North Cowichan

Template:Use Canadian English Template:Template other North Cowichan (Canada 2021 Census population 31,990) is a district municipality established in 1873 on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. The municipality is part of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. North Cowichan is noted for a landscape including forests, beaches, rivers, and lakes. The municipality encompasses the communities of Chemainus; Westholme; Crofton; Maple Bay; and "the South End". The latter is an informal name for a built-up area which is essentially a suburb of the City of Duncan, a separate municipality.

Geography

Located on the east coast of southern Vancouver Island, North Cowichan is centrally located immediately north of and adjacent to the city of Duncan and south of Ladysmith. Spanning 193.98 square kilometres, North Cowichan is the largest incorporated municipality by land area on Vancouver Island, and includes the communities of Chemainus, Crofton, Westholme, Maple Bay and the so-called "South End" which is functionally a suburb of Duncan, a separate municipality.

Geology

The last glacial period, the Fraser Glaciation occurred between 29,000 and 15,000 years ago. The glaciers that formed carved out the Cowichan Valley and left behind glaciers up to 30 metres thick. These fertile lands and mild climate have led to a history rich in agriculture.

Climate

Sheltered by the mountains of the central Island and the Olympic Peninsula, North Cowichan has a temperate, Mediterranean-like climate, with mild, damp winters with little snowfall and warm, dry summers. North Cowichan is classified as a warm-summer mediterranean climate Csb by the Köppen system.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, North Cowichan had a population of 31,990 living in 13,741 of its 14,266 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 29,696. With a land area of Template:Cvt, it had a population density of Template:Pop density in 2021.

The median family income in 2006 for North Cowichan was $62,125, which is below the British Columbia provincial average of $65,787.

Ethnicity

Panethnic groups in the District of North Cowichan (1986−2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011		2006		2001		1996		1991		1986Template:Rp
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	25,875		24,585		24,880		23,705		22,695		22,505		19,105		16,665
Indigenous	2,860		2,380		1,985		1,880		1,570		1,225		985		790
South Asian	900		870		720		1,015		995		940		800		795
East AsianTemplate:Efn	640		535		315		340		230		270		175		245
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	565		370		210		200		175		90		60		25
African	280		85		60		45		90		25		55		0
Latin American	90		65		50		55		30		20		20		15
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	85		75		0		30		20		0		55		0
OtherTemplate:Efn	135		65		0		35		25		20		N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total responses	31,425		29,035		28,240		27,315		25,835		25,105		21,255		18,535
Total population	31,990		29,676		28,807		27,557		26,148		25,305		21,373		18,674

• Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in North Cowichan included:

• Irreligion (18,180 persons or 57.9%)
• Christianity (11,885 persons or 37.8%)
• Sikhism (385 persons or 1.2%)
• Islam (160 persons or 0.5%)
• Hinduism (150 persons or 0.5%)
• Buddhism (125 persons or 0.4%)
• Indigenous Spirituality (70 persons or 0.2%)
• Judaism (60 persons or 0.2%)

Communities

• Chemainus
• Crofton
• Maple Bay
• South End (adjacent to the City of Duncan)

Transportation

North Cowichan is serviced by the Maple Bay Airport (YAQ), which offers services to Downtown Vancouver, Vancouver Airport, Ganges on Salt Spring Island and Bedwell Harbour on Pender Island. Service is provided by Saltspring Air and Harbour Air.

The British Columbia Highway 1 traverses the municipality as a four-lane arterial divided highway with signals at major intersections. The speed limit varies between 80 and 90 km/h in the rural areas, lowering to 60 then 50 km/h in the denser urban area near Duncan.

British Columbia Highway 18 connects North Cowichan to Lake Cowichan as a 2-lane facility with a speed limit as high as 100 km/h.

Bus service in the municipality is provided by the Cowichan Valley Regional District with service connecting the North Cowichan communities of Chemainus and Crofton with the south end and Duncan.

North Cowichan is also serviced by the Nanaimo Regional Transit System with daily (except Sunday) service through North Cowichan between Nanaimo and Duncan. The NCX 70 service has a stop at the Cowichan Commons shopping centre in North Cowichan.

North Cowichan has embraced roundabouts at many intersections on its network of municipal roads. As of 2021 North Cowichan has 14 roundabouts.

Economy

The original economic drivers steamed from the abundance of natural resources, including the fur trade, fishing, mining, and the forest industry. Today, the forest industry, retail, construction, manufacturing, and health care are large contributors to the local economy.

Education

North Cowichan lies within the School District 79 Cowichan Valley. There are many elementary schools, and two secondary schools.

North Cowichan is served by one public post secondary educational institution, Vancouver Island University.

Media outlets

North Cowichan is served by three newspapers – the Duncan Journal, the Cowichan Valley Citizen, and the Chemainus Valley Courier. North Cowichan is also serviced by 89.7 Juice FM, a member of Vista Radio.

Attractions

North Cowichan is home to the BC Forest Discovery Centre, the Pacific Northwest Raptors Bird of Prey and Raptor Visitor Center, and the world famous Chemainus Murals.

Arts

The Cowichan Theatre hosts many performers and shows during the year. The Chemainus Theatre Festival features classic and award-winning comedies, musicals and dramas.

Recreation

North Cowichan is home to many recreation centres, including the Cowichan Aquatic Centre, cowichan community Centre, Fuller Lake Arena and the Cowichan Sportsplex. North Cowichan offers numerous parks and hiking trails.

Power supply

The Vancouver Island terminal of the HVDC Vancouver-Island is found here.

External links

• Template:Wikivoyage inline