South Island Division of Family Practice

The Saanich Peninsula

The Saanich Peninsula, one of the most desirable areas in Canada to live, is known for its quality of life and mild climate. This geographic region hosts the Districts of North and Central Saanich and the Town of Sidney offering easy accessibility with a 20-minute drive to the BC Capital of Victoria, in addition to the BC Ferries to Vancouver and the Victoria International Airport.

Brentwood Bay 
A rapidly developing community located on the western shore of the Saanich Inlet, 20 minutes north of Victoria, Brentwood Bay is home to the world-famous Butchart Gardens. Once a limestone quarry, Butchart Gardens, a luxurious 20-acre estate, is now filled with flowers, offering wonderful floral displays and spectacular views that attract more than one million visitors a year. The Village of Brentwood offers a livable community, affordable housing, excellent spas and accommodation, quaint waterfront restaurants overlooking the marinas, and is also a choice jumping-off point for sailing enthusiasts, kayakers, canoeists, and mountain hikers. The Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay ferry offers a scenic 25-minute scenic route across the Saanich Inlet with convenient access to all points north on Vancouver Island, including numerous biking and hiking routes, wine tours, restaurants, and windsurfing.

District of North Saanich
Located at the north end of the Saanich Peninsula, North Saanich is surrounded by 12 miles of ocean shoreline and consists of rich, agricultural farmland, in addition to community-like, residential neighbourhoods. Adhering to a “100 Mile” philosophy of locally grown sustainability, here is the closer “10 Mile” version, evidenced by the number of road side stands featuring local produce and gourmet delicacies all year, along with colourful bouquets and hanging baskets of flowers throughout the summer. 

District of Central Saanich 
Central Saanich enjoys the high quality of life and low crime rate of a rural community with a rich agricultural heritage. The annual 'Farm Fresh' guide, featuring over 20 Central Saanich farms, tells where to buy fresh-picked Central Saanich strawberries, sweet corn, and many other locally-grown treats. Known primarily as a rural community, Central Saanich is also one of the largest light industrial zones in the Capital Regional District with commercial centres in Brentwood Bay and Saanichton. Central Saanich is host to BC's oldest fair, featuring prize-winning produce, livestock, live entertainment, and exciting rides on the midway. 

The Village of Saanichton
Located in the heart of Central Saanich, Saanichton is the half-way point between the northern boundary of Victoria, the International airport, and the BC Ferry Terminal. Well known for its flowers and rose gardens, B&Bs, local wineries, and riding stables, the village is surrounded by a 29-hectare park, campgrounds, old-growth forests, and small farms. Saanichton is proud of its heritage, it’s a community rich in tradition where rural and urban lifestyles blend together. The area was first inhabited by the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations people who currently reside in four communities on the Saanich Peninsula. Saanichton’s Log Cabin Museum contains a collection of Native and pioneer artifacts as well as the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society, dating back to the early 1800s, maintains the largest collection of working steam engines, tractors and agricultural machinery and farm equipment in Western Canada.

Town of Sidney
Sidney is a great place for shopping boutiques and browsing bookstores, dining on Pacific Northwest, Asian, or European-style seafood, sailing the Salish Sea, or taking the day ferry across the harbor for adventure touring, fishing, kayaking, or whale watching. Award-winning local wineries are featured internationally. The relaxed lifestyle is home to many local artists, actors, and musicians at the Mary Winspear Centre for the Arts.