Duncan Community Mapping Project

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