No to amalgamation

Photo: CTV

Residents of Vancouver Island's Cowichan Valley are sharply divided over amalgamation.

A referendum on Saturday sought voter approval to merge the municipal operations of Duncan and North Cowichan.

Preliminary results show 68 per cent of about 1,200 voters in Duncan were against the proposal.

In North Cowichan, however, more than 5,000 people cast ballots, with 59 per cent in favour.

– with files from CTV Vancouver Island