METCHOSIN
Local residents love the District of Metchosin for its quaint community feel, beautiful farmland, proximity to the water, trails, and its iconic My Chosen Café.
It’s home to Pearson College, which is a world-renowned pre-university college for international students. And it’s also home to a premier RV resort and marina in Pedder Bay.
Metchosin has plenty of outdoor spaces to explore including parks, lakes, hiking trails, and beaches, yet it’s still in close proximity to larger cities.
Profile
Population: 4,708
Average age: 46.5
Average full-time employment income: $62,465
Population density per square kilometres: 66.2
Land area in square kilometres: 71.13
Total private dwellings: 1,932
Amenities
Metchosin is a 15-minute drive or 25-minute bike ride to downtown Langford, and a 35-minute drive or an hour and 20-minute bike ride to downtown Victoria. It’s also a 45-minute drive to Victoria International Airport and Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.
The District of Metchosin is part of the Sooke School District, and residents fall into the catchment of Hans Helgesen Elementary School (K to 5), Dunsmuir Middle School (6 to 8), Ecole John Stubbs Memorial School for French immersion (K to 8), and the newly built Royal Bay Secondary (9 to 12).
Hans Helgesen is also part of the Strong Start program, which is free for children ages 0 to 5 accompanied by their parents or caregivers, to help kick start learning and motor skills.
Pearson College UWC is internationally recognized and Canada’s only United World College. It welcomes students from more than 150 countries for a two-year, pre-university International Baccalaureate program.
Pedder Bay RV Resort and Marina has several amenities including an RV park, as well as a marina with moorage for a wide range of boats.
Metchosin Community Association is a centre with a number of services and events for locals of all ages including a parent and tot program, a garden club, a drop-in art group, a ukulele group, a book club, and pot luck lunches.
Fun and Family
The district has four regional parks including Matheson Lake Regional Park, Devonian Regional Park, Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park, and Albert Head Lagoon Regional Park.
Matheson Lake is a great spot to swim in the summer, have a picnic on the beach, hike around the lake, or fish as it’s stocked with rainbow trout.
Devonian Regional Park is a quiet spot ideal for unwinding, strolling along the beach, picnicking, or bird watching.
Witty’s Lagoon has a nature centre with Capital Regional District (CRD) staff and volunteer naturalists to answer questions about the area, as well as a sandy beach and long trails through the woods and marsh. It’s also a great spot for bird watching. In fact, the park has more than 160 bird species. There’s also an awe-inspiring waterfall, Sitting Lady Falls, where you can watch water weave through volcanic rock.
Albert Head Lagoon Regional Park is in close proximity to Witty’s Lagoon and is a little less travelled. It’s a protected sanctuary for birds including swans, geese, and migratory fowl.
The community has a nine-hole golf course at the Metchosin Golf and Country Club, and a par three Green Acres Golf Course suited for beginners.
Metchosin also has a Cricket Club, part of the Victoria and District Cricket Association (VDCA), which includes a junior league.
Pedder Bay also has boat rentals for fishing or sightseeing and guided fishing charters. You can fish year-round and the waters off of Metchosin have chinook, sockeye, chum, coho, and pink salmon, as well as halibut, rock cod, shrimp, and crab.