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 is located in Capital Regional District
North Saanich
North Saanich
Location of North Saanich within the Capital Regional District
North Saanich is located in Vancouver Island
North Saanich
Location of District of North Saanich within the Capital District in British Columbia, Canada
North Saanich is located in British Columbia
North Saanich
North Saanich (British Columbia)
Coordinates: 48°36′51″N 123°25′12″W / 48.61417°N 123.42000°W / 48.61417; -123.42000
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Regional districtCapital
Electoral district (federal)Saanich—Gulf Islands
Electoral district (provincial)Saanich North and the Islands
Incorporated1965
Government
 • Governing bodyNorth Saanich Municipal Council
 • MayorPeter Jones
 • MPElizabeth May (Green)
 • MLARob Botterell (BC Green)
Area
 • Land37.16 km2 (14.35 sq mi)
Elevation
23 m (75 ft)
Population
 • Total
12,235
 • Density329.2/km2 (853/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Highways17
Websitewww.northsaanich.ca Edit this at Wikidata

History

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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 In 1965, after a favourable public vote, the letters patent were withdrawn and the North Saanich Municipal District was established with offices at the present location on Mills Road.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

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Climate

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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 / 48.64722°N 123.42583°W / 48.64722; -123.42583 (Victoria International Airport); 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
Percent 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

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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
YearPop.±%
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%
YearPop.±%
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

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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

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

Government

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The 2022 – 2026 council is:[10]

  • Mayor: Peter Jones
  • Councilors:
    • Jack McClintock
    • Sanjiv Shrivastava
    • 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

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British Columbia Aviation Museum

Notable people

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Notes

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  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.

References

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  1. ^ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "North Saanich (Code 5917005) Census Profile". 2021 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1991-2020 Data - Victoria International Airport". Environment and Climate Change Canada. June 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "Daily Data Report for June 2021". Environment and Climate Change Canada. June 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data". Environment and Climate Change Canada. June 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 27, 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  7. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (November 27, 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  8. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (August 20, 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  9. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (July 2, 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Mayor & Council
  11. ^ North Saanich Farm Market
  12. ^ North Saanich Freeride
  13. ^ Panorama Recreation
  14. ^ Converse, Cathy (2018) [2008]. Horsdal, Marlyn (ed.). Following the Curve of Time: The Untold Story of Capi Blanchet (Book) (2nd ed.). TouchWood Editions. ISBN 978-1-77151-296-1.
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