Cowichan Bay, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Cowichan Bay is a bay
and community located near Duncan
, in British Columbia
. The mouth of the Cowichan River
is near Cowichan Bay. The bay is known for its fishing
and scenic value. The area's main industries are fishing and tourism
.
For many thousands of years Cowichan Bay was home to First Nations
people who harvested the wealth of salmon
and shellfish
found in its many coves, tidal flats and swiftly flowing rivers.
Cowichan Bay was the gateway for European settlement of the Cowichan and Chemainus
valleys from the early 1860's. A steamer service from Victoria
was the major link for goods and people before the coming of the railway.
Bypassed by the Esquimalt and Nanaimo line
and later by the Island Highway
, Cowichan Bay nevertheless was a thriving little community, based on sport and commercial salmon fishing, and log and lumber
exports.
That former economic base is declining but being replaced with more recreational water activities, a revived interest in boatbuilding, an appreciation for the history and ecology of the Bay, and tourism.
From the early 1900's Cowichan Bay attracted sportsmen from all over the British Empire
for superb salmon fishing in the Bay and the Cowichan and Koksilah rivers. It was, for a time, the Salmon Capital of the World offering not just fishing, but fine sailing waters, an annual regatta and, next to Wimbledon
, the oldest grass tennis courts in the world.
Cowichan Bay services are provided by the Cowichan Valley Regional District, with fire protection provided by the Cowichan Bay Improvement District which operates Cowichan Bay Fire Rescue
.
The village of Cowichan Bay is a tourist attraction in the summer because of its cozy fishing-village feel. The community began a transformation in 2004 when Jonathan Knight opened True Grain Bread, a European inspired bakery at the centre of the seaside village. His organic breads and pretzels and a focus on local and sustainable business practices quickly made a name for the bakery and the community. His success spawned other businesses to open in the bay; Radway Studios, an organic clothing store; Hilary's Cheese, a local-made cheese shop; The Udder Guys, an old-style homemade ice-cream parlour; The Masthead, an upscale restaurant that serves delicious local foods; Mudworks, a pottery shop run by a local artisan; as well as many other eateries and knick-knack shops. Cowichan Bay offers visitors a chance to see their impressive wildlife through kayak tours and rentals and whalewatching tours. Depending on the time of year it is not uncommon to see bald eagles, seals, herons or other wildlife in the area.
In July 2009, Cowichan Bay became Canada and North America's first Cittaslow
community.
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
and community located near Duncan
Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan . He arrived in Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year he was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay...
, in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The mouth of the Cowichan River
Cowichan River
The Cowichan River is a moderately sized river in British Columbia, Canada. It originates in Cowichan Lake, flowing east towards its end at Cowichan Bay. Its drainage basin is in size....
is near Cowichan Bay. The bay is known for its fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and scenic value. The area's main industries are fishing and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
For many thousands of years Cowichan Bay was home to First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
people who harvested the wealth of salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and shellfish
Shellfish
Shellfish is a culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some kinds are found only in freshwater...
found in its many coves, tidal flats and swiftly flowing rivers.
Cowichan Bay was the gateway for European settlement of the Cowichan and Chemainus
Chemainus River
The Chemainus River is a river on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, which enters the Gulf of Georgia near the town of Chemainus, British Columbia, which gets its name from the river.-References:*...
valleys from the early 1860's. A steamer service from Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
was the major link for goods and people before the coming of the railway.
Bypassed by the Esquimalt and Nanaimo line
E and N Railway
The Southern Railway of Vancouver Island is in length, and is one of two remaining railways on Vancouver Island, the other being the Englewood Railway. The railroad runs from Victoria to Courtenay, with a branch line from Parksville to Port Alberni...
and later by the Island Highway
Island Highway
The Island Highway is actually a series of highways that follows much of the eastern coastline of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada....
, Cowichan Bay nevertheless was a thriving little community, based on sport and commercial salmon fishing, and log and lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
exports.
That former economic base is declining but being replaced with more recreational water activities, a revived interest in boatbuilding, an appreciation for the history and ecology of the Bay, and tourism.
From the early 1900's Cowichan Bay attracted sportsmen from all over the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
for superb salmon fishing in the Bay and the Cowichan and Koksilah rivers. It was, for a time, the Salmon Capital of the World offering not just fishing, but fine sailing waters, an annual regatta and, next to Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
, the oldest grass tennis courts in the world.
Cowichan Bay services are provided by the Cowichan Valley Regional District, with fire protection provided by the Cowichan Bay Improvement District which operates Cowichan Bay Fire Rescue
Cowichan Bay Fire Rescue
The Cowichan Bay Fire Rescue Department exists to provide fire, medical and other life safety services to those who reside, work, or travel through the Cowichan Bay Improvement District, which borders the City of Duncan, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, Canada.-Overview:The Department...
.
The village of Cowichan Bay is a tourist attraction in the summer because of its cozy fishing-village feel. The community began a transformation in 2004 when Jonathan Knight opened True Grain Bread, a European inspired bakery at the centre of the seaside village. His organic breads and pretzels and a focus on local and sustainable business practices quickly made a name for the bakery and the community. His success spawned other businesses to open in the bay; Radway Studios, an organic clothing store; Hilary's Cheese, a local-made cheese shop; The Udder Guys, an old-style homemade ice-cream parlour; The Masthead, an upscale restaurant that serves delicious local foods; Mudworks, a pottery shop run by a local artisan; as well as many other eateries and knick-knack shops. Cowichan Bay offers visitors a chance to see their impressive wildlife through kayak tours and rentals and whalewatching tours. Depending on the time of year it is not uncommon to see bald eagles, seals, herons or other wildlife in the area.
In July 2009, Cowichan Bay became Canada and North America's first Cittaslow
Cittaslow
Cittaslow is a movement founded in Italy in October 1999. The inspiration of Cittaslow was the Slow Food organization. Cittaslow's goals include improving the quality of life in towns by slowing down its overall pace, especially in a city's use of spaces and the flow of life and traffic through them...
community.
Notable residents
- James DunsmuirJames DunsmuirJames Dunsmuir was a British Columbian industrialist and politician. Son of Robert Dunsmuir, he was heir to his family's coal fortune. The Dunsmuir family dominated the province's economy in the late nineteenth century and were a leading force in opposing organized labour...
- Former Premier and Lieutenant-Governor of BC - Robert William Service - Poet
- Jerry Joyce - Teacher, logger, story teller.
- Arthur Vickers (artist)Arthur Vickers (artist)Arthur Vickers , OBC is a Canadian West Coast storyteller and artist. He received the Order of British Columbia in 2008 for his charitable work fundraising.-Artwork:...
- Artist, story teller.