North Cowichan Community Info

The Cowichan region is on Vancouver Island on Canada’s West Coast in the province of BC. It is nestled comfortably between two mid-size cities – Victoria with a population of 325,000, 45 km south and Nanaimo, with a population of 80,000, 45 km north. The area provides all the allure of small community life, while within an hour of every possible service and amenity.

Airlines
Floatplanes fly into Maple Bay and small aircrafts can land at the Duncan Airport southwest of town. The closest major departure point is Nanaimo Airport, less than a half-hour north of Duncan. Air Canada offers a schedule of daily flights to and from Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

Bus Services
Greyhound Canada buses depart at least a half-dozen times daily from its downtown depot (180 Central Way, at the west end of the shopping plaza, at the junction of Trunk Road and the Trans-Canada).

Public Transit
The Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System offers a dozen bus routes linking Duncan with surrounding communities. Village Green Mall and the old-town Duncan train station are common points of departure/arrival for most of these routes. Buses travel on regular schedules to Mount Prevost, Quamichan, Maple Bay, Shawnigan Lake (via either Mill Bay or Cobble Hill), Crofton-Chemainus, Cowichan Lake, and Gordon Bay.

Ferry Schedules
BC Ferries provides vehicle and foot passenger service on a frequent basis year-round to terminals in Nanaimo and Swartz Bay (near Victoria). Island visitors from the US often arrive via the Black Ball Ferry (Port Angeles, WA to Victoria) or Washington State Ferries (Anacortes, WA to Sidney, BC).

Car Rentals
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
# 2 – 2943 Boys Road
Duncan, BC, V9L 6W4
P: 250 701-9091

Taxi Services
Duncan Taxi Ltd.
2910 Allenby Road
Duncan, BC, V9L 6V3
P: 250 746-4444

Country Cabs Duncan Ltd
Duncan, BC, V9L 4P2
P: 250 746-0009

Cobble Hill Taxi
2396 Beverly Street
Duncan, BC, V9L 2Z9
P: 250 743-5555

The Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce provides valuable information about the community, relocation and local businesses.

Banking
Duncan in North Cowichan currently has a Bank of Montreal, CIBC, Coast Capital Savings and an Island Savings for financial services.

Schools
North Cowichan and Duncan is in Cowichan Valley School District #79.

Alexander Elementary (K-6, 169 Students)
2471 Beverly Street
Duncan, BC, V9L 3A3
P: 250 748-8148

Drinkwater Elementary (K-6, 377 Students)
6236 Lane Road
Duncan, BC, V9L 4E1
P: 250 748-9232

Duncan Elementary (K-6, 373 Students)
French Immersion
1033 Nagle Street
Duncan, BC, V9L 2E6
P: 250 746-6195

Khowhemun Elementary School (K-6, 211 Students)
2918 Cliffs Road
Duncan, BC, V9L 1C5
P: 250 746-7845

Koksilah Elementary School (K-7, 111 Students)
5265 Boal Road
Duncan, BC, V9L 6W3
P: 250 748-3138

Maple Bay Elementary (K-6, 225 Students)
RR#1, 1500 Donnay Drive
Duncan, BC, V9L 5R4
P: 250 746-7541

Somenos Rural Traditional Elementary (K-6, 87 Students)
3039 Sprott Road
Duncan, BC, V9L 6A1
P: 250 746-5258

Tansor Elementary (K-6, 178 Students)
3594 Auchinachie
Duncan, BC, V9L 4A4
P: 250 748-4631

Mt. Prevost Middle School (7-9, 537 Students)
6177 Somenos Road
Duncan, BC, V9L 4E7
P: 250 746-7187
Offers French Immersion

Quamichan Middle School (7-9, 350 Students)
2515 Beverly Street
Duncan, BC, V9L 3A5
P: 250 746-6168

Cowichan Secondary School (10-12, 960 Students)
2652 James Street
Duncan, BC, V9L 2X2
P: 250 746-4435

Cowichan Valley Open Learning Cooperative (5-12, 269 Students)
540 Cairnsmore Street
Duncan, BC, V9L 2A1
P: 250 746-6052

Visitor Centre
Duncan Visitor Centre
#8 – 361 Trans Canada Highway
Duncan, BC, V9L 3R5
P: 250 746-4636 | TFP: 888 303-3337

Cycling and hiking options are plentiful in the region. Walkabouts in downtown Duncan will satisfy cravings for local fashions, arts, and crafts. The Cowichan Valley Museum is in the old train station.

The 730-seat Cowichan Theatre is the Cowichan’s largest performance venue. Jazz, pop, and classical music is heard here along with touring productions of popular Broadway productions. Acoustic music is showcased many nights of the year at the Duncan Garage Showroom, a charmingly intimate venue run by impresario Longevity John.

First held in 1979, the 10-day Duncan Cowichan Summer Festival in mid-July brings music, parades and children’s activities to downtown’s City Square and Charles Hoey Park. The scene shifts later in the month to Providence Farm for the annual Island Music Festival with its weekend line-up of local and touring musicians.

The BC Forestry Discovery Centre hosts a series of special events year-round, including a maple syrup festival in February, an Easter egg hunt in April and Christmas steam train jaunts. In September the Cowichan Exhibition hosts a classic harvest celebration with horse shows, tractor pulls, and live music. Later in September visit the Cowichan Wine and Culinary Festival for the best food and wine the district has to offer.

Golfers head for the championship Duncan Meadows course as the first in the valley’s courses; Arbutus Ridge Golf Club (Mill Bay), March Meadows (Honeymoon Bay) and the Cowichan Golf & Country Club (south of Duncan).