About Duncan
History
The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan, born 1836 in Sarnia, Ontario . He arrived in
Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay. After going off on several gold rushes, Duncan settled close to the present city of Duncan. He married in 1876, and his son Kenneth became the first mayor of Duncan. A street bears his name today. Duncan's farm was named Alderlea, and this was the first name of the adjacent settlement. In August 1886, the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway was opened. No stop had been scheduled at Alderlea for the inaugural train bearing Sir John A. Macdonald and Robert Dunsmuir. However, at Duncan's Crossing, the level crossing nearest Alderlea, a crowd of 2,000 had assembled around a decorated arch and the train came to an unplanned halt, quite literally putting it on the map.
In the early 1900s, Duncan's
Chinatown was the social centre for the Cowichan Valley's Chinese population. Chinatown was concentrated in a single block in the southwestern corner of Duncan. At its largest point, Duncan's Chinatown included six Chinese families and 30 merchants supplying loggers, millworkers and cannery and mine workers. As immigration laws became more restrictive, businesses closed and the buildings became run down. The city tore the buildings down in 1969 to build a new law courts complex. Some materials from the original buildings was used at Whippletree Junction.
Location
The railroad continues to cross Duncan as does the
Trans-Canada Highway. The city is about 50 kilometres from both
Victoria to the south and
Nanaimo to the north. Although the City of Duncan has a population of less than 5000 it serves the
Cowichan Valley, which has a population of approximately 78000. Duncan is the seat of the
Cowichan Valley Regional District. It derives the name from Quw’utsun’ > Khowutzun > Cowichan, literally translated from Coast Salish into "The Warm Land". Duncan records the highest average mean temperature in Canada at 11C.
Tourist Attractions
Duncan's tourism slogan is "The City of
Totems". The city has many
totem poles around the downtown area, which were erected in the late 1980s, including the
world's largest totem pole (in diameter), carved by First Nations artisan Simon Charlie.
Duncan has a large
First Nations community and is the traditional home of the
Cowichan Tribes, who are the largest band among the
Coast Salish people. The Coast Salish women of the Cowichan Tribes are makers of the world famous Cowichan Sweaters.
Duncan boasts one of the largest Farmers' Markets on Vancouver Island. Held just North of town at the BC Forest Discovery Centre every Saturday from 9:00 - 2:00. The Market offers local produce, nursery products, and crafts.
Duncan has the world's largest
ice hockey stick, officially recognised by Guinness World Records on July 14, 2008, which is on display on the side of the local arena (Cowichan Community Centre). The stick was made specifically for Expo 86 in
Vancouver.
Education
Vancouver Island University has a small campus in Duncan that offers programs and courses in university transfer, access, trades and applied technology, health and human services, and career and academic preparation. The campus also has a Continuing Education department that offers certificate programs, personal and professional development courses, and online courses.
Duncan has one public secondary school, Cowichan Secondary School, as well as several elementary and middle schools. It also has one private secondary university preparatory school, Queen Margaret's School for girls, established in 1921 which has a co-ed junior school included. There is also an independent Catholic school, Queen of Angels which continues up to Grade 9. The head offices for
School District 79 Cowichan Valley are also located in Duncan.
Sports
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