The City of Victoria

The City of Victoria, located on the Southern tip of Vancouver Island, is Western Canada’s oldest city and the capital of British Columbia. As such, it is home to the provincial legislature.

Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada and with greenery in evidence throughout the year there is little wonder that it’s called the City of Gardens! Victoria boasts a spectacular setting of ocean and mountain vistas and offers numerous economic, cultural and recreational opportunities.

The Inner Harbour is the heart of Victoria and for many boaters is the gateway to the City of Gardens. Bordering the harbour are the ivy-covered Fairmont Empress hotel, the world-renowned Royal British Columbia Museum and the magnificent BC Parliament Buildings.

Governments at all levels provide a major employment base in the City.

For more information, visit the website of the The City of Victoria.

The District of Oak Bay

Oak Bay is a distinct municipality located to the east of Victoria. Oak Bay was incorporated in 1906.

From its kilometres of scenic coastline with breathtaking foreshore vistas to its luxury apartments and stately mansions, Oak Bay is one of the most desirable residential areas in Greater Victoria. Architecture ranges from the late 19th century style of such pre-eminent architects as Francis Rattenbury and Samuel McLure to the contemporary West Coast style of today’s fine architects.

Property owners take pride in maintaining their impeccably manicured lawns and fine landscaping. Canopies of trees enhance the attractiveness of the area and are passionately protected.

Oak Bay is home to two world-class golf courses, the Uplands Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club, as well as the Oak Bay Marina and the prestigious Royal Victoria Yacht Club. There are three recreation centres in the municipality and its main shopping areas, Oak Bay Avenue and Estevan, maintain a village-like atmosphere.

Oak Bay shares the University of Victoria and Camosun College with the neighbouring municipality of Saanich.

For more information, visit the website of The District of Oak Bay.

The District of Saanich

Saanich East and Saanich West is a sprawling area composed of a number of distinct neighbourhoods.

The eastern side of Saanich is dominated by the University of Victoria which is very much a part of the local life of the community. Saanich West is a multifaceted community stretching from the established suburban neighbourhoods of the Gorge area north to the rural farmland around Elk Lake and Prospect Lake.

The landscape of Saanich is unique for its ecological diversity and leisure potential. There are 170 municipal parks, three regional parks and a cycling network route to see and explore. Saanich has more parks per capita than any other municipality in B.C. There are several excellent golf courses in Saanich: Blenkinsop Valley, Cedar Hill, Cordova Bay and Prospect Lake golf courses.

Saanich’s distinct neighbourhoods include the following:

• Gordon Head is a solidly upper middle class family area with several shopping malls, restaurants and movie theatres within a short driving distance.
• High Quadra overlooking Blenkinsop Valley.
• Broadmead with imaginative West Coast architecture.
• Cordova Bay is perched along the seaside and includes a mixture of cottages, small farms, sizable family homes and new subdivisions.
• The Gorge Waterway on the west side of Saanich is a beautiful setting and a popular area for young families who prefer to live close to town. The Tillicum mall, Town and Country shopping centre and the Silver City movie theatre are all conveniently located.
• The Victoria General Hospital is little farther West and North among the family-oriented neighbourhoods of Strawberry Vale, West Burnside and Glanford area. Interurban campus of Camosun College lies in the middle of this growing area, which is also host to many new subdivisions of single family residential development.
• Prospect Lake is slightly further North, a well established area featuring a 9 hole golf course and a “lakeside retreat” ambience. Decidedly rural, the Elk Lake/Beaver Lake and the Old West Saanich Road areas include many horse farms and small acreages.

For more information, visit the website of The District of Saanich.

Saanich Peninsula

The Saanich Peninsula is a long finger of land that extends north from Victoria toward Sidney, a bountiful countryside where rural and urban lifestyles blend well together. The Saanich Peninsula offers a fabulous choice of outdoor recreational activities, including golfing, hiking, cycling, canoeing and kayaking, windsurfing, and freshwater and saltwater fishing.

The area has several small, friendly towns like Brentwood Bay, Saanichton and Sidney, a seaside village known for its cozy shops and bistros.

The Saanich Peninsula is criss-crossed by many country roads, ensuring an interesting and rewarding country drive past parks, bays, beaches, elegant country homes, farmland, and hobby farms. Roadside fruit and vegetable stands offer locally-grown fresh produce, dairy and poultry products for sale, and a number of marinas offer a host of activities of interest to visitors and locals alike.

For more information, visit The Saanich Peninsula.