SIDNEY
The Town of Sidney is a picturesque and charming community along the north end of the Saanich Peninsula. Known as Sidney by the Sea, its views of the water do not disappoint.
It has historically attracted an older population for its ideal location to spend retirement, but it has a wide variety of amenities and activities for residents of all ages.
Profile
Population: 11,672
Average age: 54.6
Average full-time employment income: $57,330
Population density per square kilometres: 2,290.7
Land area in square kilometres: 5.10
Total private dwellings: 5,960
Amenities
Sidney is a stone’s throw away from the Victoria International Airport and Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal and you can drive to each in less than 10 minutes. It’s also a half hour drive to downtown Victoria.
The town also has a ferry service operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), which goes to and from Anacortes, Washington.
Sidney has a quaint downtown featuring plenty of local shops and bakeries lining Beacon Avenue. This main drag leads you to a beautiful waterfront pathway and boardwalk where you can see views of Sidney Island and over to the San Juan Islands.
There’s a community hub, the SHOAL Centre for Seniors, which is a short walk off of Beacon Avenue. It includes a games room, exercise room, meeting spaces for rent, and shops for woodworking, crafts, and pottery.
Sidney is also home to a centre for all ages, the Greenglade Community Centre.
The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is a public aquarium in downtown Sidney, open to visitors and residents year-round who want to learn about the marine animals living off of Sidney’s coast.
The Town of Sidney is part of the Saanich School District, which includes Sidney Elementary (K to 5), and then middle and secondary schools just outside of the Sidney border, which include North Saanich Middle School (6 to 8), and Parkland Secondary (9 to 12).
Fun and Family
Sidney is a cyclist’s paradise and from there you can follow the Lochside Trail along beautiful terrain into downtown Victoria in about an hour and a half. Or you can cycle north to Lands End Road around to the Saanich Inlet.
If you’re looking for a leisurely trip to explore the waters off of Sidney, Alpine Group offers a 25-minute boat ride to Sidney Spit, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. You can go for the day or camp overnight, and explore the beaches, hike around, and bird watch.
Panorama Recreation Centre is a short drive away in neighbouring North Saanich. It includes a 25-metre salt water swimming pool, a leisure pool, an accessible waterslide, a sauna, and a steam room. It also has two skating rinks, a weight room, a fitness room with a number of classes, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and racquetball and squash courts.
Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club has an 18-hole golf course, which is a challenging course that has hosted a number of tournaments including the BC Open. The club also has a curling rink and league, and and a semi-private tennis club.