DUNCAN – The Duncan Cowichan Chamber operates the Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre servicing over 25,000 visitors annually from our facility at the BC Forest Discovery Centre and via mobile visitor servicing at community events throughout the region. Between the four Visitor Centres in the Cowichan Valley (Chemainus, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Duncan) we service over 130,000 visitors annually.
Cowichan was host to the BC Elders Gathering July 10 – 12. Cowichan Tribes welcomed 3000 attendees to the 42nd Annual BC Elders Gathering on their traditional territory. The Visitor Centre team were onsite, providing information on the many things to see and do in the Cowichan Valley.
The Cowichan 2018 BC Summer Games kick off on July 19. 3072 of BC’s best emerging high performance talents have registered and are ready to be part of the celebration of sport and community which runs July 19-22. These athletes will be supported by 453 coaches and 246 officials and many accompanying family members. The Cowichan Valley is going to be hopping with energy this week!
Lake Cowichan will also be hopping on the August long weekend as country music lovers descend on Laketown Ranch for Sunfest Country Music Festival. Another great line-up this year, featuring Eric Church, Brett Young, Dallas Smith, Emerson Drive, George Canyon, Aaron Pritchard and more. Single ticket and full event passes are still available at sunfestconcerts.com
Golf Canada and Duncan Meadows Golf Club will be hosting 240 golfers for the Canadian Men’s Amateur Golf Championship August 6 – 9, including teams from each Canadian Province as well as golfers from Europe and the US. Word is out that Cowichan is a golfer’s paradise.
The Vancouver Island Motor Gathering returns to the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit on August 26. The Motor Gathering is a fun-filled family event showcasing an array of classic, unique, modern and custom cars and motorcycles. Going in to its 7th year, the event hopes to raise over $183,000 for the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation and the David Foster Foundation.
On the Chamber front, we welcomed 33 new members to the Chamber during our May Membership Month promotions. Here’s a sampling of our diverse group of new businesses: QuintEssential Accounting and Bookkeeping, Ironworks Café and Creperie, Genoa Laser Therapy, United Greeneries Operations Ltd, Equine Emporium, Farm’s Gate Foods and Catering, Small Block Brewery, Malahat Investment Corporation, Edward Jones-Lianne Waters, Microtel Inn & Suites Oyster Bay and Forte School of Music.
Sonja Nagel is Executive Director of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at manager@duncancc.bc.ca or 250-748-1111