The District of North Saanich is nestled on the Saanich Peninsula of British Columbia, approximately 25 km north of Victoria on southern Vancouver Island. As one of the 13 Greater Victoria municipalities, North Saanich is surrounded on three sides by 20 km of ocean shoreline. The district is a harmonious blend 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, which originally included the townsite of Sidney, was incorporated in July 1905. However, due to a lack of population and a firm tax base, the municipality was dissolved in 1911. The area experienced a boom in 1940 when the site of the present Victoria International Airport was selected as a military forces base, leading to the incorporation of the Village of Sidney in 1952. Four years later, the residents of the North Saanich unorganized area requested the formation of the "North Saanich Fire Prevention District". In 1965, after a favourable public vote, the North Saanich Municipal District was established.
According to 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. This represented a change of 8.8% from its 2016 population of 11,249. With a land area of 37.16 km2, it had a population density of 329.3/km2 in 2021.
North Saanich is home to a diverse range of animal species. The largest animal to be found in the area is the cougar. Other native mammals include the black-tailed deer, mink, otter, raccoon, and deer mouse. The area also hosts a variety of bird species, including the northwestern crow, common raven, bald eagle, turkey vulture, American robin, varied thrush, Steller's jay, and several species of gull.
The most common native tree in North Saanich is the Douglas fir. Other large conifers include the grand fir and western red cedar. The Pacific madrone is a large broadleaf evergreen species found in the area. Large deciduous trees include the black cottonwood, bigleaf maple, red alder, and Garry oak.
North Saanich enjoys a warm-summer Mediterranean climate with short, warm, and dry summers and long, cool, and wet winters.
The 2022 – 2026 council of North Saanich includes Mayor Peter Jones and Councillors Jack McClintock, Sanjiv Shrivastava, Celia Stock, Irene McConkey, Phil DiBattista, and Kristine Marshall. The next election is scheduled for October 17, 2026.
North Saanich can be accessed by highway on Highway 17 from Victoria, Sidney or Vancouver. The Victoria International Airport, located in the municipality, offers daily service to various destinations. North Saanich also has a floatplane aerodrome and seven marinas.
North Saanich is composed of several neighbourhoods, each with its unique characteristics. These include Ardmore, Cloake and Horth Hills, Dean Park, Deep Cove, Central North Saanich, McDonald Park/Curteis Point, and Southeast Quadrant ("Bazan Bay").
North Saanich offers a variety of attractions for residents and visitors alike. These include the North Saanich Farm Market, British Columbia Aviation Museum, Institute of Ocean Sciences, North Saanich Freeride Park, 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, Victoria International Airport, BC Ferries Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, and Panorama Recreation Centre.
