Victoria and the Region

The Region's Districts, Municipalities, Towns and Cities:

Capital Regional District (CRD): the CRD encompasess all of the following areas plus the Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island and Southern Gulf Island Electoral Areas. [see map]
City of Colwood: This area includes Royal Roads University, and a portion of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail which also runs through Langford, Metchosin, View Royal, Saanich, and Victoria.
City of Langford: If you are looking for "big box" stores, Langford is for you. It is also home to the annual Luxton Pro Rodeo, and is fast becoming one of the region's most walkable areas with a large trail system connecting natural and urban areas.

Victoria's Harbour

City of Victoria: the Provincial capital of British Columbia and the reason for this website.
District of Central Saanich: While much of this area is dedicated to agriculture and light industry, it also includes Butchart Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, Heritage Acres and Island View Beach regional park.
District of the Highlands: This largely rural area is popular with birders and includes Mount Work regional park.
District of Metchosin: Famous for Witty's Lagoon (popular with birders) and for world-class golfing, it is home to not only Pearson College, an international exchange school; but also to the William Head Institution, a federal minimum-seciurity correctional facility.

View from Saxe Point in Esquimalt

District of North Saanich: Largely rural-agricultural, this area is home to the Victoria International Airport; the Pacific Geoscience Centre (where scientists monitor earthquake activity, among other things); and Dunsmuir Lodge Conference Centre.
District of Oak Bay: Home to the annual Oak Bay Tea Party, a bustling Village in the style of Olde England, Cadboro Bay Beach, complete with our own sea monster, Caddy, and some of the priciest real estate in the region.
District of Saanich: What started as the primary suburb to Victoria is now a community in and of itself. Home to the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and both campuses of Camosun College, it also shares jurisdiction of the University of Victoria with Oak Bay. Light industry and some agricultural areas still dot the landscape in Saanich.
District of Sooke: Known for year-round recreation and real rural living, Sooke is the most recent bedroom community to the City of Victoria -- though it's been there for 150 years.
Town of Sidney: Also known as Sidney-by-the-Sea, this seaside town bills itself as Booktown. It's also the Canadian port for the Anacortes ferry out of Washington State, and home to Mineral World/Scratch Patch and the Marine Ecology Centre.
Town of View Royal: Lately, View Royal has hit its stride winning the regional bid for a very sizeable Great Canadian Casino and booming with new residential and commercial developments. It is also an area rich in history, including the Craigflower Schoolhouse, built in 1854.
Township of Esquimalt: Home to Canada's Pacific Naval Fleet this small community has been steadily redesigning itself over the past decade. It now has a new town hall and library, and will soon have a new recreation centre.