Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada: The Southern Cowichan Valley starts at the base of Malahat Mountain south of Mill Bay. (A beautiful scenic drive over the mountain leads to views of Saanich Inlet and Victoria) Onward we go, northeast, is Cowichan Bay and northwest is Cobble Hill and Shawnigan Lake. Continueing up island, is Duncan, the commercial centre of the region and Crofton, where a forestry mill stands today and... currently, is the main employer of the Cowichan Valley. Further north from Duncan, the upper west end of the Cowichan Valley is the lake communities of Youbou and Lake Cowichan. The north end of the Cowichan Valley entertains with theatre and murals in the community of Chemainus and...the north end of the Cowichan Valley is Ladysmith's floral displays and restored heritage buildings.

The Cowichan Valley was Initially, solely, a resource town with forestry and fishing as the main industries... but changing world markets and environmental concerns have impacted and changed the economic landscape creating a new industry of emerging companies promoting tourism and agriculture opportunities. Today, industries like wineries and eco-tourism outdoor companies are operating successfully and plentifully throughout the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

The Cowichan Valley, also known as "The Warm Lands", is a collection of many eclectic villages, unique communities, and vibrant townships inter dispersed throughout the soil-rich valleys connected by the Island Hwy. The scenery is diverse bordering deep blue oceans, serene crystal-clear lakes and rumbling rivers.

Cowichan Valley History: The word "Cowichan" originates from the Quw'utsun First Nations People meaning " "back warmed by the sun ". The Cowichan Valley is home to over 3500 Quw'utsun' First Nations people. It is the largest First Nation clan in British Columbia, Canada. Researchers state that the Quw'utsun tribe lived and enjoyed the environmental benefits of southern British Columbia, as far back as, 4500 years ago.

Deep traditions and strong cultural beliefs passed down by the Elders tells us that the first people of the Quw'utsun people "Fell from the skies" inhabiting the rich lands of the Cowichan Valley. In the early 1900's, Sir Francis Drake arrived on the shores of Vancouver Island. Soon later, the European settlers started to arrive to the Cowichan Valley and, together, both cultures have learnt to live together building a strong beauitful valley.

Cowichan Valley Climates: The Cowichan Valley is well known for its mean, warm temperatures. The Cowichan Valley, proudly is also known as the "Warm Land" enjoying over 2,000 hours of sun a year. The average temperature of the Cowichan Valley hangs around a high of 25 degrees Celsius (74 Fahrenheit) to a low of 13 ( 55 Fahrenheit) degrees Celsius in the summer annually.

Winter, is a mixed bag, with sunshine and rain with a high of 8 degrees Celsius (45 Fahrenheit) to a low of 1 ( 34 Fahrenheit) degrees Celsius. The Cowichan Region receives, on average, only 100 cm ( 40 inches) of participation annually. It is mostly rainfall, with usually no snowfall except at higher elevations. Just enough to keep every thing lush and green.

Cowichan Valley Communities:

Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada: The first community to welcome you entering from the north end of the Cowichan Valley is Ladysmith, BC. A seaside community built on the hillside looking down at the Pacific Ocean and Transfer Beach Park. Ladysmith's Transfer Beach is a popular swimming area with picnic tables, a children's play ground, walking trails and a summer concession stand. Ladysmith Village is a delightful voyage through memory lane wondering in and out of the shops, boutiques and stores housed in old heritage buildings. The streets of Ladysmith Village are lit up in colors and fragrances with a bountiful variety of flowers, pruned trees and shrubs. At one end of the village the road leads to a sculptured stone water fountain. Ladysmith has won awards recognizing its efforts in the revitalization of the community like the "Main Street Award" of Canada and Harrowsmith Magazine named Ladysmith as "One of the Prettiest Towns in Canada".

Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada: Chemainus BC has been nicknamed the "Little Town That Did" because, not long ago, Chemainus BC was on the prink of becoming a ghost town as resource industry jobs began to fade and revenues into the community began to disappear. To draw more attention to the community local artists were called in to paint murals on the side of the buildings to tell the history of the Cowichan Valley. Today, painted foot steps on the community sidewalks direct Visitors from around the world to each "Chemainus Mural". The Chemainus Village has blossomed into a main attraction for Visitors to the Cowichan Valley because of these murals and the businesses that have developed around them like the Chemainus Theatre, the unique shops, bistros, boutiques, pubs and restaurants. When visiting Chemainus everything is within walking distance or one can enjoy a horse drawn carriage for an interpretive tour of the village. Chemasinus is also where the gateway terminal to Thetis Island via the BC Ferries is located.

Duncan, British Columbia, Canada: Duncan is the commercial hub of the Cowichan Valley. The downtown core has many unique shops, boutiques, restaurants and specialty stores. Surrounding the core of the city of Duncan in the outlying areas are some of the Big Box stores available for convenience shopping. Not long ago, a co-operative effort between the community of Duncan, BC and the Native First Nations people developed a plan to create, carve and resurrect over 70 Totem Poles throughout the community. Today, Duncan is the "City of Totems." Duncan is only one square kilometre in size with one of the major landmarks being the "Worlds Largest Hockey Stick" mounted on the front of Duncan's community centre where a library, hockey rink, gymnasium and swimming pool are located. Just south of Duncan is Whippletree Junction. A favorite stop to take a step back in time visiting with an assortment of eclectic antique shops, local craftsman and artists boutiques housed in shops reminiscence of the ol' western days. Sundays, at Whippletree Junction, the active local auction house is open for bids. Some of the smaller communities located just outside the city core of Duncan BC are Maple Bay with ocean view homes, a pub, a marina and a small store... there is Genoa Bay with a marina and a restaurant pub. Glenora, west of Duncan is filled with fertile valleys and grazing acres.

Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada: Cowichan Lake in the Village of Lake Cowichan is the second largest lake on Vancouver Island. Cowichan Lake is a top notch recreational lake with many beaches and is heavily populated in the summer because it is an ideal area for swimming, water skiing, canoeing , kayaking and camping. From the edge of town in Lake Cowichan a gravel road winds its way around Cowichan Lake back to the edge of the Village of Youbou on the other side of the lake. The loop gravel road around Cowichan Lake leads to the other small villages on the shores of the lake like Caycuse, Honeymoon Bay and, of course, Youbou. Also, from the tip of Cowichan Lake the gravel backroads takes you north through rugged wilderness country to Bamfield. The Village of Lake Cowichan has all the amenities of a small village like grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and shops and boutiques. Lake Cowichan is one of the premier camping areas in the Cowichan Valley with over 10 campsites available for tenters and RVs from pampered camping to wilderness camping.

Crofton, British Columbia, Canada: The oceanfront community of Crofton, BC is located south of Chemainus BC. The Crofton community centres around a local forestry mill operated by Norske Canada which is the largest employer of the Cowichan Valley. The Crofton community is also a gateway to the Gulf Islands with a BC Ferry terminal operating daily transporting passengers over to Saltspring Island. Crofton Village has a couple of restaurants, convenience stores, pubs and specialty stores. Located on the waterfront by the Crofton Ferry is a scenic boardwalk stretching along the coastline for sightseeing walks, a local tourist info office and a park with childrens play area.

Cowichan Bay, British Columbia, Canada: The village of Cowichan Bay initially was a marina used as a gateway for transporting forest products and for leisure sailboat and motor cruisers to anchor up for the night at any of the marinas. The waterfront of Cowichan Bay is built right on the shoreline with many buildings on stilts or pilings. Some of the buildings date back to the times of the initial settlers to Cowichan Bay. The Cowichan Bay area, today, has some of the finest restaurants specializing in seafood dishes, a convenience store, unique specialty boutiques and a coffee shop. Proximity to the ocean is also a big draw for some tourism businesses such as outdoor eco adventure companies like kayaking, whale watching and charter boat services to set up shop in the Cowichan Bay. The Cowichan Bay Marine Museum is a central draw to the area telling the stories of the ancient mariners through the model ships and artifacts on display. Cowichan Bay Marine Museum also records the marine history of the Native First Nations people of the Cowichan Valley and presently, the museum is a First Nations boat building clinic.

Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada: Shawnigan Lake circle loop road takes you around the whole coastline of this beautiful recreational lake located only 10 minutes from the main #1 Highway south of Duncan. Shawnigan Lake is a popular recreational summer spot for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and water skiing. The village is located south of the main public beach area of Shawnigan Lake with a convenience store, gas station, restaurant coffee shop and some specialty stores and services. The area is also globally recognized as an education hub with two very prominent private schools in the area, one of which is the Shawnigan Lake School and the other is the Maxwell International BAHA'I School. History also shares with us that just east of Shawnigan Lake at cliffside is the the area where the last spike was hammered into the ground for the E & N Railway. Canada's longest hiking, biking and horse back trail, "The Trans Canada Trail" , weaves it way through the Shawnigan Lake area passing by the highest and largest wooden trestle bridges in the world today spanning over the Kokisilah River, The Kinsol Trestle.

Cobble Hill, British Columbia, Canada: Cobble Hill, BC located south of Duncan, just before Mill Bay, is fast becoming recognized around the world for its rich fertile soil and ideal climates producing some of newest quality wines coming from the province of British Columbia. Most of the wineries and vineyards of the South Vancouver Island Wine Route are located in the Cobble Hill area. Many of the aromatic wines coming from the local vineyards of Cobble Hill have won wards from around the world. But, it is not just the wines that flourish in this environment, there are also rolling hills of grazing cattle and farming lands ready for harvest. Arbutus Ridge Golf Course perched high on the hill is a popular golf course in the Cowichan Valley located in Cobble Hill. The small Village of Cobble Hill has a convenience store and a restaurant.

Mill Bay, British Columbia, Canada: The Cowichan Valley's most southern village is Mill Bay, BC located at the north doorstep of the beautiful scenic Malahat Drive taking you over the mountains into Victoria. Mill Bay's coastline is both an educational anchor to an independent university preparatory boarding school Brentwood College and a transportation anchor with daily sailings over to Victoria via a BC Ferry service from Mill Bay over to Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula just north of Victoria and south of the BC Ferry terminal over to the mainland. Mill Bay is a beautiful seaside community with some oceanview parks, scenic drives and hiking trails while the centre of Mill Bay Village is made up of a core group of different specialty shops, restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations and boutiques.