On The Horizon - October 8, 2025
- Downtown Duncan
- Oct 8
- 4 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.
Christmas Window Decorating Contest
Get into the holiday spirit and showcase your business in Downtown Duncan! Each year, the DDBIA hosts a Christmas Window Decorating Contest, and this year’s theme is “Christmas Songs & Carols.”
Here’s how it works:
Register with us via Google Form
Decorate your window by November 21st in line with the theme.
Display a DDBIA-provided QR code in your window so shoppers and visitors can easily vote for their favourite display.
Voting will officially open at the Christmas Kick-Off event on November 21st. It’s a fun way to spread holiday cheer, attract visitors to your business, and join a beloved downtown tradition.
Join the Duncan Days Sub-Committee
We’re starting early on planning for Duncan Days 2026 and inviting interested members to join our event subcommittee! This is a great opportunity to help shape one of Downtown Duncan’s biggest annual celebrations.
The first meeting will take place on October 22 — once we know who’s participating, we’ll send out a Doodle poll to find the best meeting time. This will be the first of several planning meetings, so we ask that participants be prepared to commit to the process.
If you’d like to get involved, please sign up by October 15 to let us know you’re in!
If you already indicated your interest in participating through the recent Duncan Days survey, we’ll be in touch directly to confirm your involvement.
Downtown Trick-or-Treating – How to Participate
This Halloween, we’re inviting families downtown for a safe and fun morning of trick-or-treating! Participating businesses will hand out candy to children in costume between 10 am and 12 pm.
If you’d like to join in, simply let us know and we’ll provide you with a pumpkin poster for your window. The poster lets families know you’re handing out treats.
It’s a great way to bring people through your doors, connect with the community, and be part of the downtown Halloween fun!
You can download your poster here or simply reply to this email to request a copy.
A social media graphic is also available for download so you can promote the event on your own channels—don’t forget to tag the DDBIA so we can amplify your post!
The 12 (or 24) Days of Christmas – Downtown Duncan Edition!
We’re inviting Downtown Duncan businesses to take part in a DDBIA-organized holiday social media campaign designed to showcase local shops, boost sales, and bring shoppers downtown for festive deals.
Here’s how it works:
Each participating business will offer a ONE-day-only exclusive sale as part of the campaign.
You’ll let us know what promotion you’d like to feature by emailing Katherine Dorma at dorma@downtownduncan.ca
We’ll also need your winter hours so we can schedule your promotion on the best day.
Once confirmed, you’ll receive:
The exact date of your sale.
Custom social media graphics to help promote your deal.
A poster for your storefront so shoppers know you’re part of the campaign.
Our goal is to create a buzz that drives customers downtown to shop local during the holidays. We encourage sales that are significant, exciting, and worth the trip!
Service-based businesses (spas, salons, tanning, beauty, etc.) are encouraged to offer discounted gift vouchers—a perfect holiday gift option.
Special Finale Opportunity:
We’re also looking for a show-stopping “Door Crasher” finale deal—a big-ticket item or service offered at a deep discount. If you’d like to take part in this grand finale, please reach out!
Rolling Road Closures - Craig St.
Oct 15, 2025
Craig Street will be closed in rolling sections between 8:30 am - 2:30 pm while maintenance crews fix inground bollard sleeves. The sections will only be closed while the crew is working on that section of roadway.
Sections will be:
Craig between Government to Station
Craig between Station and Kenneth
Craig between Kenneth and Ingram
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for your team?
Duncan Dollars make a thoughtful, flexible option for employee appreciation. They’re easy to give, fun to spend, and support our incredible local businesses. Whether it’s a stocking stuffer or a staff bonus, Duncan Dollars keep holiday cheer—and shopping—right here in Downtown Duncan.
👉 Contact us today to order yours in time for the holiday season!
Spectral Bodies –
Fragments from a JourneyArt of Justin Oglivie
Date: September 5th - November 15th
Ogilvie’s artistic career has developed in powerful stages he calls his ‘Acts’. His early figurative work (Act One) blended realism with dreamlike restraint, while Act Two saw a radical break into vivid color and playful abstraction.
In Act Three—the focus of this exhibition—Ogilvie fuses both worlds, uniting the human figure with dynamic forms, digital-era influences, and a daring emotional range.
Location: Cowichan Public Art Gallery 126 Ingram Street, Duncan, B.C.
Spooktacular Trick or Treating Downtown - October 25 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Christmas Kick Off - November 21 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Christmas Window Decorating Contest - Voting period: Friday, November 21st - Thursday, December 18
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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