North Cowichan, British Columbia

Municipality of North Cowichan
—  District Municipality  —
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: No Steps Backwards
Municipality of North Cowichan Location of North Cowichan in British Columbia
Coordinates: 48°49′25″N 123°43′9″W / 48.82361°N 123.71917°W / 48.82361; -123.71917Coordinates: 48°49′25″N 123°43′9″W / 48.82361°N 123.71917°W / 48.82361; -123.71917
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Regional District	CVRD
Incorporated	1873
Government
– Mayor	Tom Walker
– Governing body	North Cowichan Council
– MPs	Jean Crowder
– MLAs	Bill Routley
Area
– Total	193.98 km2 (74.9 sq mi)
Population (2006)
– Total	27,557
– Density	142/km2 (367.8/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC−8)
– Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC−7)
Area code(s)	+1-250
Website	Municipality of North Cowichan

North Cowichan (Canada 2006 Census population 27,557) is a District municipality on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada and is in the Cowichan Valley Regional District. North Cowichan is marked by a beautiful landscape including gorgeous forests, beaches, rivers and lakes.

Geography

Located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, North Cowichan is centrally located between the cities of Victoria to the south, and Nanaimo to the north. Vancouver is located to the east, separated by the Strait of Georgia. Spanning 193.98 square kilometers North Cowichan includes the communities of Chemainus, Crofton, Maple Bay and South End.

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 glacier till up to 30 metres thick. These fertile lands and mild climate have led to a history rich in agriculture.^[1]

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 enjoys Canada’s warmest mean temperature.

Demographics

North Cowichan has a population of 27,557 people in 2006, which was an increase of 5.4% from the 2001 census count. The median family income in 2006 for North Cowichan was $62,125, which is below the British Columbia provincial average of $65,787.^[2]

Communities

• Chemainus
• Crofton
• Maple Bay
• South End

Transportation

North Cowichan is serviced by the Maple Bay Airport (YAQ), which offers services to Vancouver Downtown, 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. Bus service in the municipality is provided by the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

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, two middle 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 Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, the Cowichan Valley Citizen, and the Chemainus Courier. North Cowichan is also serviced by CJSU-FM (SunFM), 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 features classic and award winning comedies, musicals and dramas.

Recreation

North Cowichan is home to many recreation centres, including the Cowichan Aquatic Centre, Island Savings 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.

	North: Cowichan Valley G, Kuper Island
West: Cowichan Valley E	North Cowichan North Cowichan completely surrounds Halalt	East: Squaw-hay-one, Tsussie 6, Capital F
	South: Duncan, Cowichan IR No. 1

Climate

Climate data for North Cowichan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	13.5 (56.3)	18.5 (65.3)	23.5 (74.3)	28.5 (83.3)	32.0 (89.6)	34.0 (93.2)	36.0 (96.8)	34.5 (94.1)	35 (95)	27 (81)	18 (64)	15 (59)	36 (96.8)
Average high °C (°F)	6.6 (43.9)	8.6 (47.5)	11.3 (52.3)	14.9 (58.8)	18.5 (65.3)	21 (70)	24.5 (76.1)	24.3 (75.7)	22.5 (72.5)	15.1 (59.2)	9.6 (49.3)	6.1 (43.0)	15.25 (59.45)
Daily mean °C (°F)	3.2 (37.8)	4.3 (39.7)	6.3 (43.3)	9.2 (48.6)	12.4 (54.3)	15.0 (59.0)	17.8 (64.0)	17.5 (63.5)	15.2 (59.4)	10.0 (50.0)	5.9 (42.6)	3.1 (37.6)	9.99 (49.99)
Average low °C (°F)	−0.2 (31.6)	−0.1 (31.8)	1.3 (34.3)	3.5 (38.3)	6.3 (43.3)	9.0 (48.2)	11.0 (51.8)	10.7 (51.3)	7.9 (46.2)	4.9 (40.8)	2.2 (36.0)	0.2 (32.4)	4.73 (40.51)
Record low °C (°F)	−14 (6.8)	−15 (5.0)	−10 (14.0)	−3 (26.6)	−1.5 (29.3)	2.5 (36.5)	5.0 (41.0)	5.0 (41.0)	0.0 (32.0)	−4.5 (23.9)	−10.5 (13.1)	−15.5 (4.1)	−15.5 (4.1)
Precipitation mm (inches)	238.0 (9.37)	164.0 (6.457)	133.0 (5.236)	85.0 (3.346)	51.0 (2.008)	40.0 (1.575)	25.0 (0.984)	33.0 (1.299)	28.0 (1.102)	117.0 (4.606)	222.0 (8.74)	229.0 (9.016)	1,365 (53.74)
Source: The Weather Network[3]

References

1. ^ "Geological History of Vancouver Island". CVRD. CVRD. http://www.crd.bc.ca/watersheds/protection/geology-processes/geologicalhistoryVI.htm. 
2. ^ "British Columbia — Community Fact". http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/DATA/DD/facsheet/cf124.pdf. Retrieved 2010-11-29. 
3. ^ The Weather Network—Statistics: Duncan, BC. Retrieved 29 September 2011.

External links

• The District of North Cowichan