Duncan is a small city on southern Vancouver Island, situated in the fertile Cowichan Valley about 60 kilometres north of Victoria. Known informally as the “City of Totems,” Duncan displays more than 80 carved totem poles throughout its downtown core and surrounding streets, each created by carvers from local Cowichan Peoples communities. The city serves as the commercial and administrative hub for the Cowichan region, which encompasses a patchwork of farmland, forest, and river valley extending across the southern Island interior. The Trans-Canada Highway passes through Duncan, connecting it to Victoria to the south and Nanaimo to the north. The nearby Cowichan River is one of the island’s most celebrated fisheries, drawing anglers year-round, while its lower reaches are popular for kayaking and swimming. The valley’s warm, dry microclimate — among the mildest in Canada — supports vineyards, orchards, and farms that anchor a growing agri-tourism sector. The Quw’utsun’ Cultural and Conference Centre, just south of downtown, offers exhibits and experiences on the history and traditions of the Coast Salish peoples of the region.