Duncan - Community Overview

Duncan is the traditional home of the Coast Salish First Nations. The community was developed when the Esquimalt and Nanaimo railroad was completed in 1886. Farmland owner William Duncans asked for a stop on his land, which is now downtown Duncan. Duncan was incorporated into a city in 1912.

Today, Duncan is the trading centre and hub for the Regional District of Cowichan Valley. Well established farming, commercial fishing and pulp and paper industries populate the city. Tourism is the second largest industry on Vancouver Island and the Duncan area is host to many summer visitors.

The City of Duncan is situated on Vancouver Island, in the heart of the Cowichan Valley, in the Cowichan Valley Regional District. Duncan is approximately half way between Victoria and Nanaimo, just off the Trans Canada Highway.

The population of Duncan numbers approximately 5,035.

For more information about Duncan:

City of Duncan
200 Craig St.
Duncan, BC
V9L 3Y2
250-746-6126
https://duncan.ca/

WEATHER

Duncan has an average July temperature of 17.8°C and an average January temperature of 3.2°C. The average annual precipitation is 1365 mm.

For daily or historical weather conditions, visit:https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca

MEDIA

One of the best ways to learn about your new community is to subscribe to the local newspaper:

Cowichan Valley Citizen
250-748-2666
https://www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com/

EDUCATION

For information regarding curriculum and enrolment procedures, please contact:

School District #79 (Cowichan Valley)
2557 Beverly St.
Duncan, BC
V9L 2X3
250-748-0321
https://sd79.bc.ca/

MEDICAL INFORMATION

Cowichan District Hospital
3045 Gibbins Rd.
Duncan, BC
V9L 1E5
250-737-2030
https://www.islandhealth.ca/our-locations/hospitals-health-centre-locations/cowichan-district-hospital

PUBLIC SERVICES

TRANSPORTATION

Motor Vehicle & Driver Licencing
ICBC
1-800-950-1498

https://www.icbc.com/Pages/default.aspx

Public Transit

Cowichan Valley Regional Transit
250-746-9899
https://www.bctransit.com/

BC Ferry Corp
1-888-223-3779
https://www.bcferries.com/

COMMUNITY

Cowichan Valley Parks and Recreation
250-746-0400
https://www.cvrd.ca/

Cowichan Branch Library
250-746-7661
https://virl.bc.ca/

Island Savings Centre
250-748-7529
https://www.islandsavings.ca/

For information about upcoming events in Duncan, visit: https://www.cvrd.bc.ca

SPORTS AND LEISURE

Cowichan Valley Parks and Recreation
250-746-0400
https://www.cvrd.ca/

Golf Courses
Duncan Meadows Golf & Country Club
250-746-8993
https://www.duncanmeadows.com/

Cowichan Golf & Country Club
250-746-5333
http://www.cowichangolfclub.ca/

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS

Annual Events
Duncan is host to numerous annual festivals including Duncan Summer Festival and the Folkfest in July, Cowichan Exhibition in September and Celebration of Christmas in November.

Market in the Square
This market is held on Saturdays from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Located in the downtown area, vendors include fresh produce, baked goods, jams, jellies and crafts accompanied by entertainers and artisans.

Cowichan Valley Museum
Located in the centre of Duncan, the museum holds artifacts and household items, set in displays, tracing the history of Duncan.

BC Forest Discovery Centre
Indoor and outdoor exhibits that trace the history of the logging industry.