On The Horizon - December 3, 2025
- Downtown Duncan
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
What is on the Horizon for the Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Area? Read below to get caught up on the day-to-day, upcoming events, and news from Members.
A Big Thank You to Our
Christmas Kick-Off Partners
We want to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who supported this year’s Christmas Kick-Off. This event truly shines because of the incredible collaboration within our community.
A special thank you to our sponsor Coast Capital, the City of Duncan, including the Bylaw and Public Works departments, for their help preparing downtown and ensuring a safe, welcoming environment for all.
Huge appreciation goes to John at the Duncan Showroom for managing stage production and serving as an outstanding emcee throughout the evening.
Thank you to Jacquie from Wishes for making the traditional chestnut roasting possible, and to a few of our amazing volunteers — Dina at Ironworks Café, Francine at Ally Cat Hair Design, Danielle from Summer Haus, and Kara from Allure Spa — for helping bring this warm and memorable tradition to life.
We are grateful to Valley View Church for helping with set up and clean up, chestnut roasting and handing out candy canes and glow sticks, and for sharing their beautiful carolling with everyone.And of course, thank you to the Duncan Fire Department for delivering Santa safely to the festivities — always a crowd favourite!
You can read the Cowichan Valley Citizen’s coverage of the event here: “Duncan’s annual Christmas Kick-Off dazzled and delighted.”
Thank you again to everyone who helped make this year’s event such a success.
Reminder: Apply for Canada Summer Jobs Funding by December 11
A quick reminder to our members that the annual Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) Call for Applications is now open — but only until December 11, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PST. The deadline falls before the holiday season, so we encourage you to apply early and avoid the year-end rush.
Why apply?The CSJ program provides valuable wage subsidies to help employers create meaningful summer job opportunities for youth in our community:
Not-for-profit employers: Up to 100% of the current provincial minimum wage
Public and private sector employers: Up to 50% of the current provincial minimum wage
Eligible jobs for the 2026 program year can take place between April 20 and August 29, 2026.
This is a great opportunity to:
Offer youth high-quality work experience
Support skill development
Contribute to national and local priorities by improving access to the labour market for youth facing unique barriers
If your business or organisation is considering summer staffing, we strongly encourage you to apply.
To get started, review the Applicant Guide on the CSJ website, it breaks down the process, key requirements, and tips for demonstrating the quality of your proposed roles.
Join the Duncan Days Sub-Committee
Planning for Duncan Days 2026 is already underway, and we’re looking for member businesses who want to help shape next year’s festival. The Sub-Committee will meet again in early 2026, and we’d love to have more voices at the table—especially from businesses who want to play an active role in programming, operations, and improving the event experience for the community.
If you’re interested in contributing your ideas and helping guide the future of Duncan Days, please sign up here.
Your insight as a levy-paying business is invaluable, and your participation helps ensure this event reflects the needs and priorities of our downtown community. We hope you’ll join us!
Join Our Private Members-Only Facebook Group
Stay connected with fellow Downtown Duncan businesses by joining our private, members-only Facebook group. It’s another convenient way to stay updated on DDBIA news, opportunities, reminders, and event information. We share much of the same content that goes out through our email list — but if you prefer to receive updates via Facebook, this space is for you!
Christmas Window Decorating Contest - Voting period: Friday, November 21st - Thursday, December 18
Sip and Shop - December 5
We encourage all members to list their upcoming events on our website at downtownduncan.ca/ddbia-events to help promote your activities and drive more foot traffic to your business. It’s quick, easy, and free to submit!
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