Every time we went South on Vancouver Island, I saw this sign of the town Duncan The City of Totems, which intrigued me. So I had to stop to see it for myself.
Where is Duncan located?
It is straightforward to get there, as it is near Highway 1. So just put Duncan, City Center on your GPS, and you will be good to go.
From Campbell River, it will take you a little more than 2 hours to get there, but the road is excellent!
The history of Duncan:
Duncan is a small town in British Columbia. More specifically, it is located in the Cowichan Valley of Southern Vancouver Island. The valley is the traditional home of the Coast Salish Indians. Since 1985, this little town has become “The City of Totems,” in honor of the city’s First Nations Heritage. Many artisans have produced lots of totems. That is also why some commercial streets of Duncan expose several beautiful totems. A first nation named Simon Charlie contributed highly to this art.
The city’s population now exceeds more than 5000 people. So, it is not a huge city, but there is still a lot to find out about Duncan.
In May 1862, William Chalmers Duncan, with all his team, a group of lumberjacks, arrived in Victoria. A few months later, in August, William Duncan moved to the Cowichan Valley with a group of settlers, Governor Douglas. He founded his family and built a farm near the present city of Duncan. Later, William Duncan agreed to provide a stop for the new railroad on his farmland. This stop has become Duncan’s downtown.
With the arrival of the Nanaimo and Esquimalt rail lines in 1886, the local population began to grow significantly, and Duncan became central in the Cowichan Valley. Soon after, new jobs appeared in agriculture, forestry, and mining. There was also the Cowichan Creamery that was producing milk in large quantities. From Duncan, milk was transported by rail and distributed in villages near Victoria, near the Pacific ocean. The milk of the creamery was of excellent quality because of the mild climate of Duncan. In 1912, Duncan officially became a city, and the following year a post office was built. It is now the site of Duncan’s City Hall.
Why is Duncan called the City of Totems?
The city’s slogan is “The city of totems” because of the 😯 totems you can find all around Duncan. They were made by a First Nations artist named Simon Charlie. There’s also a museum on the First Nations history called the Quw’utsan’ Cultural Center.
Why should you make a stop there?
To enjoy all of the Totems and walk on the Totems paths (follow the foot on the sidewalks!). Take your time to appreciate the artwork done here and all the First Nation artist Simon Charlie. You can enjoy the festivals during the summer or their 100 boutiques downtown. Or, you can go outside Duncan and enjoy some of their wineries too. You choose what you want!
