cowichan Valley will be renamed in honour of a veteran firefighter.
North Cowichan councillors recently voted in favour of renaming Herd Road Park, located near the east end of Herd Road in Maple Bay, to Andy Hutchins Park.
Andy Hutchins, who passed away last year at the age of 71, was a North Cowichan firefighter in Maple Bay for over 45 years, serving as fire chief for 23 years.
In addition to his duties as a firefighter, Hutchins was deeply involved in various community groups and initiatives. He was a dedicated Cowichan Rugby Football Club member, a founding member and past president of the Maple Bay Rowing Club, and a key part of the Cowichan Sportsplex Board.
Hutchins also served 10 years on the KidSport Board, raising over $500,000 during his time. In 2013, he was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for Service from the B.C. government.
The decision to rename the park came after a park renaming application was submitted to the municipality by a member of the public.
“With plenty of green space, a newly fenced dog park, a playground, and very popular pickle ball courts, this park offers so much, just as Andy did to his community,” said Mayor Al Siebring. “It’s an honour to recognize such a valued and respected member of our fire department and Maple Bay community, who is missed by many.”
The original name for the park came from its location on Herd Road, which is named after the Herd family, who had family members elected to North Cowichan Council in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
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