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Duncan, City of Totems
Thursday, April 30th, 2009 by GetawayBC.com
Just two blocks west of the Trans-Canada Highway 50 km north of Victoria exists Duncan, the true heart of the Cowichan region.
It’s a city only one square-mile wide and contains about 5,000 residents, but with more than 250 unique shops, services and restaurants there is as much to do in Duncan as could be found in much larger cities without the smog, shoulder-bumping sidewalk traffic and sound pollution.
Duncan is a city that has embraced its heritage and has gone to great lengths to preserve its vintage buildings to showcase a varied assortment of small, exquisite shops and restaurants catering to all tastes.
So much so that it can claim to be the Boutique Capital of Vancouver Island
Duncan also claims to have more artists and performers per capita than anywhere in Canada.
And the only problem visitors will have when hunger hits is deciding in which eatery they’d like to sit.
The options are many and varied from the popular, including the Craig Street Brew Pub – the only one of its kind in the valley – to the Riverwalk Cafe, for genuine Native fare that utilizes such traditional ingredients as rabbit, venison, buffalo, and halibut.
The Riverwalk is part of the Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre, our Coast Salish heritage cornerstone, where you can check out Native art and watch artisans knit world-famous Cowichan sweaters.
However, First Nations-flavoured activity isn’t restricted to the QCC – after all, Duncan is not known as the City of Totems for nothing!
Guided tours of all 37 genuine hand-carved totems takes about 45 minutes and will give visitors a terrific introduction to the local First Nation heritage and art of totem carving and the stories each pole tells.
And if its wood of a different kind of Canadiana you’re into, check out the world’s largest hockey stick atop the community centre.
Those who love games of chance can check out Chances gaming centre, right next to the Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre.
A pair of great art galleries easily add to the culture: ‘Imagine That!’ Gallery displays and sells the work of more than 100 established and emerging artists; the E. J. Hughes Gallery exclusively shows the work of the legendary popular Canadian artist who, for the last 28 years of his life, called Duncan home.
For those who want to enjoy the best the valley has to offer, the downtown Duncan Farmers’ is a venue for local farmers and artisans.
The weekly event showcases the very best of Cowichan agriculture, baking, artwork and more.
Downtown also comes alive during the annual Summer Festival, running this year from July 12 to 18. The Islands Folk Festival is an annual treat for music lovers. You can check out the 25th edition this year, just outside Duncan at pastoral Providence Farm, July 24 to 26.
To learn more of what fascinating Duncan has to offer, log onto http://www.downtownduncan.ca.