Saanich

About Saanich

Saanich is where Victoria goes to breathe. The largest municipality in the Capital Regional District wraps around the city's north side and mixes quiet neighbourhoods with small mountains, freshwater lakes, farm stands and a long, winding shoreline on Haro Strait and Cordova Bay.

Incorporated in 1906, the district takes its name from the Saanich First Nation, often translated as emerging land or emerging people. Farming shaped it for decades, and rural roads lined with hay fields and vineyards still survive north of the suburbs. Today it is also a centre of learning and science: much of the University of Victoria campus lies within its borders, and the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory has watched the sky from Little Saanich Mountain since 1918.

Spend your time outdoors. Climb PKOLS for the island's classic panorama, paddle or swim at Elk and Beaver Lakes, cross the boardwalk at Swan Lake and cycle the Lochside Trail. Downtown Victoria is only minutes away, so Saanich works well as a calmer base for the region.