Duncan: Highway 1 at Trunk Road in - looking east

Few cities in British Columbia have a history as closely tied to the Cowichan Valley’s agricultural and forestry economy as Duncan. On southeastern Vancouver Island, it forms part of a valley shaped by the Cowichan River, which flows from Cowichan Lake to Cowichan Bay. Duncan stands in the traditional territory of the Cowichan Tribes, and Coast Salish culture remains central to the area’s identity. Its “City of Totems” nickname reflects the many publicly displayed totem poles that make Indigenous carving a prominent feature of its streets. The compact downtown serves surrounding communities, while the BC Forest Discovery Centre documents the region’s logging heritage. Explore nearby webcam locations that provide complementary perspectives on Duncan and the Cowichan Valley.

British Columbia has served as Canada’s Pacific frontier since joining Confederation in 1871. This vast western province extends from the Pacific coast across the Coast Mountains and interior plateaus to the Canadian Rockies; these coordinates lie in its sparsely settled northern interior. The Fraser, British Columbia’s longest river, drains a large part of the province before reaching the Strait of Georgia. First Nations have shaped these lands for millennia, and their living cultures remain integral to communities throughout the province. Victoria, on Vancouver Island, is the provincial capital, while Vancouver is its largest city and a major Pacific port. Forestry, mining, fisheries and outdoor travel all reflect a terrain where waterways and mountain corridors matter. View additional webcams nearby to better understand how British Columbia’s northern interior relates to its Pacific coast and mountain ranges.

Canada has served as a frontier between French and British colonial powers since the 17th century. The world’s second-largest country extends from Atlantic shores to the Pacific and Arctic coasts, with the Canadian Shield, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River shaping its vast geography. First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples are central to Canada’s identity, while Ottawa’s Parliament Hill represents its federal political life. French remains the official language of Quebec, adding a distinct dimension to the country’s public culture. See how Canada connects across North America by browsing webcams in neighbouring regions.