North Saanich

The District of North Saanich is located on the Saanich Peninsula of British Columbia, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of Victoria on southern Vancouver Island. It is one of the 13 Greater Victoria municipalities. The district is surrounded on three sides by 20 km (12 mi) of ocean shoreline, and consists of rural/residential areas and a large agricultural base. It is home to the Victoria International Airport and the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.

North Saanich
District municipality
District of North Saanich[1]
Motto(s):  Eetsun-Hunnumut "The land where it is good to be"
North Saanich Location of North Saanich within the Capital Regional District
Location of District of North Saanich within the Capital District in British Columbia, Canada Show map of Vancouver Island North Saanich (British Columbia) Show map of British Columbia
Coordinates: 48°36′51″N 123°25′12″W
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Regional district	Capital
Electoral district (federal)	Saanich—Gulf Islands
Electoral district (provincial)	Saanich North and the Islands
Incorporated	1965
Government
• Governing body	North Saanich Municipal Council
• Mayor	Peter Jones
• MP	Elizabeth May (Green)
• MLA	Rob Botterell (BC Green)
Area [2]
• Land	37.16 km2 (14.35 sq mi)
Elevation	23 m (75 ft)
Population  (2021)[2]
• Total	12,235
• Density	329.2/km2 (853/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Highways	17
Website	www.northsaanich.ca

History

In July 1905, North Saanich, then including the townsite of Sidney, was incorporated with the original Municipal Hall located in Sidney. Lacking population and a firm tax base, the municipality was dissolved in 1911. In 1940, the site of the present Victoria International Airport was selected as a military forces base and the area boomed with the influx of 10,000 military personnel, leading to incorporation for the Village of Sidney in 1952.

Four years later, the residents of the North Saanich unorganized area, numbering 2,865, requested that letters patent be issued to form the "North Saanich Fire Prevention District" with power to own property, to tax and to borrow. In 1965, after a favourable public vote, the letters patent were withdrawn and the North Saanich Municipal District was established with offices at the present location on Mills Road.

Geography

Climate

North Saanich has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) with short, warm, and dry summers and long, cool, and wet winters.

Climate data for North Saanich (Victoria International Airport) WMO ID: 1018620; coordinates 48°38′50″N 123°25′33″W; elevation: 19.5 m (64 ft); 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1940–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high humidex	17.4	17.1	21.1	26.1	33.6	34.7	39.6	36.8	34.7	27.0	20.0	17.7	42.6
Record high °C (°F)	16.1 (61.0)	18.3 (64.9)	21.4 (70.5)	26.3 (79.3)	31.5 (88.7)	39.4 (102.9)	36.3 (97.3)	34.4 (93.9)	31.2 (88.2)	27.6 (81.7)	18.3 (64.9)	16.1 (61.0)	39.4 (102.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	7.5 (45.5)	8.7 (47.7)	10.8 (51.4)	13.7 (56.7)	17.5 (63.5)	20.2 (68.4)	22.7 (72.9)	22.6 (72.7)	19.7 (67.5)	14.3 (57.7)	9.9 (49.8)	7.3 (45.1)	14.6 (58.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)	4.6 (40.3)	5.0 (41.0)	6.8 (44.2)	9.1 (48.4)	12.6 (54.7)	15.2 (59.4)	17.2 (63.0)	17.1 (62.8)	14.5 (58.1)	10.2 (50.4)	6.5 (43.7)	4.4 (39.9)	10.3 (50.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	1.6 (34.9)	1.4 (34.5)	2.7 (36.9)	4.6 (40.3)	7.6 (45.7)	10.1 (50.2)	11.7 (53.1)	11.6 (52.9)	9.2 (48.6)	6.0 (42.8)	3.0 (37.4)	1.5 (34.7)	5.9 (42.6)
Record low °C (°F)	−15.6 (3.9)	−15.0 (5.0)	−10.0 (14.0)	−3.9 (25.0)	−1.1 (30.0)	2.1 (35.8)	4.1 (39.4)	4.4 (39.9)	−1.1 (30.0)	−4.4 (24.1)	−13.3 (8.1)	−14.4 (6.1)	−15.6 (3.9)
Record low wind chill	−19.1	−23.7	−13.9	−6.7	−5.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	−9.1	−19.4	−25.1	−25.1
Average precipitation mm (inches)	155.3 (6.11)	84.5 (3.33)	79.9 (3.15)	48.2 (1.90)	36.5 (1.44)	29.2 (1.15)	19.5 (0.77)	24.2 (0.95)	35.7 (1.41)	96.1 (3.78)	146.0 (5.75)	146.1 (5.75)	901.2 (35.48)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	144.2 (5.68)	78.5 (3.09)	76.3 (3.00)	47.7 (1.88)	36.5 (1.44)	29.2 (1.15)	19.5 (0.77)	24.2 (0.95)	35.7 (1.41)	95.9 (3.78)	141.8 (5.58)	137.0 (5.39)	866.6 (34.12)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	11.2 (4.4)	7.1 (2.8)	3.7 (1.5)	0.5 (0.2)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.2 (0.1)	3.6 (1.4)	12.4 (4.9)	38.6 (15.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)	19.8	15.2	17.0	13.7	11.6	9.5	5.4	5.5	8.0	14.1	18.9	19.4	158.1
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)	18.9	14.5	16.8	13.7	11.6	9.5	5.4	5.5	8.0	14.0	18.5	19.0	155.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)	2.0	1.6	1.2	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.9	1.7	7.4
Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST)	78.4	69.9	65.3	60.5	58.4	56.3	55.4	56.4	60.7	69.7	76.6	79.3	65.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours	70.8	95.5	145.3	191.3	241.5	251.7	318.1	297.5	228.6	136.9	72.8	58.9	2,108.8
Percentage possible sunshine	26	33.3	39.5	46.7	51.2	52.2	65.4	66.9	60.3	40.7	26.2	22.7	44.3
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada[3] (June maximum)[4] (sun 1981–2010)[5]

Demographics

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, North Saanich had a population of 12,235 living in 5,010 of its 5,235 total private dwellings, a change of 8.8% from its 2016 population of 11,249. With a land area of 37.16 km² (14.35 sq mi), it had a population density of 329.3/km² (852.8/sq mi) in 2021.^[2]

Historical census populations – North Saanich

Year Pop. ±% 1966 2,891 —     1971 3,601 +24.6% 1976 4,697 +30.4% 1981 6,117 +30.2% 1986 7,247 +18.5% 1991 9,645 +33.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1996 10,411 +7.9% 2001 10,436 +0.2% 2006 10,823 +3.7% 2011 11,089 +2.5% 2016 11,249 +1.4% 2021 12,235 +8.8%
Source: Statistics Canada[2]

Ethnicity

Panethnic groups in the District of North Saanich (2001–2021)

Panethnic group	2021[2]		2016[6]		2011[7]		2006[8]		2001[9]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
European[a]	11,060	90.73%	10,395	92.85%	10,300	93.47%	10,125	93.97%	10,020	96.25%
Indigenous	340	2.79%	190	1.7%	205	1.86%	125	1.16%	60	0.58%
South Asian	275	2.26%	145	1.3%	115	1.04%	60	0.56%	40	0.38%
East Asian[b]	260	2.13%	220	1.97%	220	2%	280	2.6%	130	1.25%
Southeast Asian[c]	135	1.11%	120	1.07%	110	1%	15	0.14%	35	0.34%
African	45	0.37%	60	0.54%	20	0.18%	75	0.7%	45	0.43%
Latin American	35	0.29%	20	0.18%	0	0%	35	0.32%	20	0.19%
Middle Eastern[d]	10	0.08%	10	0.09%	0	0%	55	0.51%	0	0%
Other/Multiracial[e]	20	0.16%	35	0.31%	0	0%	10	0.09%	55	0.53%
Total responses	12,190	99.63%	11,195	99.52%	11,020	99.38%	10,775	99.56%	10,410	99.75%
Total population	12,235	100%	11,249	100%	11,089	100%	10,823	100%	10,436	100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in North Saanich included:^[2]

• Irreligion (6,910 persons or 56.7%)
• Christianity (4,905 persons or 40.2%)
• Sikhism (150 persons or 1.2%)
• Buddhism (100 persons or 0.8%)
• Judaism (20 persons or 0.2%)
• Other (110 persons or 0.9%)

Government

The 2022 – 2026 council is:^[10]

• Mayor: Peter Jones
• Councilors:
  • Jack McClintock
  • Sanjiv Shrivastava ^[11]
  • Celia Stock
  • Irene McConkey
  • Phil DiBattista
  • Kristine Marshall (elected in a 2023 by-election)

The next election is scheduled for October 17, 2026, following provincial law. All municipalities in British Columbia will also hold elections on this date (the third Saturday of October every 4 years). Voters will vote for councilors, school board trustees and the mayor on the same ballot.

Attractions

British Columbia Aviation Museum

• North Saanich Farm Market^[12]
• British Columbia Aviation Museum
• Institute of Ocean Sciences
• North Saanich Freeride Park^[13]
• 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron (Canadian Forces)
• Panorama Recreation Centre^[14]

Notable people

• Muriel Wylie Blanchet, travel writer (1891–1961) best known for The Curve of Time, lived on Curteis Point in North Saanich.^[15]: 3

Notes

1. Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
2. Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
3. Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
4. Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
5. Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.