COMMUNITY MAPPING
PROJECT - DUNCANBy Kenny Cross
HUMS1581
Thompson Rivers University
Dr. Jennifer Kong
WELCOME TO DUNCAN BC
Population: 4,092 (2011) down from 4,986(2006)
Area: 2.07 km sq.
Located on Vancouver Island
Halfway between Victoria and Nanaimo
Incorporated 1912
Regional District: Cowichan Valley
Mayor: Phil Kent
Elevation: 20m.
Source: Stats Canada and Wikipedia
Presentation of Cowichan SweaterTo President Truman 1945
Perry Ross with logging truck ca. 1939
Cowichan Lumber Queen1st July 1944
Courtesy Cowichan Valley Museum
First Nations and European Settlement
“The Coast Salish and the Cowichan peoples have resided in this seaside area for at least
six thousand years. Spanish and English explorers first mapped the coastline in the early
1790s. William Chalmers Duncan arrived at Cowichan Bay on the H.M.S. Hecate in August
1862 with a group of men who cleared forested tracts, built cabins and planted crops to
feed themselves and their cattle.”
Industry and Growth
“The local population began to grow with the arrival of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo rail line
in the 1880s. Agricultural, forestry and, for a brief period, mining activities followed soon
after. The Cowichan Creamery was producing award-winning butter by the turn of the
century. Milk shipped from Duncan's Station (aka Alderlea) to Victoria and Nanaimo was
rated highly because of the Cowichan's lush grass and mild climate.
By 1913, the valley was home to 3,864 European inhabitants, most were from the British
Isles. A year earlier Duncan was incorporated as a city.”
Courtesy HelloBC
Crime
BullyingChild Abuse
GraffitiMental Health
Welfare
Dependency
Dysfunctional
Families
Alcoholism
Drug AbuseYouth Suicide
Illiteracy
Truancy
DropoutsHomelessness
Vacant Shops
Unemployment
Loss of
Community Spirit
Housing affordability is a
key
Issue in most places around
The country and Duncan is
no exception
After many big-box stores were built
on the outskirts of town many local
business’ ended up closing.
“Approximately 41% of youth in
care were recommended for
charges by police, in contrast to
just over 6% of the general
youth population.”
Source Kids, Crime, and Care: Health and Wellbeing
of Children in Care: Youth Justice Experiences and
Outcomes
British Columbia Jurisdictions Crime Trends Report
Drug crime rates in the
Cowichan Region increased
by25% from 2007
to 2008. Drug crimes involve
cannabis, cocaine,
heroin, and other
drugs. Cowichan Region’s
drug crime rate of was 6.4 offenses per1000,
comparable to the BC rate
of 6.3/1000.
Individual CapacitiesPersonal
IncomeLabeled
People
Local
Business
Home-based
Business
Associational and Organizational
Capacities
Citizen’s
Associations
Associations of
Businesses
Financial
InstitutionsCultural
Organizations
Communications
Organizations
Religious
Organizations
Individual
Capacities
Associational and
Organizational
Capacities
Private and Non-Profit
Institutions
Higher
Education
Hospitals
Social Service
Agencies
Public Institutions
And ServicesPublic
SchoolsPolice
LibrariesParks
Fire
Departments
Physical
Resources
Vacant Land, Commercial and
Industrial Structures, Housing
Energy and
Waste Resources
Private and
Non-Profit
Public Institutions
And ServicesPhysical
Resources
Duncan is a small town struggling with its identity. It is
small in size and population and is sandwiched between
Nanaimo and Victoria, with many people just passing
between those two cities. Duncan has the same
problems that most cities have. However crime is on the
decline and homelessness does not seem to be a huge
issue.
Duncan has strong community pride and is working hard
at making this a great place to live.
There is a revitalized downtown area that seems to be thriving despite
the fact that many big-box stores, including BC’s first Walmart
Supercentre and HomeDepot, opened on the outskirts of town.
Last year city council adopted a social policy framework that maps out
a path to make Duncan a better place to live and work. It is doing this
by focusing on its greatest asset: its people.
Duncan City Hall Duncan Garage Duncan Farmers Market