Total the Totems
On the way to Nanaimo we visited the small city of Duncan, B.C..
It has a quaint downtown core and lots of interesting buildings. But what really captured my eye was that it seemed like there was an original carving of some sort on every corner!
Actually, the city of Duncan is home to the world's largest collection of publicly displayed totem poles! Today, here in the “City of Totems”, visitors can embark on a free, self-guided tour throughout the city that includes 44 hand-carved poles created by Indigenous master artisans.
Native American tradition believes that each individual is associated with nine different animals that will complement each person through life, acting as guides.
Many of the original totem poles are preserved at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria but there are plenty to see here in Duncan too.
One hundred years ago, Duncan was establishing itself as the urban centre of the Cowichan Valley. The aspirations of the new city were expressed in the erection of impressive buildings as well as the development of services – a hospital, power station, post office and schools. It was a small city with a lot of contrasts. When guests of the elegant Empress Hotel in Victoria who were travelling north inquired about comparable hotels in Duncan, the newly built Tzouhalem Hotel was inevitably suggested.
Duncan is located on the traditional lands of the Cowichan First Nation on Vancouver Island. The Cowichan peoples have lived here for millennia.Agriculture was the first economy of the early settlement, followed by attempts at logging. But it was copper mining on Mt. Sicker that propelled the sleepy little town of Duncan’s into the 20th century.
It is definitely worth a drive through if you don’t have time for a ‘walk through’.
On our last day of our Vancouver Island holiday we spoiled ourselves with massages. ( I think we both really felt we needed them with our sore backs so I’m glad we found a massage place open on a Sunday.)
After mass I enjoyed my usual “Zoom” call with my ‘besties’ while Terry helped our friend, Bev, with her search for furniture for her new condo. (Success!)
Since we ended up in downtown Victoria for our massages we decided to stay there until dinner. It was raining and we had time so we enjoyed the new Rom Com, “Marry Me”….predictable but fun!
Dinner at the burger joint “Bin 4 Burgers” was a good choice too.
Tomorrow we head back to the snow….and home.
This was a wonderful break from winter!