Lake Cowichan

For the nearby lake, see Cowichan Lake. For first nation, see Lake Cowichan First Nation.
Lake Cowichan
Town
Town of Lake Cowichan[1]
Lake Cowichan is located in Vancouver Island
Lake Cowichan
Location of Lake Cowichan in British Columbia
Lake Cowichan is located in British Columbia
Lake Cowichan
Lake Cowichan (British Columbia)
Coordinates: 48°49′33″N 124°03′15″W / 48.82583°N 124.05417°W / 48.82583; -124.05417
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Regional DistrictCowichan Valley
Incorporated1944
Government
 • MayorTim McGonigle
Area
 • Total8.05 km2 (3.11 sq mi)
Elevation
180 m (590 ft)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total3,226
 • Density369.6/km2 (957/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Postal code span
V0R 2G0
Area code+1-250
WebsiteTown of Lake Cowichan

Lake Cowichan (Nitinaht: ʕaʔk̓ʷaq c̓uubaʕsaʔtx̣) (pop. 2,974) is a town located on the east end of Cowichan Lake and, by highway, is 27 kilometres (17 mi) west of Duncan, British Columbia. The town of Lake Cowichan was incorporated in 1944. The Cowichan River flows through the middle of the town.[2] Cowichan River is designated as a Heritage River.[3]

Lake Cowichan is at the western end of the Trans Canada Trail, which, when completed, will be one of the longest trail networks in the world, almost 24,000 kilometres (15,000 mi) long.[4] Youbou, with a population of about 1,000 people; Mesachie Lake, with a population of about 800 people; and Honeymoon Bay with a population of about 600 people, are nearby communities.

Climate

Lake Cowichan is surrounded on all sides by the Pacific Northwest Temperate rainforest, containing the largest, tallest, and oldest trees in the world outside of California.

Lake Cowichan has an oceanic climate (Cfb) with warm summers and cool winters.

Climate data for Lake Cowichan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.5
(58.1) 		20.0
(68.0) 		22.0
(71.6) 		28.0
(82.4) 		35.0
(95.0) 		39.0
(102.2) 		40.0
(104.0) 		38.0
(100.4) 		39.0
(102.2) 		29.5
(85.1) 		19.4
(66.9) 		15.0
(59.0) 		40.0
(104.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 6.4
(43.5) 		7.8
(46.0) 		10.6
(51.1) 		13.5
(56.3) 		17.5
(63.5) 		20.6
(69.1) 		24.4
(75.9) 		24.9
(76.8) 		21.8
(71.2) 		14.4
(57.9) 		8.4
(47.1) 		5.2
(41.4) 		14.6
(58.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.5
(38.3) 		4.0
(39.2) 		6.2
(43.2) 		8.6
(47.5) 		12.1
(53.8) 		15.0
(59.0) 		17.8
(64.0) 		18.1
(64.6) 		15.2
(59.4) 		9.8
(49.6) 		5.4
(41.7) 		2.5
(36.5) 		9.8
(49.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.5
(32.9) 		0.2
(32.4) 		1.8
(35.2) 		3.6
(38.5) 		6.6
(43.9) 		9.3
(48.7) 		11.2
(52.2) 		11.2
(52.2) 		8.5
(47.3) 		5.1
(41.2) 		2.4
(36.3) 		−0.2
(31.6) 		5.3
(41.5)
Record low °C (°F) −15.0
(5.0) 		−16.0
(3.2) 		−9.4
(15.1) 		−7.0
(19.4) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		1.1
(34.0) 		3.0
(37.4) 		2.8
(37.0) 		−1.7
(28.9) 		−7.0
(19.4) 		−17.0
(1.4) 		−16.0
(3.2) 		−17.0
(1.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 347.0
(13.66) 		226.0
(8.90) 		216.2
(8.51) 		137.4
(5.41) 		85.4
(3.36) 		57.2
(2.25) 		34.7
(1.37) 		40.2
(1.58) 		51.7
(2.04) 		213.3
(8.40) 		343.2
(13.51) 		295.3
(11.63) 		2,047.5
(80.61)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 327.3
(12.89) 		206.2
(8.12) 		209.2
(8.24) 		135.9
(5.35) 		85.2
(3.35) 		57.2
(2.25) 		34.7
(1.37) 		40.2
(1.58) 		51.7
(2.04) 		212.5
(8.37) 		334.8
(13.18) 		280.9
(11.06) 		1,975.6
(77.78)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 19.8
(7.8) 		19.8
(7.8) 		7.0
(2.8) 		1.5
(0.6) 		0.3
(0.1) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.8
(0.3) 		8.4
(3.3) 		14.4
(5.7) 		72.0
(28.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 17.1 14.0 17.0 15.8 13.2 11.0 6.6 6.1 8.0 15.0 18.0 15.3 157.1
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 15.4 12.5 16.8 15.7 13.2 11.0 6.6 6.1 8.0 14.9 17.4 14.1 151.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 3.1 2.8 1.6 0.3 0.08 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.08 1.4 2.6 12.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 47.3 75.2 106.1 141.5 173.6 177.9 233.1 226.7 182.8 112.4 49.1 39.3 1,564.9
Percent possible sunshine 17.4 26.3 28.8 34.5 36.7 36.9 47.8 50.9 48.2 33.4 17.8 15.2 32.8
Source: Environment Canada[5][6](sunshine)

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Lake Cowichan had a population of 3,325 living in 1,491 of its 1,586 total private dwellings, a change of 3.1% from its 2016 population of 3,226. With a land area of 8.24 km2 (3.18 sq mi), it had a population density of 403.5/km2 (1,045.1/sq mi) in 2021.[7]

Ethnicity

Lake Cowichan is one of several towns in the Cowichan Valley with significant South Asian Canadian (primarily Sikh-Canadian) community history for over 130 years, gaining notoriety in the forestry industry at local sawmills from the early 20th century until the 1980s.[8]

Panethnic groups in the Town of Lake Cowichan (1971−2021)
Panethnic group 2021[9] 2016[10] 2011[11] 2006[12] 2001[13] 1996[14] 1991[15][16] 1986[17][18][19]: 101  1981[20][21] 1971[22][23]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a] 2,775 83.71% 2,785 86.49% 2,610 88.32% 2,555 86.9% 2,550 90.11% 2,700 94.57% 1,960 87.5% 1,860 85.13% 2,000 82.14% 1,910 79.09%
Indigenous 415 12.52% 310 9.63% 205 6.94% 230 7.82% 115 4.06% 85 2.98% 120 5.36% 130 5.95% 60 2.46% 25 1.04%
South
Asian 		55 1.66% 80 2.48% 90 3.05% 85 2.89% 120 4.24% 15 0.53% 105 4.69% 160 7.32% 310 12.73% 330 13.46%
African 30 0.9% 0 0% 10 0.34% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 15 0.67% 10 0.46% — — 5 0.21%
East
Asian[b] 		15 0.45% 10 0.31% 15 0.51% 55 1.87% 10 0.35% 50 1.75% 30 1.34% 15 0.69% 65 2.67% 110 4.55%
Latin
American 		15 0.45% 10 0.31% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.35% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% — —
Southeast
Asian[c] 		0 0% 20 0.62% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.35% 10 0.35% 0 0% 10 0.46% — — — —
Middle
Eastern[d] 		0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.45% 0 0% 0 0% 5 0.21%
Other/
multiracial[e] 		0 0% 10 0.31% 0 0% 0 0% 15 0.53% 0 0% — — — — — — 30 1.24%
Total
responses 		3,315 99.7% 3,220 99.81% 2,955 99.36% 2,940 99.73% 2,830 100.11% 2,855 99.96% 2,240 99.96% 2,185 100.69% 2,435 101.84% 2,415 102.16%
Total
population 		3,325 100% 3,226 100% 2,974 100% 2,948 100% 2,827 100% 2,856 100% 2,241 100% 2,170 100% 2,391 100% 2,364 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Lake Cowichan included:[9]

Politics

In provincial politics, Lake Cowichan is part of the riding of Cowichan Valley. Its Member of the Legislative Assembly is Sonia Furstenau of the Green Party. She has served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia since 2017. In federal politics, Lake Cowichan is part of the riding of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford. Its Member of Parliament is Alistair MacGregor of the New Democratic Party. He has served in the House of Commons of Canada since 2015.

Notable residents

See also Category:People from Duncan, British Columbia

Notes

  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References

  1. ^ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  2. ^ Town of Lake Cowichan Area Info Archived 18 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ British Columbia Heritage Rivers Program
  4. ^ About the Trail: Learn about the Trans Canada Trail.
  5. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 Station Data". Environment Canada. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 Station Data". Environment Canada. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  8. ^ "A glimpse into the rich Sikh history in Cowichan". For more than 130 years, the Cowichan Valley has attracted Sikh immigrants, mostly from the Punjab region of Northern India. The Sikh history in Cowichan is rich, and goes well beyond the story of the former village of Paldi and its temple, which this year celebrated its centenarian. And the community remains strong today, though much has changed over the years... In the '70s and '80s, the Sikh community strongholds were at the mill towns around Cowichan Lake — Honeymoon Bay, Mesachie Lake and Youbou.
  9. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  10. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 October 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  11. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  12. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (20 August 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  13. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  14. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1996 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  15. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (29 March 2019). "1991 Census Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions - Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  16. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (29 March 2019). "Data tables, 1991 Census Population by Ethnic Origin (24), Showing Single and Multiple Origins (2) - Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  17. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 June 2019). "Data tables, 1986 Census Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 Census - Part A". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 June 2019). "Data tables, 1986 Census Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 Census - Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (3 April 2013). "Canada's aboriginal population by census subdivisions from the 1986 Census of Canada". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  20. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 May 2020). "Data tables, 1981 Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1981 Census - Part A". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  21. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 May 2020). "Data tables, 1981 Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1981 Census - Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  22. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (3 April 2013). "1971 Census of Canada : population : vol. I - part 3 = Recensement du Canada 1971 : population : vol. I - partie 3. Ethnic groups". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  23. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (3 April 2013). "1971 Census of Canada. Population. Specified ethnic groups, census divisions and subdivisions". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 7 May 2023.