Duncan (British Columbia)

Duncan is a city in the South Vancouver Island region of British Columbia. It is known for having one of the largest totem pole collections: more than 40. The Cowichan Historical Society (Museum) provides free totem tours in the summer months.

Understand
Although the City of Duncan has a population of just under 5,000 (2016), it serves the Cowichan Valley which has a population of approximately 84,000, many of whom live in North Cowichan and Cowichan First Nations (Indigenous) reserves. People in areas of North Cowichan and bordering on Duncan usually use "Duncan" as their mailing address.

The name Cowichan is an anglicization of Halkomelem Quw̓utsun̓, which means "the warm land".

Duncan has a large Indigenous community and is the traditional home of the Cowichan Tribes, who are the largest band among the Coast Salish people. The Coast Salish men and women of the Cowichan Tribes are makers of the world-famous Cowichan Sweaters.

By car
Duncan is on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) roughly halfway between Nanaimo and Victoria, a 30-45 minute drive from either city. The city is about 45 km from Victoria to the south and Nanaimo to the north.

By boat

 * BC Transit serves both Crofton and the Salt Spring Island (Vesuvius Bay) ferry terminals. At Crofton, bus route #6 serves the ferry terminal, connecting to Duncan and Chemainus. The ferry terminal is in Crofton, about 13km northeast of Duncan.
 * BC Transit serves both Crofton and the Salt Spring Island (Vesuvius Bay) ferry terminals. At Crofton, bus route #6 serves the ferry terminal, connecting to Duncan and Chemainus. The ferry terminal is in Crofton, about 13km northeast of Duncan.

By plane
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is in Nanaimo.

Seaplanes

 * Seaplanes land at Maple Bay, about 9 kilometres drive east of Duncan. Flights to Maple Bay from Vancouver International Airport (50 minutes).

Get around
Having your own car is the most convenient way to get around Duncan.

By public transit
Routes in Duncan include:
 * A number of bus routes servicing Duncan and nearby communities. It can get you close-ish to attractions but service on many routes is infrequent with buses often over an hour apart. The fare is $2.25.
 * Route 6 between Duncan and Chemainus (50 minutes) via Crofton. Operates multiple times daily.
 * Routes 8 and 9 between Duncan, Mill Bay, and Shawnigan Lake. The two routes run as loops with route 8 operating clockwise and route 9 operating counter-clockwise. Route 8 reaches the Mill Bay ferry (which crosses to Brentwood Bay, where there are public transit connections to Victoria), but route 9 does not. Route 8 operates daily and route 9 operates Monday to Saturday.
 * Route 36 between Duncan and Ladysmith (40 minutes). Operates multiple times per day from Monday to Saturday.
 * Route 44 and 66 operate between Duncan and Victoria (1.25 hours) with a stop in Langford. Route 66 operates Monday to Friday. Route 44 operates on Saturdays. Trips from Monday to Friday operate leave Duncan before 6:30 am (before 9:30 am as of September 3, 2023), and leave Victoria in the afternoon. Saturday trips operate during daytime hours. Starting September 3, 2023, route 44 trips will be renumbered as route 66.  $10 per trip.
 * Route 70 operates between downtown Nanaimo and Duncan (1.25 hours) with stops in Ladysmith and at Nanaimo Airport. Operates multiples times per day from Monday to Saturday. $7.50 per trip.

See

 * Totem poles - Duncan is nicknamed the City of Totems, with over 40 totem poles in town.
 * Totem poles - Duncan is nicknamed the City of Totems, with over 40 totem poles in town.
 * Totem poles - Duncan is nicknamed the City of Totems, with over 40 totem poles in town.

Nearby
South of Mill Bay:



Nearby
In Shawnigan Lake (accessed south of Duncan, along Highway 1, then by taking Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd):



Go next

 * Salt Spring Island is a short ferry ride from nearby Crofton (from Herd Rd go north on Osborne Bay Rd). There are artist studios, farms and the weekly market in spring, summer and fall.