Cowichan Leader

The Cowichan Leader was a Canadian newspaper published weekly in Duncan, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, for 110 years until it ceased publication in April 2015.

[1] This early four page paper debuted on January 21, 1900, quickly changed its name to the Weekly Enterprise,[2] but only lasted a year before it ceased, and was eventually replaced by the Leader in 1905.

[3] The Cowichan Leader was originally produced on the top floor of Smith's Emporium building on the northeast corner of Station and Craig Streets in downtown Duncan.

In 1929, the existing structure on Craig Street was demolished and a new Art Deco style building was designed and built by Vancouver Island architect Douglas James.

The building was designed to be as fireproof as possible with 8 inch thick reinforced concrete walls, floors uninterrupted by posts, and a roof supported by huge beams of Douglas fir.