St. Clare's Monastery (Duncan, British Columbia)

Somenos Lake is a small shallow water body located in the Municipality of North Cowichan on Southeast Vancouver Island. Somenos Lake has a maximum area of approximately 247 ac, 100 ha at 15.3 feet (4.7 m) above geodetic datum. The Lake is relatively shallow with a maximum depth of 22.2 feet (6.8 m). Somenos Lake is fed by three major tributary streams: Richards Creek from the North and Northeast, Averill Creek from the Northwest and Bings Creek from the West. The lake is drained near its southern extremity by Somenos Creek which flows southeast approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the Cowichan River. Somenos Lake and its tributary streams support resident populations of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Cutthroat Trout (O. clarkii). Anadromous populations of Coho Salmon (O. kisutch) and Chum Salmon (O. keta) spawn in the tributary streams. The Lake also contains populations of native Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), Three-Spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), and Peamouth Chub (Mylocheilus caurinus). The Invasive species Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) has been in the lake since the 1970s. and is now the most abundant fish species.In addition to these fish species, Somenos Lake and associated marsh habitats are an important winter refuge for numerous species of ducks, geese and swans. Of particular interest to conservation is the large number of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) that arrive at Somenos Lake in October and remain until early April.During the past two decades Somenos Lake has been subject to persistent cyanobacteria blooms during the summers. These blooms render the lake unsuitable for human uses like swimming, canoeing and birding. The decay of the highly productive cyanobacteria also generates anoxic conditions in the water column which severely limits habitat for trout and salmon. These blooms are the result of excessive phosphorus in the lake due to deforestation and excessive use of phosphate fertilizers in surrounding agricultural and urban lands.

Quamichan Lake is a lake in the Cowichan Valley region of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, located three kilometres to the northeast of the City of Duncan.Quamichan Lake and its sister Somenos Lake were created 11,000 years ago by receding glaciers. Both lakes contribute to Cowichan River. Quamichan Lake's outflow is Quamichan Creek which joins with Somenos Creek, the outflow from Somenos Lake, which flows to Cowichan River.The Cowichan Watershed Board identifies a common set of conditions for both shallow lakes: excessive nutrient loading from the farms and homes which surround the lakes insufficient "flushing" in summer due to reduced inflows and truncated outflows increased plant growth ("algae-blooms"), and eutrophication (reduced oxygen as the vegetation decomposes) intensified warmingIn autumn 2016, the lake's algae received public attention after news coverage of its killing at least four dogs.

The BC Forest Discovery Centre, located in Duncan, chronicles the history of logging in British Columbia, Canada. It is a 100-acre (40 ha) site with 2.5 km (1.6 miles) of operational 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railway.

The Cowichan Community Centre (formerly known as Island Savings Centre) is a facility serving Cowichan Valley, British Columbia. It has a pool, theater, arena, and gymnasium. It was built in 1978, on the former site of the Cowichan Curling Rink. Island Savings, "Vancouver Island's Credit Union", donated $1 Million CDN to the centre in exchange for a 10-year naming rights deal. In 2019, the name reverted to "Cowichan Community Centre".

Quamichan Lake (Raven Field) Airport (TC LID: CML2) is located 2.7 nautical miles (5.0 km; 3.1 mi) north northeast of Duncan, adjacent to Quamichan Lake, British Columbia, Canada. The airfield is owned and operated by John Howroyd, who also owns Quamichan Lake (Raven Field) Water Aerodrome. The airfield uses runway 16 for departures, and runway 34 for landings.

Quamichan Lake (Raven Field) Water Aerodrome (TC LID: CRF6) is located on Quamichan Lake, 2.9 nautical miles (5.4 km; 3.3 mi) north northeast of Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. The airfield is owned and operated by John F Howroyd, who also owns Quamichan Lake (Raven Field) Airport.

North Cowichan (Canada 2021 Census population 31,990) is a district municipality established in 1873 on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. The municipality is part of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. North Cowichan is noted for a landscape including forests, beaches, rivers, and lakes. The municipality encompasses the communities of Chemainus; Westholme; Crofton; Maple Bay; and "the South End". The latter is an informal name for a built-up area which is essentially a suburb of the City of Duncan, a separate municipality.

Duncan (pop. 5,047 in 2021) is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is the smallest city by area (2.07 square kilometres, 0.8 square miles) in Canada. It was incorporated in 1912.

The Duncan station in Duncan, British Columbia was a stop on Via Rail's Dayliner service, which has been indefinitely suspended since 2011. It is located on the Southern Railway of Vancouver Island mainline.

The Hayward station is located in Hayward, North Cowichan, British Columbia. The station was a stop on Via Rail's Dayliner service, which ended in 2011. It is located at the crossing of Drinkwater Road, about 600 metres west of the BC Forest Discovery Centre.

Koksilah is a community located just southeast of the City of Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. Its name is derived, via that of the Koksilah River, from that of the Hwulqwselu people, one of the Hǝn̓q̓ǝmin̓ǝm̓-speaking peoples of the area today organized as the Cowichan Tribes and government.

Island Oak High School is located in Duncan, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in Canada. It offers Grades 9 to 12. Enrollment is limited to between 30 and 50 students. The current enrollment is around twenty students split into two classes. There is a faculty of thirteen teachers, specialists, administrators, and assistants. In Feb. 2007 the school hosted the BC Waldorf Teachers Conference. The school has been operated since 1995 by the Steiner Educational Society, a group of parents and community members. It is certified by the Ministry of Education of British Columbia and receives government funding for Independent Schools. The school is a Developing Member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America.Typically, over half of the Grade 9 students entering the school come from a Waldorf elementary school. Sunrise Waldorf School, a Kindergarten to Grade Eight school also located in the Cowichan Valley, provides many of the students, but is not formally associated with Island Oak High School. Every year since founding, a number of international students have come to the school in exchange for Island Oak High School students visiting their countries. Approximately 25% of the students are boarding or exchange students. They come from Waldorf Schools in France, Germany, England, Russia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Australia. Most recently, exchange students have come from Germany, Switzerland, China, Japan and other Asian locations. International students stay for periods ranging from three months to several years. The opportunity to travel to other countries, to study and learn other languages and immerse themselves in other cultures is an attraction for BC and Canadian students of Grade Ten and Eleven. The high school offers many opportunities for students to grow and explore in their learning environment. Island oak typically sees two short-term exchanges per year with varying numbers of students, one at the beginning of the first semester and a second at the beginning of the second semester.