Cowichan Valley
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Region around the Cowichan River and Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. There is some debate as to the origin of the name Cowichan, which many believe to be an anglicized form of the First Nations tribal name Quw'utsun. This word in turn may be derived from Hul'qumi'num, meaning "nice place to warm yourself in the sun." Others have claimed that the name is a bastardized English form of "cow pasture."
Communities include Duncan, Lake Cowichan, Crofton, Chemainus, and Maple Bay.
The Cowichan Valley is the home of a growing number of vineyards and wineries. The most well known are Cherry Point Vineyards, Blue Grouse, Glenterra, and Vigneti Zanatta. Locals claim that the warm, dry summers and mild, moist winters are reminiscent of a cool Mediterranean climate, providing ideal growing conditions for many grape varieties.
Creative local leaders of the Cowichan Valley collaborated on a document for Imagine the Cowichan, part of Simon Fraser University's Imagine BC series.
The Trans Canada Trail goes through the Valley, and there are numerous options for hiking enthusiasts.
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