North Saanich is surrounded on 3 sides by 40 kilometers of marine shoreline. Several community-like neighbourhoods make up the area and outline North Saanich’s rich agricultural interior which is protected by the Provincial Agricultural Land Reserve.
Population Approximately 11,000
Location
North Saanich is located 25 kilometers north of Victoria, accessible via Highway 17, also called the Pat Bay Highway. It is home to the Victoria International Airport and the BC Ferries Swartz Bay Terminal.
Schools
North Saanich is served by School District 63. Schools are available in the area from kindergarten to grade 12.
Recreation
North Saanich is a popular destination for cyclists due to its winding, scenic roads and ocean views. Panorama Recreation Centre offers swimming, ice skating and tennis, as well as various drop-in and registered classes. Ardmore Golf Course, watersports, including boating and swimming, hiking, beachcombing and more are all popular recreational options in North Saanich.
Economy
Agriculture is immensely important to this municipality, as evidenced in the number of farms and roadside produce and flower stands. However, the Victoria International Airport is central to manufacturing such as Viking Air which builds and maintains DeHavilland Aircraft and Nicholson Engineering which builds major components for the off-shore oil industry. North Saanich is also home to the Ocean Sciences Institute, a major national research facility and the Federal Agricultural Research Station. Because of its close proximity to Victoria, many residents commute to BC’s capital. There are also a number of home-based businesses in the area.
