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 of 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 were 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 Coast Salish Natives, who are the largest band in the Coast
Salish tribe. The Salish are makers of the world famous Cowichan
Sweaters.
Duncan
boasts one of the largest Farmers' Markets on Vancouver Island. Held
just south of town at Sun Valley Mall 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, 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
Malaspina University-College 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
Duncan is
the home city of the British Columbia Hockey League's Cowichan
Valley Capitals, who play in the Cowichan
Community Centre.
