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Welcome
to the Saanich Peninsula!
Sidney 9810 Seventh St. Central Saanich 7860 Wallace Drive visit thriftyfoods.com 2
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The Old Attic Unique Finds at Fantastic Prices
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DISCOVER NORTH SAANICH 1620 Mills Rd., North Saanich, B.C. V8L 5S9 Tel: 250-656-0781 | Fax: 250-656-3155 E-mail: admin@northsaanich.ca Website: www.northsaanich.ca Alice Finall, Mayor NORTH SAANICH One of the most beautiful and diverse municipalities in the region, North Saanich, will likely be the first community visitors will experience when visiting. Both the main travel entrance points on Southern Vancouver Island, the Swartz Bay Terminal for BC Ferries, and the Victoria International Airport are located here. We welcome visitors and have much to offer them. A significant portion of our land is agricultural with many varied and active farms and other rural attractions. Not only do these offer a supply of locally produced food but they provide a charming contrast to our residential areas. Sample the wonderful food offerings at our local Saturday morning farm market at St. John’s Church on West Saanich Road, which operates through the efforts of energetic volunteers from June to October each year. In addition, many farms offer sales of produce at the farm gate. Our walking trails are extensive and appealing, covering most areas in the municipality and ranging from those easily walkable to more challenging areas in Horth Hill Park and Dean Park, well worth the effort for the views. Other parks offer a variety of attractions, including magnificent views of our shores, and our native plants and trees. An unusual community amenity provided by the Victoria Airport Authority is a multi-use walking/cycling trail all around the airport lands. Our 45 kilometre shoreline extends around the municipality, attracting many boaters and fishing enthusiasts, serviced by local marinas. The Panorama Leisure Centre offers swimming, tennis, skating and other fitness facilities. There are two local golf courses, Glen Meadows and Ardmore. The opportunity to indulge in such a variety of leisure activities is enhanced in North Saanich by the unspoiled rural ambience of the area. We hope you have a wonderful experience visiting North Saanich.
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250-656-1970
Welcome!
Welcome to the Saanich Peninsula, a year-round playground showcasing breathtaking West Coast scenery, outdoor pursuits for the most fearless of adventurers and world-class attractions you’ll remember for years to come. The gateway to Victoria, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula offer something for just about every traveller, from intrepid explorers to young families looking for wide-open beaches, walkable villages and a calendar full of fun, friendly events. Add to that unique shopping and dining opportunities, proximity to downtown Victoria, BC Ferries and the Victoria International Airport, and a laid-back West Coast culture that allows you to be as relaxed or adventurous as you like, and there’s no question the Saanich Peninsula offers a vacation destination second to none. Come explore!
6 ESSENTIALS GETTING HERE
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9 COMMUNITIES 12
A PROUD PAST
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FAMILY FUN
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SHOP SIDNEY
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FLAVOURS OF THE PENINSULA
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ARTS & CULTURE
27 AGRITOURISM JENNIFER BLYTH PHOTO
ABOUT US JIM PARKER
Publisher
JENNIFER BLYTH
Editor
PIP KNOTT
Graphic Design/Layout & Production
ADAM SOMERS
Display Advertising Representative
WENDY DENISON Distribution The Saanich Peninsula Visitor's Guide is an annual magazine, published by the Peninsula News Review for Black Press. 6-9843 Second Street, Sidney, B.C. V8L 3C7 Phone 250-656-1151 www.vicnews.com
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OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
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GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
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PASSIONS & PURSUITS
32 CALENDAR 34
ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS
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PARKS & BEACHES LISTINGS
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ACCOMMODATION LISTINGS
COVER PHOTOS, EXCEPT SHOPPING AND DINING IMAGES, BY JENNIFER BLYTH
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welcome
THE ESSENTIALS An aerial view of downtown Sidney
CONTACT DETAILS: Most phone numbers on the Saanich Peninsula will begin with a (250) area code unless otherwise indicated. For local directory assistance, call 411. For long distance directory assistance, call 1-(area code)-555-1212. In case of emergency, call 911.
MEDICAL SERVICES: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SIDNEY BIA
INFORMATION & INSPIRATION: Your first stop on your Saanich Peninsula vacation should be the Visitor Centre, located just off Highway 17 on Beacon Avenue near the Mary Winspear Centre. The friendly, knowledgeable staff will answer all your travel questions and provide information about accommodation, services, attractions, activities and community events. For details, call the centre at 250-665-7362 or email visitors@peninsulachamber.ca For general information about touring in British Columbia, call 1-800-HELLO-BC (1-800-435-5622 ) or visit www.hellobc.com
Public art along the Sidney waterfront
BEHIND THE WHEEL Canadian speed limits are posted in kilometres per hour. Driving speeds can be approximately converted as: 30km/hr = 20mph 40km/hr = 25mph 50km/hr = 30mph 60km/hr = 40mph 80km/hr = 50mph 100km/hr = 60mph
The Saanich Peninsula is home to several walk-in clinics for those with nonemergency medical concerns. In case of an emergency, visit the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, in Saanichton at 2166 Mt. Newton X Rd., or call 911.
SALES PRIMER: Purchases are generally subject to a seven per cent provincial sales tax (PST) and a five per cent federal sales tax (GST).
NOTE THAT VEHICLE SEAT BELTS AND MOTORCYCLE AND BICYCLE HELMETS ARE COMPULSORY AT ALL TIMES. IT IS ALSO ILLEGAL TO USE A HAND-HELD DEVICE SUCH AS A CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING.
Peninsula Country Market
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welcome
GETTING HERE THE GATEWAY TO VANCOUVER ISLAND, Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula are located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, just 20 minutes from downtown Victoria. Easily accessed by BC Ferries from Vancouver and the Gulf Islands, by the Anacortes Ferry from Washington State, and from around the world by the Victoria International Airport, the Peninsula is the perfect base for your Vancouver Island vacation.
Smaller ferries serve the Gulf Islands routes.
BY SEA BC Ferries’ Swartz Bay terminal is by far the most popular way to reach Vancouver Island – not only are the Ferries convenient, but the trip from the Mainland’s terminal at Tsawwassen is breathtaking. From open waters the route takes passengers past a variety of smaller islands, sheltered bays, lighthouses and other coastal landscapes; killer whales and other wildlife are not uncommon sights along the way, so be sure to keep your eyes open! The larger ferries are well-equipped for the 90-minute trip, with several dining options and gift shop, and typically run daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. year-round, with hourly sailings during busier times. For current schedule and fare information, visit www.bcferries.com or call 1-888-223-3779. The Anacortes Ferry, operated by Washington State Ferries, offers an equally picturesque summer route between Sidney and the U.S town of Anacortes, Wa. For those travelling to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Black Ball Ferry Line operates the Coho Ferry between Port Angeles, Wa. and downtown Victoria, while the Victoria Clipper offers high-speed passengeronly service between downtown Victoria and downtown Seattle.
BY AIR The award-winning Victoria International Airport is centrally located on the Peninsula, just five minutes from the town of Sidney. The airport serves a variety of airlines with both direct and connecting flights, and offers travellers a wide range of amenities. Car rentals, taxis and shuttles are also available. Questions? Just look for the Red Coat Airport Ambassadors, volunteers named for their bright red jackets, who are happy to answer questions.
BY LAND To visit from Victoria, head north on Highway 17, known locally as the Pat Bay Highway, toward Sidney, or opt for West Saanich Road and enjoy a leisurely drive through picturesque farmland.
JENNIFER BLYTH PHOTOS
Cyclists will want to explore via the rural roads, quiet by-ways and Lochside Trail, a 29-kilometre multi-use trail along a former railway line that links the Peninsula to the communities of Saanich and Victoria to the south.
GETTING AROUND For those arriving without their own vehicle, or who are looking for an inexpensive way to explore, much of the Saanich Peninsula is well-served by BC Transit bus service, including the Swartz Bay ferry terminal and the Victoria International Airport. Taxi and private bus tour service are also readily available. Maps and other resources are available at the Saanich Peninsula Visitor Centre, located outside the Mary Winspear Centre on Beacon Avenue.
PARKING ON THE PENINSULA The Town of Sidney offers plenty of free parking and some pay parking lots, however depending on the location, you’ll find one, two, three or 24-hour parking limits, in addition to short-term spots, so be sure to check for signs.
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welcome
The Cannery Building in downtown Sidney
COMMUNITIES Street Markets, the Sidney Fine Art Show and ArtSea Festival and the Lighted Boat Sail Past & Santa Parade, a highlight of the holiday season.
NORTH SAANICH
JENNIFER BLYTH PHOTO
SIDNEY The heart of the Saanich Peninsula, the sea-side town of Sidney is home to the largest concentration of the region’s shopping, dining and services. Boasting a pedestrian-friendly downtown, the main street, Beacon Avenue, stretches from Highway 17 to the ocean, where you’ll find the Sidney pier, marina and passenger ferry service to Sidney Spit, part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Readers, take note: Sidney Start your day with is Canada’s only Booktown, a run or stroll along with unique new and used the 2.5km waterfront bookshops offering hours walkway, admiring the recently installed of browsing. sculptures along the way. Along Beacon and the adjacent side streets, discover an exciting array of specialty boutiques, art studios, attractions, shops and services, not to mention the community’s celebrated Booktown – a collection of independent bookshops featuring everything from the latest bestsellers to rare historical treasures. Food enthusiasts will savour the varied culinary options, from quick and casual to some of the most celebrated dining rooms in the Capital Region. Sunny days on the West Coast are perfect for the patio, and you’ll find plenty to choose from in Sidney. Family-friendly attractions include the renowned Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, Mineral World and Scratch Patch and the Sidney Museum. A hub for many of the Saanich Peninsula’s signature events, popular dates on the Sidney calendar include the annual Sidney Days/Canada Day Celebrations, the Summer
North Saanich is the Saanich Peninsula’s northern-most municipality and the jumping-off point for most visits to southern Vancouver Island. Surrounding the seaside town of Sidney and home to both the BC Ferries terminal at Swartz Bay and the Victoria International Airport, the idyllic rural community of North Saanich is approximately 25 minutes north of Victoria. Surrounded on three sides by 40 kilometres of ocean shoreline, it’s no wonder that hiking, beachcombing and ocean adventures figure prominently here, in addition to agricultural explorations. Nestled among some of the Island’s oldest evergreens, the region was originally built as a summer retreat for some of Victoria’s elite; today, the community is ideal for a leisurely bike ride, long walk or hike, passing long beaches, rolling farmlands, and towering trees. Winery touring and golfing are also popular pastimes.
CENTRAL SAANICH The Saanich Peninsula region closest to downtown Victoria, Central Saanich is a pastoral community of farms, parks and pristine waterfront complemented by small collections of shops, services and residential neighbourhoods in the Brentwood Bay, Keating and Saanichton communities. Home to many of the Peninsula’s major attractions, favourite destinations among both residents and visitors include the Butchart Gardens, Victoria Butterfly Gardens and Heritage Acres, in addition to natural amenities like Island View Beach Regional Park overlooking Haro Strait, John Dean Provincial Park, and Gowlland-Tod Provincial Park, along Tod Inlet.
Central Saanich is home to a growing population of approximately 16,000 people, not to mention 32 municipal parks totalling 82.80 hectares (204.59 acres), in addition to its regional and provincial parks.
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Beautiful Brentwood Bay
COMMUNITIES BRENTWOOD BAY Southwest of Sidney, discover Brentwood Bay, one of the Peninsula’s most charming off-the-beaten track destinations. Tucked into a small cove of the picturesque Tod Inlet, renowned among local anglers for its salmon and a popular choice for boaters and paddlers, visitors can begin their visit with a stroll past the marina along the meandering waterfront path. Steps away from the water is the shopping district, home to an eclectic selection of shops and services, including restaurants and gift shops. At the foot of Verdier Avenue, find the awardwinning Brentwood Bay Lodge and Spa, where you can also rent kayaks, go scuba diving and take in an eco-tour, or simply relax on the deck of the waterfront pub. A little farther south along Tod Inlet is the renowned Butchart Gardens and Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, offering challenging hiking trails and scenic views.
SAANICHTON Tucked between the rolling farmlands of Central Saanich and its residential centre lies the Village of Saanichton, a gathering place for both locals and visitors for its shops, services and eateries. Focused near the corner of Mt. Newton X-Road and Wallace Drive, Saanichton is a good jumping-off point for a self-guided agri-tour, visits to the Butchart Gardens and Victoria Butterfly Gardens, golfing or hiking. The Saanich Peninsula Hospital is also located in Saanichton.
KEATING
Boasting some of the mildest weather in Canada, the Saanich Peninsula is a year-round tourist destination with attractions and activities catering to a wide variety of travellers.
The rolling farmlands of Mt. Newton X-Road
Just off Highway 17, along Keating Cross Road, the Keating commercial area serves residents of the south Central Saanich area. In addition to retailers providing everything from groceries to garden supplies, the Keating community also allows easy access to some of the southern Peninsula’s most picturesque farms and markets along Oldfield and Old West Saanich roads.
JENNIFER BLYTH PHOTOS
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Central Saanich has long been associated with the cheerful yellow daffodil, raised by Vantreight Farms, which has grown to become the largest daffodil producer in Canada and the second largest in North America. In 1957 Geoff Vantreight Jr. was one of four people to start using daffodils to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and more than a halfcentury later Daffodil Days continue to raise money for Cancer research in Canada and around the world.
See us for all your Vacation needs! Beach Towels • Sunglasses • Sunscreen
Sidney 9810 7th Street
Mariner Village Mall by Thrifty Foods 250-656-1348 Postal Outlet 250-656-1148 Mon-Fri 8 am - 8 pm Sat 9 am - 6 pm • Sun 11 am - 5 pm
Brentwood Bay 7181 West Saanich Rd 250-652-1235 Mon-Fri 9 am - 9 pm Sat 9 am - 6 pm Closed Sundays
Saanich Historical Artifacts Society’s
2014 Event Schedule
Old English Car Club Summer Fair Ford V8 Picnic Truck Show Harvest Fall Fair Xmas in the Village
102-7851 East Saanich Road Saanichton
Phone: 250-652-7845 Web: peggyyelland.com
April 13 June 14, 15 July 20 Aug. 1 – 4 Sept. 13, 14 Dec. 5, 6, 7 and 12, 13, 14
7321 Lochside Drive (off Island View Road) All dates subject to change. Check website for updates
To find out about additional train run dates please go to www.vime.ca
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A PROUD PAST
The people of the Saanich Peninsula are proud of their rich heritage.
FROM ITS HISTORIC PIONEER CHURCHES to the high-flying features of the BC Aviation Museum, the Saanich Peninsula is proud of its past – and it shows! Aboriginal peoples have lived on the Saanich Peninsula for thousands of years and today the region is home to four First Nations: the Tsartlip, the Tsawout, the Tseycum and the Pauquachin. European settlement came when the Hudson’s Bay Company acquired two large parcels of land in 1852, followed by the first non-Aboriginal settlers a few years later. An easy climate and fertile lands made the region attractive to farmers, and agriculture continues to be a key feature of Peninsula life today. Smaller communities grew up along the Peninsula to serve the families, along with pockets of industry, including a limestone quarry at what is now Butchart Gardens, and an adjacent cement plant at Tod Inlet. Aviation has had a long history on the Peninsula, beginning when an airfield was established in the 1920s. The airport opened in 1940, soon after accommodating the Royal Canadian Airforce, the Royal Airforce and the Royal Canadian Navy, notes the Sidney Museum. Linking the people of the Saanich Peninsula SIDNEY ARCHIVES P976.142.1 to points around the world, the facility became the Victoria International Airport in 1959. After 100 years of private boat and ferry service between Vancouver Island and the Mainland, BC Ferries began its first service from North Saanich's Swartz Bay terminal in 1960 with the M.V. Tsawwassen and the M.V. Sidney. Fast-forward 54 years famous three-month long Lego exhibit each winter. and BC Ferries now operates ships on a variety of routes up and The British Columbia Aviation Museum, near the Victoria down the B.C. coast, through some of the most picturesque seaInternational Airport, showcases aircraft, engines, photos, scapes in the world. models and artifacts, along with the Memorial Room filled Today, the Saanich Peninsula with artifacts from the wars that continues to evolve, and in addition Canadians fought as members of The Sidney Museum has to fields of corn, hay, grapes and the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal other crops, the tourism, marine Flying Corps or Royal Air Force. Don’t served the communities of and aviation industries are bringing miss the historical display of the Sidney and North Saanich a greater awareness of the region’s Pat Bay Airport as it was during its proud past and its promising future. time as a Commonwealth Air Training since 1971 Centre, complete with models of the aircraft stationed at the centre. EXPLORE & DISCOVER Explore the region’s agricultural past at Heritage Acres, where The Saanich Peninsula offers many opportunities to learn guests will find one of Western Canada’s largest collections of about the region’s fascinating history. working steam engines, tractors, agricultural machinery and The Sidney Museum has served the communities of Sidney household and industrial artifacts, housed on an expansive and North Saanich since 1971, intriguing visitors with special property. A chapel is available for weddings and memorials while programs and exhibitions calling upon its permanent collection the schoolhouse can be used for receptions and gatherings. of more than 6,000 artifacts. The museum is open to the public During the summer, the barbecue and park areas are also by donation, and people enjoy visiting regularly to take in rotating exhibits ranging from an annual quilting display to the available for group activities. A variety of special events are
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welcome
HELP SIDNEY'S FIREFIGHTERS CELEBRATE 100 YEARS!
JENNIFER BLYTH PHOTO
planned throughout the year. The Log Cabin Museum and Archives, operated by the Saanich Pioneer Society, is dedicated to the preservation of historical records of the Saanich Peninsula. Visit from 12 to 3 p.m. Saturdays from March to mid-December at 7910 Polo Park Cres., Saanichton or visit www.saanichpioneersociety.org Commemorating the dedication of local firefighters, the Central Saanich Volunteer Firefighters Historical Museum welcomes tours on the last Saturday of every month from 1 to 4 p.m. Find the museum at 1901 Mount Newton Cross Road. To learn more about the history of one the region’s longeststanding attractions, the Butchart Gardens hosts a historical display each winter from mid-January through mid-March in Benvenuto, the family residence. Take in a display of memorabilia chronicling the development of Jennie Butchart’s garden, with furnishings, correspondence and photographs allowing visitors to step back into time. Outside, guests will find “Historical Perspectives” set up at viewpoints throughout the gardens, showing the view from that location as it was being developed.
JOIN THE SIDNEY FIRE DEPARTMENT in celebrating its centennial during a day-long party Aug. 2, including a fire truck parade! A busy and eventful 100 years have passed since the department held its first firefighting drill Aug. 7, 1914. ”World War I was days away and in Sidney, the Victoria & Sidney Railway sold 65-cent excursion tickets (and) the B.C.E.R. railway was rattling along to Deep Cove – Sidney was a major stopping point for Coastal Steamers,“ recalls the department‘s centennial website. ”Sidney’s 600 permanent residents installed six fire hydrants in 1912 and by 1914 public donations had collected enough money to buy a hand-drawn hose reel and 1,000 feet of 2 1/2" hose. Six street lights lit the way and the mill whistle called the volunteers after the local telephone operator received the alarm.“ This August, following a registration and meet & greet beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1 at the Mary Winspear Centre, a full day of fun is planned for Saturday, Aug. 2. The centre will host late registration from 8 to 9 a.m., in preparation for the parade of fire trucks and related vehicles, beginning at 11 a.m. From 1 to 4 p.m., take in truck displays, live demonstrations and an open house at the Sidney Fire Hall and the Sidney Museum. The day‘s events wind up at 6 p.m. when the doors open at the Mary Winspear Centre to firefighters and invited guests for a gala dinner and live band. Anyone with trucks, vehicles or apparatus wanting to join the Sidney Fire Department‘s celebration is asked to email sidneyfirefighters@gmail.com
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explore + discover
10 TIPS FOR FAMILY FUN
Explore the wonders of the Salish Sea at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
PARKS AND BEACHES, FUN FESTIVALS, WORLDCLASS ATTRACTIONS...THERE’S LITTLE RISK OF HEARING THE DREADED “I’M BORED” WHEN YOUR VACATION DESTINATION IS THE SAANICH PENINSULA. HERE ARE 10 FAVOURITE FAMILY ATTRACTIONS NOT TO BE MISSED:
❶ SHAW OCEAN DISCOVERY CENTRE A delight for all ages, this waterfront aquarium explores the wonders of the Salish Sea, with colourful aquarium habitats and touch pools. Family activities include Weekends at the Aquarium, with games, crafts, and more every Saturday and Sunday, Sea-Shirt Sundays, on the first Sunday of each month, Salish Sea School Summer Camps and Barnacle Buddies Camp. During Tot Tuesdays,10:30 to 11:30 a.m. from fall through spring, pre-schoolers enjoy marine-themed crafts, games and story time. Special events at the centre include World Oceans Day June 8, with fun, ocean-focused games and activities, ScienceSea Day and Merry Fishmas (dates TBD). Visit www.oceandiscovery.ca before you go and print off a kids‘ scavenger hunt!
PHOTO COURTESY THE SHAW OCEAN DSICOVERY CENTRE
Surrounded by water on three sides – with two of the region’s most popular lakes to the fourth – beautiful beaches are never far away! Beachcombing is a breeze at Coles Bay and Patricia Bay, while sandcastles are a must on the sandy shores of Island View Beach in Central Saanich, and at Sidney Spit, where you can also try your hand at the fun and educational geocaching program and enjoy familyfriendly interpretation programs and events offered throughout the park in July and August. Visit parkscanada.pc.gc.ca/ gulfislands for details.
❹ PARK IT! From wide-open playing fields to monkeyworthy playgrounds, running off steam is a breeze here on the Saanich Peninsula. Kid-friendly favourites include Centennial Park in Central Saanich and the waterfront Tulista Park in Sidney. Opposite Tulista is the recently expanded Iroquois Park, with walking trails, fields and multi-sport court, playground, a practice putting green and – the perfect way to cool off – a water spray park. For the more adventurous, skateboarding is welcomed at Centennial Park in Central Saanich and behind Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre. Cyclists can challenge their skills at North Saanich’s Free Ride Park, near the Victoria International Airport, while more experienced riders can hit the trails at the Hartland lands.
❸ SIDNEY DAYS A favourite event on the Sidney
❺ HISTORY COMES ALIVE If a young history buff
❷ BEACH BOUND
summer calendar, Sidney Days fills the town with a whole host of events and activities June 30 and July 1. The fun starts with a community barbecue and entertainment at Beacon Park, and spectacular fireworks set to music. Canada Day dawns with a Sidney Days 2K/5K Run & Walk, pancake breakfast and Canada Day parade, followed by a kids’ inflatable obstacle course in Iroquois Park, road hockey, a dog show, Build-a-Boat competition and much more! See www.peninsulacelebrations.ca for more information.
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or aviation enthusiast is among your travelling companions, be sure a stop at the BC Aviation Museum is on your itinerary. Those visiting at the holidays can also take in Kidsfest Dec. 28 and 29, two days of activities and fun for boys and girls under the age of 14. Sidney Museum is chock-full of interesting exhibits and artifacts, but several “kid friendly” programs are among the Peninsula’s most popular annual events. Winter brings the annual Lego exhibit from January through March, while December’s Teddy Bear exhibit is fun for the younger ones. Learn how early pioneers lived at the Log Cabin Museum (Saturday afternoons from March
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explore + discover to December) while Heritage Acres is open daily to celebrate the region’s pioneer history, but also offers a variety of special programs throughout the year dedicated to families, including the fall fair, Halloween events and a Christmas display.
Delight in the always beautiful Victoria Butterfly Gardens
❻ BUTCHART GARDENS While their parents might delight in the beautiful blooms, there’s plenty to appeal to the younger set at the Butchart Gardens as well. The Rose Carousel brings smiles and laughter as kids of all ages choose their favourite hand-carved menagerie animal to ride. Saturday nights during summer bring the magical fireworks display, then come Christmas, it’s time for thousands of twinkling lights, entertainment, and an outdoor skating rink. Don’t miss the 12 Days of Christmas displays tucked into the gardens! Families can enjoy a year-round special self-guided Family Discovering Walk with a free worksheet that points out interesting historical details and features, and invites children to draw pictures along the way to answer questions.
❼ FUN AT THE FAIR Spring into fair season when the midway comes to the Mary Winspear Centre or catch the community feel with Brentwood Bay Festival in July. Come Labour Day weekend, head to the Saanich Fairgrounds for one of the Capital Region's favourite summer events: the Saanich Fair. A true agricultural fair, find grounds filled not only with thrilling midway rides, but also animal and farming displays, entertainment, competitions and much more.
❽ WILDLIFE WATCHING From majestic eagles soaring overhead to killer whales playing off-shore, the Saanich Peninsula is home to a wide variety of wildlife, captivating for kids of all ages. The region’s outfitters and tour guides offer everything from quiet kayak excursions to high-speed adventures through some of the world’s most picturesque scenery. These are some of the most sought-after experiences among visitors from around the world, and for good reason – come live the adventure!
Have fun on the midway at the Saanich Fair
❾ PANORAMA REC CENTRE If the weather has you heading inside, Panorama Rec Centre is a sure bet for families. Make a splash in the pool, with an accessible waterslide, take a spin on two skating arenas, or visit the weight room, tennis, racquetball and squash courts or the teen centre. Find more details, including schedules, at www.crd.bc.ca/panorama or call 250-656-7271.
❿ BUTTERFLY GARDENS Geckos, tree frogs and turtles, plus butterflies, butterflies and more butterflies! Victoria Butterfly Gardens is a favourite for families who enjoy strolling the winding paths though lush gardens providing the perfect habitat for the tropical creatures. Don’t miss this amazing experience!
JENNIFER BLYTH PHOTOS
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SHOP SIDNEY Sidney offers the perfect get-away, for a day, a week or longer. Come enjoy wonderful local food, great accommodation, family-friendly recreation, and terrific customer service. As the Gateway to Vancouver Island, Sidney enjoys a thriving arts and culture community that celebrates local artists and local crafts. From the seaside sculpture walk, to the beautiful totems that welcome visitors at the Mary Winspear Centre, to the lovely art in our galleries, community art centre and local cafés, there is truly something for everyone. Outdoor adventure is our specialty—just about year ‘round. Whether you enjoy kayaking, whale watching, bike riding, fishing, crabbing, boating or simply walking at the water’s edge, Sidney has it all. With our mild and generally dry weather, Sidney is an ideal destination throughout the year. During the summer, Sidney also has a terrific water park for kids, right alongside basketball and tennis courts. You can also hop a ferry to Sidney Spit, one of the most beautiful places on the southern end of Vancouver Island. It is literally minutes from downtown Sidney and offers a unique opportunity for bird watching, picnicking and hiking. Sidney offers other adventures too. The Shaw Ocean
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Sidney Scooters 2
OPTICAL & OPTOMETRISTS
Discovery Centre, a state of the art aquarium, offers year round unforgettable opportunities to enjoy the wonders of the Salish Sea, including Hermoine, the escape-inclined resident octopus! The Centre offers plenty of up-close-and personal ways to view and interact with sea critters. Similarly, the Sidney Museum brings local history to life with interactive displays and a closeup look at Sidney’s unique past, including a display that depicts the trains that once served the Peninsula. The Air Museum is another local attraction that delights visitors year ‘round. Star Cinema is a big attraction in Sidney. Offering comfortable seats, first-run movies and the best popcorn on the Island, you can enjoy matinee or evening performances and special kid shows on the weekends. Sidney’s unique five-pin bowling alley also offers plenty of fun for young and old. And every Sunday during the summer, in the acoustically perfect bandstand at water’s edge, Sidney offers free outdoor concerts. Jazz, blues, pop, country and rock: every week the Town celebrates the magic of its Summer Sounds series. What could be better than enjoying great music under clear blue skies, with a view of Mount Baker and the San Juan Islands in the background, ice cream in hand! Summer perfection! Sidney is home to multiple health and wellness facilities too. From spas to registered massage therapists to skilled acupuncturists and other health professionals, Sidney can help you unwind and renew body, mind and spirit. And let’s not forget about shopping! Sidney’s excellent shops
Talk to us about rentals!
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We rent walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, etc. Call for details.
“We’ll get you going” OPEN MON - SAT 9:30AM - 4:30PM
250.654.0021•2378 BEACON AVE.
2537 Beacon Avenue (in the Cannery Building) Sidney 250.656.5606 info@waterlilyshoes.com
Natural fibres, locally NOW designed, OFFERINGmade in Canada. EYE Celebrating 18 years! EXAMS
PANDORA SID DICKENS PANDORA PYRRHA SID DICKENS BRIGHTON PYRRHA VOLUSPA BRIGHTON LINNEA’S LIGHTS VOLUSPA
Sale starts 10 am Dec 27 th• • Sunglasses • Repairs
Over 600 Frames to Choose From! Crizal lenses reflection free, care free • www.crizal.ca
LOCATED AT 104-2376 BEVAN AVE. SIDNEY CENTRE 250-655-1122 jammies for your feet! 16
LINNEA’S LIGHTS
Itzyu Designs Natural Clothing
#2-9764 Fifth Street, Sidney
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250 655 6780
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In the the Sidney Sidney Pier Pier Hotel Hotel In 2536 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, B.C. 250-656-5676
explore + discover offer quality goods always with a smile: from the latest in fashions and books to delightful baked goods and flowers; from gift shops to pet shops to super markets, liquor stores and all that’s in between! Sidney brings new meaning to “shop local.” Every effort is made to highlight local and Canadianmade goods with just enough from around the world to add a bit of extra sparkle. Italian shoes, British clothes, Turkish jewelry, and tea from around the world are just a few of the very special products you’ll enjoy in Sidney. Sidney also offers a multitude of fun community events throughout the year. These are open to everyone. Our Thursday night Summer Market is the largest in Western Canada and offers a wide array of locally produced goods. Farmers from the surrounding area sell an endless array of delightful fruits and vegetables and food items include everything from hotdogs to delicious salmon and lamb burgers to cotton candy. Sidney’s annual holiday and Canada Day parades attract up to 10,000 people from far and wide. Like just about everything else about Sidney, our parades bring out the best in our community, including our spirit. We love a good party and equally, love sharing the fun with others! Sidney is minutes away from world-renowned Butchart Gardens and the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, two spectacular gardens, each with its own unique character. Wineries and cideries are also only a short distance away.
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(And yes, we have local taxis, just in case you need one!) The Victoria International Airport, BC Ferries, and the Washington State Ferry Service (USA) make travel to and from Sidney easy and part of the holiday experience. While being in Sidney is great, getting there is fun and accessible too! And, oh yes, did we mention? Sidney loves dogs! So feel free to bring your favorite pooch along too. The best thing about Sidney? The people who live and work here. From the moment you arrive until the day you depart, you will feel welcomed by shop owners, service providers, and of course the residents. Hang out in one of the local cafés or bakeries and you’ll soon feel like this is where you were meant to be! Locals and visitors alike love Sidney, not just for all it offers, but because of its beautiful clean and safe environment, the opportunity to explore and enjoy the natural world, but mostly because of its friendly, caring people. Sidney offers a unique harmony that renews the spirit, awakens the soul, and enables you to enjoy the moment—whether you are traveling alone, with friends or family. The strong sense of community pulls people back to Sidney year after year and it’s the pride and love for the Town that keeps people here. With something for everyone, Sidney is the ideal vacation destination. Come see for yourself. Island life doesn’t get any better than this!
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Sidney Buy & Sell your furniture mattress and more store 9818 Fourth St. Sidney BC 778-351-2244
Browse, reserve and shop millions of titles online at tannersbooks.com
We Buy, Sell, Trade!
Beacon and Fourth in Sidney 250.656.3245 Open 7 Days a Week! 8AM - 9PM
www.sidneybuyandsell.ca
IslandBlue’s
Sidney Art Store
• • • • • • •
Artist Paints Drawing Materials Children’s Art Supplies Art Studio Equipment Art Papers & Canvas Craft Supplies Specialty Gifts
www.islandblue.com
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Island Blue Print Co. Ltd. Downtown: 905 Fort St., Victoria, BC Tel: 250.385.9786 Sidney: 2411 Beacon Ave., Sidney, BC Tel: 250.656.1233 Toll Free: 1.800.661.3332
Exclusively Plus Size Clothing Sizes 14 to 6X Maternity XXS - XXL & Tall 8 - 20
The Store for Birders, Gardeners and now a Special Section for Cooks and Foodies!
2428 Beacon Avenue • 250.656.5064
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Check out our online store at @ www.thevictorianbirdhouse.com
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Sidney 2388 Beacon • 250-655-5279
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BEHIND THE BEAUFORT BUILDING #102 - 9840 FIFTH STREET In home or Studio consultations by appointment
pgrypma@shaw.ca • outlooksdesign.com 250-656-7659
#106 - 2506 BEACON AVE., SIDNEY (in the Landmark building)
250.655.0700
third street sidney (behind BMO) lollygobblesweets.com
The Military & Beacon Books History Bookshop See us for a large selection of used books
OPEN 10 am - 5 pm Everyday Except Sunday
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250-655-3969
2372 Beacon Ave.
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Huge Selection of Candy British Sweets Dutch Licorice Candy Bouquets & Gifts
Wide selection of antiques, jewellery, collectibles & quality used books Estates and Private Libraries Purchased
9812 Fourth St. Sidney
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Window Coverings • Upholstery Mirage Retractable Screens
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sidneybooktown.ca
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2447 Beacon Avenue (250) 656-8782 www.cameronrose.ca
778-426-2541
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French inspired furniture Collectable La Rochere glassware Pres de Provence Soaps April Cornell Table Linens Seaside Décor Feminine fashion, jewellery, Cushions, cards, candles & curiosities….
OPTICAL See us for a wide selection of sunglasses
Come and indulge your eyes and your senses!
Polarized lenses Maui Jim • Ray Ban Smith and much more
Life is Fresh!
2451 Beacon Ave., Sidney • 250-656-3626 www.eyelandoptical.ca
Home Décor & Gift Boutique
2474 Beacon Avenue • Sidney, British Columbia V8L 1X8 Ph/Fx: 250.656.3232 • Email Lilaberry@shaw.ca
Sidney’s
Pet Centre
& Aquatics
Everything to make outdoor living comfortable
Summertime living is easy with our completely weatherproof, elegant garden furniture – as relaxed and comfortable as it is beautiful and durable. Sidney 9813 Third Street 778-426 1998 Laid back living for garden lovers
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Proudly Serving Sidney and it’s Guests For Over 25 Years
250-656-3314 9769 Fifth Street, Sidney
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new & previously enjoyed children’s clothing, footwear, equipment rentals, carriers, carseats & accessories
carol davis - owner
#a3-9769 fifth st. sidney, b.c. v8l2x1 ph 250-656-1041 fx 250-656-7588
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tf
1-866-503-5437
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YOUR STAY!
enjoy
SAANICH PENINSULA
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“Canada’s Only Booktown” “Canada’s Only Booktown”
joy reading the
of
www.peninsulacountrymarket.ca
Explore our unique bookshops and discover a great selection of new and second-hand titles while visiting our beautiful seaside town.
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sidneybooktown.ca
Explore our unique bookshops and discover a great selection of new and second-hand titles PENINSULA while visiting our beautiful seaside town.
SAANICH www.sidneybooktown.ca PENINSULA
Your Community Market Since 1991
Local produce, crafts, herbs, flowers, plants, breads, coffee, treats & lots more...
A Bustling Outdoor Country market! Check out our video on our website!
Saanich Fairground
grown FRESHNESS FOR YOU TO ENJOY!
1528 Stelly’s Cross Rd Brentwood Bay/Saanichton
Phone 250-216-0521
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Fresh Locally Grown Produce
Michell Bros. Farm 250-652-6770
Corner of Island View Rd. & Hwy. 17
explore + discover
SAANICH PENINSULA
flavours
INSPIRED BY ITS BEAUTIFUL location and proximity to some of the finest farmlands and fishing areas around, it’s no surprise that the Saanich Peninsula is also home to a celebrated dining scene. From fresh-grilled sausages at the Sidney Street Market to worldclass chefs producing award-winning cuisine, you’ll find no shortage of options to tempt your tastebuds. There’s bistros, bakeries and wineries, family restaurants and waterfront pubs; in fact, Sidney itself boasts more than 40 places to eat within a five-minute walk of the Visitor Centre! Communities such as Brentwood Bay, Saanichton and the airport area also offer a varied selection of restaurants and eateries, or opt for something off the beaten path. There’s a choice for all pocketbooks, with pleasant settings and friendly service, not to mention locally inspired fare, from breakfast right through to your evening dessert and wine pairing. Bon appétit!
Greek, Italian & Western Cuisine Authentic Greek Cuisine Pizza • Pasta • Ribs Chicken • Steak • Seafood WE DELIVER!
250-656-7666
9819 - 5th St., Sidney OPEN FOR DINNER AT 4:00 PM
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Uniquely located with a close-up view of the Victoria International Airport, Spitfire Grill has been serving great food and good times since 1998. Explore a truly unique casual dining experience for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Fully licensed.
Global Flavours ✯ Local Tastes 1164 Stelly’s Cross Rd Brentwood Bay, BC
250.652.1228 zanzibarcafe.ca
Come visit us for a great selection of burgers, salads, sandwiches, and much more!
Come join us for our famous Sunday night Roast Beef Dinner
Live music on Thursday Nights!
Breakfast Lunch Dinner Coffee & Teas
Open for breakfast 7 days a week at 9am 9535 Canora Rd 250-655-4450 marysbleuemoon.com
zanzibarcafe.ca
Sun - Wed 9am - 9pm Thurs - 9am - 11pm Fri - 9am - 10pm Sat - 9am - 9pm
SPITFIRE
9681 WILLINGDON RD., SIDNEY 250-655-0122 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 8AM - 9:00PM in the Green Hangar at the west end of the airport
www.spitfiregrill.ca
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explore + discover
SAANICH PENINSULA
flavours
WOODSHED
west coast wood-oven kitchen #103-2360 Beacon Ave., Sidney, BC www.woodshedsidney.com
778-426-3442
The Island’s only Thai Lunch Buffet Located at the End Of Beacon Wharf (beside Satellite Fish Co. Ltd.)
Try our expanded breakfast menu -
bagels, muffins, fruit & a variety of bennies & omlettes
2 1 all you
250.655.4995
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Gluten Free Gluten Free Buns & Bread Buns & Bread Available! Available!
$
can eat
Monday & Tuesday: Dinner Pie Specials Monday & Tuesday: Dinner Pie Specials Wednesday: $8.99 2-piece Fish and Chips Wednesday: $8.99 2-piece Fish and Chips Thursday Nights are Wing Nights! Thursday Nights are Wing Nights! Saturday - Wednesday: Free Pool Saturday - Wednesday: Free Pool $5 Appy Specials 9 - 11 pm Every Day Appy Specials 9 -the 11 great pm Every Dayat Be$5sure checkonout variety LivetoMusic Select Saturdays! Live Music Select our on-site cold on beer, wineSaturdays! & liquor store!
Check us out for all of the sports action on our 20 tvs!
GREAT DAILY FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS!
Thai Corner
Winter Hours - serving breakfast & lunch Summer Hours - serving breakfast, lunch & dinner
S By & try our Stop top By & try our G New MeNu! Great reat New MeNu!
R E S TA U R A N T 2359 Beacon Ave. Dine In • Take Out • Delivery
778-426-4680 778-351-3380
7806 East Saanich Road 7806 East Saanich Road Saanichton 250.652.1575 Saanichton 250.652.1575
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explore + discover
9812 Fifth St., Sidney (1/2 block from Beacon)
250.656.4022 Visit us for fabulous food and a fabulous view!
PIZZA AND STEAK HOUSE
Experience the flavors of Switzerland!
Ribs - Pasta - Seafood Chicken - Greek Cuisine
Located in the Heart of Beautiful Sidney By The Sea Daily Specials! Come in for lunch or dinner and enjoy our excellent food and friendly service.
The only thing we overlook‌ is the ocean!
2470 Beacon Ave., Sidney, BC
250-656-5353
9881 Seaport Pl., Sidney 250.656.5643 Open everyday at 11:00am Children welcome
www.rumrunnerpub.ca
Take-Out Available All Day Delivery After 5 PM Serving Sidney for the past 34 years.
5th & Beacon, Sidney
250-656-5596
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ARTS & CULTURE WITH INSPIRATION WAITING AROUND EVERY BEND – FROM EXPANSIVE OCEAN VIEWS AND TOWERING EVERGREENS TO ROLLING GREEN FIELDS AND LONG, WINDING COUNTRY ROADS – IT’S LITTLE WONDER THE SAANICH PENINSULA IS HOME TO SO MANY EXCELLENT ARTISTS.
VISUAL ARTS The region celebrates its artistic talent throughout the seasons, with public art, numerous galleries and popular annual shows that draw thousands of visitors each year. Among the newest additions to the region’s art scene is Sidney's Seaside Sculpture Walk, stretching from Beacon Park along the Saanich Peninsula seawall. The sculpture walk opened to the public in the summer of 2012 as an outdoor gallery featuring everything from modern sculpture to traditional figures, set against the spectacular natural beauty of the Salish Sea and Mt. Baker. The region is also home to many successful commercial galleries, located in Sidney and other retail areas such as Brentwood Bay and Saanichton. Art studios are dotted throughout the Peninsula’s pastoral landscape – craft your own self-guided tour with a visit to the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula's website
(www.cacsp.com), or watch for the council’s two annual studio tours in the spring and fall, a great way to learn more about the many artists and artisans bringing their creativity to the community. Special events and exhibits are also frequent additions to the local cultural scene, both through local galleries and at other local businesses who through their support foster a welcoming environment for the arts. Area markets offer yet another opportunity to meet local artisans, from jewellers to wood-turners, while a highlight of the local arts scene is always the Community Arts Council’s juried Sidney Fine Art Show, which welcomes some 6,000 visitors and close to 400 works each year.
PERFORMING ARTS Sidney enjoys a vibrant performing arts scene, centred on the Mary Winspear Centre, where the intimate 310-seat Charlie White Theatre plays host to music, dance, theatre and more throughout the year. The summer entertainment calendar is busy at the Butchart Gardens and North Saanich’s Muse Winery has entertained summer guests with a series of sold-out musical theatre performances. Head to the bandshell at the foot of Sidney’s Beacon Avenue for the Summer Sounds concert series, 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays during July and August.
The Seaside Sculpture Walk brings art outside
Art enthusiasts take in the Sidney Fine Art Show STEVEN HEYWOOD PHOTO
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JENNIFER BLYTH PHOTO
explore + discover
AGRITOURISM A summer highlight for the Sidney area is always the Sidney Street Market, running Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 15 to Aug. 28 along Beacon Avenue. Stroll the avenue between Fifth and First Streets and enjoy an amazing array of delicious food, arts, crafts, music, farm-fresh goodies and more! For details visit www.sidneystreetmarket.ca The local culinary calendar also includes a variety of special events during the growing season, including Taste: Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine in July, the North Saanich Flavour Trail in August, the Saanich Peninsula Harvest Feast in September, and many special events through local restaurants and wineries.
JENNIFER BLYTH PHOTO
WELCOME TO A COMMUNITY WHERE AGRICULTURAL ROOTS RUN DEEP, WHERE PASTORAL FIELDS GIVE WAY TO PLENTIFUL WATERS, AND WHERE FARMERS AND PRODUCERS MAKE LOCAL FOODS THEIR SPECIALTY. COME SAVOUR THE FLAVOURS OF THE SAANICH PENINSULA.
FARMS & MARKETS While on a tour of the region’s quiet country roads, watch for “farm-gate” sales and fill your backpack with all sorts of local goodies, including sweet kiwis, vine-ripened tomatoes, flavourful herbs and succulent strawberries. Get an idea of what’s growing when – and where – by picking up the annual Farm Fresh guide, highlighting many local farms. From U-pick blueberries to fresh-from-the-tree apples, you’ll find it here, along with a handy map to lead you down the road to farm-fresh goodness. See www.islandfarmfresh.com for more information. Savour the bounty from many of the Peninsula’s growers and purveyors at several excellent and eclectic markets. The Peninsula Country Market celebrates its 23rd year in 2014, opening its gates each Saturday from June 7 through Oct. 11 Come taste the week’s harvest from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Saanich Fairgrounds, where you’ll also find the work of local artisans, entertainment and refreshments. See www.peninsulacountrymarket.ca for more information. The North Saanich Farm Market is located at Saint John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Rd., and welcomes guests from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Saturday from June 1 through Thanksgiving in the garden behind the church. Learn more at www.northsaanichfarmmarket.ca
WINERIES & OTHER DELIGHTS With such good food growing on our doorstep, it’s no wonder the Saanich Peninsula also belongs to one of B.C.’s fastestgrowing wine areas – Vancouver Island. The temperate climate and fertile soil make this a natural location for vintners and the results can be tasted in their many award-winning wines. Among the excellent options include Church & State Wines and Muse Winery, both with seasonal bistros, Dragonfly Hill Vineyard & Winery, Symphony Vineyard and de Vine Vineyards. If cider is your preferred sip, Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse serves its award-winning English-style ciders year-round from its family-friendly Central Saanich location, where you can also enjoy tastings and tours. Also making a name for itself is Victoria Spirits, a family-owned and operated distillery crafting premium spirits by hand, including the award-winning Victoria Gin.
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OUTWARD BOUND WHETHER YOUR PREFERENCES LEAN TO A QUIET PADDLE PAST INTERESTING SHORELINES, AN INVIGORATING HIKE TO UNPARALLELED VIEWS OR A LONG, LEISURELY BIKE RIDE THROUGH PICTURESQUE FARMLAND, YOU’LL FIND ALL THAT – AND MORE! – ON THE SAANICH PENINSULA. FOR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!
BY FOOT Boasting kilometres of rural roads, park trails and waterfront, a pleasurable walk can be a terrific way to get a feel for the Peninsula. Excellent options include the Sidney waterfront, with its beautiful vistas – not to mention plenty of things to see and do – the beach-front walkway at Patricia Bay, and restful woodland trails at Central Saanich’s Centennial Park, where native wildflowers are a delight each spring. The more adventurous can hike to the summit of Mt. Newton to capture the stunning views from a true jewel of the Peninsula, John Dean Provincial Park. The 174-hectare park overlooks farmlands, Gulf Islands and the Cascade Mountains while protecting one of the last stands of old-growth Douglas fir and Garry oak on the Peninsula. Springtime also brings a vivid display of native wildflowers, while wildlife includes ravens, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles and turkey vultures. An information shelter is located in the main parking lot at the west end of Dean Park Road. Horth Hill, Bear Hill and Mount Work regional parks and Gowlland Tod Provincial Park all offer excellent year-round opportunities to get out and explore the region’s ever-changing West Coast scenery and reward hikers with stunning views.
BY BIKE With many quiet country roads, bike lanes and a cycling culture – not to mention its idyllic scenery – the Saanich Peninsula is a cyclist’s dream. For those who want to largely avoid vehicle traffic, the Lochside Trail is a hugely popular 29km multi-use trail that extends the full length of the Saanich Peninsula along a former rail bed, joining the Galloping Goose Trail to continue south to Victoria and west to Sooke and the west coast of Vancouver Island. A newer addition to the Peninsula is the 10km paved trail around the Victoria International Airport – perfect for a ride, walk or jog. Cyclists can catch air at North Saanich’s Free Ride Park, created by both youth and professional riders with jumps and tracks for all skill levels. Note that the park is not supervised;
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Cyclists, runners and walkers are enjoying the new 10km Airport Trail STEVEN HEYWOOD PHOTO
users are required to wear helmets, requested to wear appropriate safety equipment and to ride only in areas that are developed and within their skill level. The nearby Hartland bike trails in Saanich also attract mountain bikers from all over the south Island.
BY BOAT Paddlers will find plenty of shoreline to explore and anglers can choose from both freshwater and saltwater destinations – check this guide for charters and outfitters to get you on your way and on the water. Tod and Saanich Inlets are popular with paddlers and sailors for its beautiful scenery and wildlife, while off the eastern shore, the Salish Sea is home to a wide variety of marine wildlife. Leave the driving to someone else with a guided boat tour or thrilling whale watching experience. The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is no more than a paddle or ferry trip away. With its long sandy beaches, numerous birds and wooded trails, Sidney Spit, just off the Sidney shore, is a delightful option for daytrippers or those who want to stay a little longer at the walk-in campsites to the south end of the island. Sidney Spit can be accessed via private boat or the seasonal passenger ferry that leaves from the foot of Beacon Avenue.
Dogs are welcome at most Saanich Peninsula parks and trails, provided they are under control and don’t stray off the paths, unless in a designated dog area.
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explore + discover
GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK RESERVE STARE AWESOME IN THE FACE THIS SUMMER! Leap in with both feet and let Parks Canada awaken your family’s sense of wonder. Listen to baby seals under the moonlight. Watch campfire magic flicker on young faces. Stroke an owl feather over your cheek. Fall in love with an orca — especially when you hear its unique life story. Whether you get outdoors on your own time or take part in a scheduled program. Here are 10 ideas to get you started:
❶ Love the beach? Spend at least one day on car-free Sidney Island. A 15-minute passenger ferry from Sidney Pier gets you there fast, but you’ll feel far away from it all. For an overnight retreat, pack your gear into a wheelbarrow and head for your campsite by the sea.
❷ Rusty camping skills? Mountain Equipment Co-op and other groups will show you how it’s done at an overnight Learn to Camp event on Saturday, June 14 at McDonald Campground. Special workshops include Learn how to Geocache and Learn a Coast Salish Craft. The cost is $22 per person with equipment and some meals provided. Contact 1-888-773-8888. ❸ Let’s talk about hiking. It’s really just a walk in the park, and at Gulf Islands National Park Reserve it usually comes with panoramic ocean views. Start with a stroll along a sandy beach, follow up with a walk through a lush forest trail and pretty soon you will be ready to climb Mount Norman (where you can see the entire Saanich Peninsula) or Warburton Pike (where you can gaze upon the San Juan Islands across the border).
PARKS CANADA PHOTO
thing, bring the family for free weekly interpretive programs at McDonald Campground in July and August. Choose from Campfire Magic Friday evenings (children 12 and younger) or the Junior Naturalists Club Thursday mornings (children 6 to 12).
❾ To reserve a campsite (McDonald, Sidney Island and Prior Centennial), visit www.reservation.parkscanada.gc.ca or phone at 1-877-737-3783. ❿ Many other adventures await. For program times, full itineraries and to plan your trip, visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/ gulfislands or call 250-654-4000 (toll free at 1-866-944-1744).
❹ If speed hiking is not your thing, get the family engaged with quizzes, photos and fun facts via a brand new trail guide app downloaded onto your smart phone. Satisfy your “inner nerd” on a geo-caching treasure hunt – complete the route to see the park’s top 10 destinations and earn a Parks Canada geocoin. ❺ Float your boat at one of Canada’s most popular boating destinations. Hire a guide to paddle or sail spectacular coastlines, detouring to quiet coves and empty beaches. Head to Russell Island for an exclusive tour of a historic Hawaiian homestead.
❻ Water travel brings you closer to Orcas, porpoises, seals, sea lions, eagles and blue herons, but landlubbers can also spot critters through powerful view scopes at key park locations. ❼ Don’t miss the legendary whale watching (from land!) at East Point, Saturna Island. Check out the weekly interpretive programs in July and August including Orca News and Sunset Wildlife Watch. Stay overnight at Narvaez Bay campground or at a local B&B and soak in the local culture to see why Saturna Island is one of the West Coast’s best kept secrets.
1-888-773-8888
❽ A quick recharge? McDonald Campground’s tall cedars and lush fern-lined campsites are only 25 minutes from Victoria. Pitch a tent, read a book and get back to nature. If camping isn’t your PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW / VISITOR'S GUIDE 2014 / WWW.VICNEWS.COM
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PASSIONS & PURSUITS WHETHER YOU’RE AN AVID enthusiast or new to the pursuit, the Saanich Peninsula allows visitors to step away from the hustle and bustle and spend a little time with those activities that can be both thrilling and restorative.
TEE OFF FOR GREAT GOLF While some of the Capital Region’s most famous links may be farther south, the Saanich Peninsula boasts more than its share of fine golf courses. The nine-hole Ardmore Golf Course offers a charming rural setting with wide open fairways and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. A pro-shop, seasonal patio and dining facilities are available. Glen Meadows is an 18-hole country club course that has welcomed golfers since 1965. Nearby, on the southern section of the Peninsula, the nine-hole Prospect Lake Golf Course offers a rural setting overlooking a lake, while Royal Oak Golf Course is a challenging nine-hole facility set in a residential community just south of Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. To the east, the community of Cordova Bay offers the Ridge, a picturesque par 3 overlooking Haro Strait, and Cordova Bay, a beautifully landscaped championship course. Looking for a little practice time? The Island View Golf Centre is the place, with driving range, practice green, pro shop and more.
Interior regions of Horth Hill, a 36-hectre hilltop park, and John Dean Park provide treed habitat and rocky outcrops popular with species such as ravens, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles and turkey vultures. With their diverse terrain and landscape, local gardens and golf courses also offer habitat for a wide selection of birds and other wildlife.
GORGEOUS GARDENS Mild winters and sunny summer skies mean gardening is virtually a year-round passion here on southern Vancouver Island, so a walk or ride around Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula will be filled with visual delights of quaint gardens, lush baskets and charming natural spaces. Of course, the region is also home to some of the globe’s most remarkable formal gardens. The world-famous Butchart Gardens is a must-see destination no matter what the season. From the Saturday Summer Fireworks to the magical Christmas light-up, the spectacular gardens provide the perfect backdrop to a varied calendar of special events. The National Historic Site was founded in 1904 as Jennie Butchart set about restoring the spent limestone quarry. The
BIRDWATCHING The Saanich Peninsula is a haven for birdwatchers, with its numerous seabirds, shorebirds, songbirds and raptors, including owls, hawks and eagles. On the eastern Peninsula, Island View Beach is popular with birdwatchers for both its resident population and migratory species in the spring and autumn, while on the western side, Coles Bay and Patricia Bay are popular birding locations.
Elizabeth May, OC, MP Saanich - Gulf Islands
9711 Fourth St., Sidney BC V8L 2Y8 1-800-667-9188 | elizabethmaymp.ca Conscientious, caring, non-partisan service 30
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explore + discover The Butchart Gardens
result is nothing short of breathtaking: 55 acres of gardens on the 130-acre estate visited by close to a million people each year! Just a few minutes away, the award-winning Victoria Butterfly Gardens is another attraction popular with gardening enthusiasts, children and insect and animal lovers. The indoor tropical oasis features trees, flowers, streams and ponds home not only to thousands of free-flying butterflies, but also Caribbean flamingos, koi, tree frogs, geckos, parrots, Australian whistling tree ducks, red-eared slider turtles and much more. A little farther south on the Peninsula, closer to Victoria, discover the region’s “garden for gardeners,” the Horticulture of the Pacific. The property features nine acres of spectacular gardens showcasing more than 10,000 varieties of plants. Of particular note are the Doris Page Winter Garden, the Takata Japanese Garden and the newly added Bonsai Garden, the first in Western Canada. Other regional gardens worth exploring include the Gardens at Government House and Abkhazi Garden in Victoria and the Gardens at Hatley Park, in the West Shore.
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SIDNEY PHARMACY 2425B Bevan Ave. 250-656-0744 M-F 9-5:30 SAT 10-2
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COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR APRIL
Easton & Toby Hargrave, 8 p.m. at the Mary Winspear Centre. April 20 – Easter Egg Hunt, FMI: www.marywinspear.ca Dominion Brook Park, May 10 – Lobsterfest, in support of www.peninsulacelebrations.ca Brentwood Bay Rotary Club and the April 26 – Jimmy Rankin performs at Saanich Peninsula Foundation, 6 p.m. Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre, 7:30 at the Saanich Fair Grounds. Lobster p.m. FMI: www.marywinspear.ca buffet and live music. Tickets $75 from April 26 & 27 – The Saanich brentwoodbayrotary@outlook.com Peninsula Arts & Crafts Society’s 61st May 15 to Aug 28 – Sidney Street annual exhibition of fine arts & crafts at Market, chock-full of fabulous finds, the Mary Winspear Centre. food, entertainment and more along FMI: www.marywinspear.ca Beacon Avenue. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 26 – Peninsula Garden Club’s every Thursday. bi-annual plant sale, 9 to 11 a.m. at FMI: www.sidneystreetmarket.com the Mary Winspear Centre. FMI: www.marywinspear.ca
JUNE
MAY
June & July – The Sidney Museum hosts the Doll Extravaganza. May – The Sidney Museum hosts the FMI: www.sidneymuseum.ca exhibit Sidney Sister Cities. June 7 – Brentwood Bay Festival, 11 FMI: www.sidneymuseum.ca a.m. to 3 p.m. in Pioneer Park, plus a May 2 & 3 – Sidney Anglers Salmon parade from 10 to 11 a.m. Derby, hosted at the Mary Winspear June 7 & 8 – Community Arts Centre. For details, see Council of the Saanich Peninsula’s www.sidneyanglers.ca 2014 Spring Studio Tour. May 2 to 4 – Peninsula Singers: From FMI: www.cacsp.com White Cliffs to Emerald Shores at the June 8 – World Oceans Day Mary Winspear Centre, 7:30 p.m. May celebration with the Shaw Ocean 2 & 3, and 2 p.m. May 4. Tickets $25; Discovery Centre at Beacon Park, children 12 and younger $13 Sidney. FMI: www.marywinspear.ca FMI: www.oceandiscovery.ca May 3 – Spring Release Party, 12 to 4 June 8 – Victoria Toy Show brings p.m. at Muse Winery. collectibles to the Mary Winspear FMI: www.musewinery.ca Centre. FMI: www.victoriatoyshow.ca May 4 – May Day Celebration at Sea June 8 – Murray Hatfield Magic Show Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, 11 a.m. to will amaze at the Mary Winspear 4 p.m. Food, fun, entertainment and Centre. family activities. FMI: www.seacider.ca FMI: www.marywinspear.ca May 5 – Led Zepagain, 7:30 p.m. at June 13 – Deep Cove Folk presents the Mary Winspear Centre. folk music with Old Black Rum, at St. FMI: www.marywinspear.ca John’s United Church, 10990 West May 7 to 11 – West Coast Saanich Rd. Amusements Midway is at the FMI: www.deepcovefolk.ca Mary Winspear Centre. June 14 – BC Aviation Museum FMI: www.marywinspear.ca parking lot sale. FMI: www.bcam.net May 8 & 9 – Variety Fare presents June 14 & 15 – Summer Fair at Broadway Showcase, 7 p.m. at the Heritage Acres, 9 .a.m. to 3 p.m. Mary Winspear Centre. FMI: www.shas.ca FMI: www.marywinspear.ca June 21 & 22 – Garden City Cat May 9 – Deep Cove Folk presents folk Show at the Mary Winspear Centre. music with the Redmond O’Colonies, FMI: www.marywinspear.ca at St. John’s United Church, 10990 June 22 – Touch A Truck 2014, 11 West Saanich Rd. a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Panorama Rec FMI: www.deepcovefolk.ca Centre, with lots of vehicles to explore, May 10 – Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Tour kids’ activities, BBQ and more, in featuring Damonde Tschritter, Sam
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support of children’s cancer research. FMI: www.team4hope.com June 28 – Saturday summer fireworks begin at the Butchart Gardens, continuing Saturdays through Aug. 30. FMI: www.butchartgardens.com June 29 – Concert in the Park with the Sidney Concert Band, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Sidney Bandshell. FMI: www.sidneyconcertband.ca June 30 & July 1 – Sidney Days, including parade, community BBQ, fireworks, kids activities and more. FMI: www.peninsulacelebrations.ca
JULY July & August – Sunday afternoon concert series at Beacon Park, 2 to 4 p.m. FMI: www.peninsulacelebrations.ca July & August – Brentwood Bay’s Music in the Park, Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Pioneer Park, corner of West Saanich and Clarke roads. FMI: www.brentwoodbay.info July 19, 26 & 27 & Aug 9, 10, 16 & 17 – Muse Winery hosts the musical theatre production of Cirque du Chablis. FMI: musewinery.ca July 20 – Ford V8 Picnic, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Heritage Acres. FMI: www.shas.ca July 26 – The B.C. Aviation Museum’s annual open house, in celebration of the Victoria International Airport’s 75th anniversary. FMI: www.bcam.net
AUGUST August – The Sidney Museum hosts the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department 100th Anniversary exhibit. FMI: www.sidneymuseum.ca August – Brentwood Bay’s Music in the Park, Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Pioneer Park, corner of
West Saanich and Clarke roads. FMI: www.brentwoodbay.info August – Sunday afternoon concert series at Beacon Park, 2 to 4 p.m. FMI: www.peninsulacelebrations.ca Late August – North Saanich Flavour Trail, a tour of North Saanich farms, wineries, restaurants and more. www.northsaanich.ca Aug. 1 to 4 – Big Truck Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heritage Acres. FMI: www.shas.ca Aug. 1 & 2 – Sidney Fire celebrates 100 years, with a parade, truck displays, live demonstrations and more. FMI: www.sidneyfire100year.com Aug. 30 – Last night for Saturday summer fireworks at the Butchart Gardens, continuing Saturdays through Aug. 30. FMI: www.butchartgardens.com Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 – Saanich Fair comes to the Saanich Fairgrounds. FMI: www.saanichfair.ca
SEPTEMBER September – The Sidney Museum hosts the Plein Air Painters exhibit. FMI: www.sidneymuseum.ca Sept. 1 – Saanich Fair winds up at the Saanich Fairgrounds. FMI: www.saanichfair.ca Sept. 12 – Deep Cove Folk presents folk music at St. John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Rd. FMI: www.deepcovefolk.ca Sept. 13 & 14 – Harvest Fall Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Heritage Acres. FMI: www.shas.ca Sept. 14 – B.C. Aviation Museum hosts the Battle of Britain Day, with military re-enactors. FMI: www.bcam.net
OCTOBER October – The Sidney Museum hosts the Fibre Friends exhibit. FMI: www.sidneymuseum.ca
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October – Sidney Fine Art Show at the Mary Winspear Centre. FMI: sidneyfineartshow.ca October (Date TBA) – Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula Fall Studio Tour. FMI: www.cacsp.com Oct. 10 – Deep Cove Folk presents folk music at St. John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Rd. FMI: www.deepcovefolk.ca Oct. 27 – Elvis the Moments with Pete Paquette, at the Mary Winspear Centre. FMI: www.marywinspear.ca
NOVEMBER November – The Sidney Museum hosts its Tribute to the Military exhibit. FMI: www.sidneymuseum.ca November (Date TBA) – Christmas in a Manger Craft Show at the Saanich Fairgrounds. FMI: www.saanichfair.ca Saturdays & Sundays in November – Behind the scenes greenhouse tours at the Butchart Gardens. FMI: www.butchartgardens.com Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day services at the Sidney cenotaph. Nov. 11 – BC Aviation Museum marks Remembrance Day and Food Bank Day. FMI: www.bcam.net Nov. 14 – Deep Cove Folk presents folk music at St. John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Rd. FMI: www.deepcovefolk.ca Nov. 29 – Sidney Sparkles, including family events and a Santa Parade along Beacon Avenue, downtown Sidney. FMI: www.peninsulacelebrations.ca Nov. 29 – Sidney Lighted Boat Parade in Tsehum harbour. FMI: www.peninsulacelebrations.ca
DECEMBER December – The Sidney Museum hosts its annual Teddy Bears exhibit. FMI: www.sidneymuseum.ca Dec. 1 – The Magic of Christmas display and outdoor ice skating rink open at the Butchart Gardens, continuing through Jan. 6. FMI: www.butchartgardens.com Dec. 5 to 7 & Dec. 12 to 14– Christmas in the Village, 5 to 8 p.m. at Heritage Acres. FMI www.shas.ca Dec. 12 – Deep Cove Folk presents folk music at St. John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Rd. FMI: www.deepcovefolk.ca
Dec. 28 & 29 – BC Aviation Museum hosts Kids Fest Day. FMI: www.bcam.net Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve Family Celebration FMI: Panorama Recreation Centre
JANUARY January – Lego returns to the Sidney Museum. FMI: www.sidneymuseum.ca Jan. 1 – Polar Bear Swim in the waters along Lochside Drive. FMI: www.peninsulacelebrations.ca Jan. 6 – The Magic of Christmas display and outdoor ice skating rink concludes at the Butchart Gardens. FMI: www.butchartgardens.com Jan. 9 – Deep Cove Folk presents folk music at St. John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Rd. FMI: www.deepcovefolk.ca Jan. 15 – Spring Prelude indoor exhibit and the annual Historical Display open at the Butchart Gardens, continuing through March. FMI: www.butchartgardens.com
FEBRUARY Annual Lego exhibit continues at the Sidney Museum. FMI: www.sidneymuseum.ca Feb. 7 to 9 – Sidney's Family Day weekend. Feb. 13 – Deep Cove Folk presents folk music at St. John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Rd. FMI: www.deepcovefolk.ca
MARCH Annual Lego exhibit continues at the Sidney Museum. FMI: www.sidneymuseum.ca March 13 – Deep Cove Folk presents folk music at St. John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Rd.
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ATTRACTIONS EDITOR'S NOTE: The following listings represent a selection of Sidney and Saanich Peninsula attractions; please call ahead to confirm details.
BC AVIATION MUSEUM – Located near the Victoria International Airport, the aviation museum is dedicated to preserving aircraft and aviation artifacts – the place to learn about aviation history in Canada, with an emphasis on British Columbia. 1910 Norseman Rd, 250-655-3300, www.bcam.net
BOULDERS CLIMBING GYM – Reach higher at the recently expanded Boulders Climbing Gym, located at Stelly’s Secondary School in Central Saanich, but open to the public for lessons, climbing, group activities and more with more than 13,000 square feet of climbable terrain. 1627 Stelly’s Cross Rd, 250-544-0310, www.climbtheboulders.com BUTCHART GARDENS – The National Historic Site features 20 hectares of world-famous gardens that marked 100 years in 2004. Dining, summer fireworks on Saturday evenings, spectacular Christmas display and much more. Free parking, wheelchair accessible. Open daily. 800 Benvenuto Ave, 250-652-5256, www.butchartgardens.com HERITAGE ACRES – This 12-hectare park operated by
the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society features restored farm buildings, museum and nature trails and a huge model railway track used by the Vancouver Island Model Engineers. The property also hosts a variety of special public events throughout the year, including classic car shows and the Fall Threshing Fair. 7321 Lochside Dr (exit off Island View Rd), 250-652-5522, www.shas.ca
MARY WINSPEAR CENTRE
– A state-of-the-art facility, featuring conference facilities, a 310-seat theatre, banquet hall and more. 2243 Beacon Ave, Sidney, 250-656-0275 or www.marywinspear.ca
MIRACLE LANES
– A family-owned five-pin bowling centre; billiard tables. Reservations recommended but walk-ins welcome. 2375 Bevan Ave, Sidney, 250-656-2431, www.miraclelanes.ca
STAR CINEMA – Independent movie theatre in downtown Sidney showing the latest Hollywood films and special presentations. 9842 Third St, Info Line: 250-655-1171, www.starcinema.ca VICTORIA BUTTERFLY GARDENS – A tropical, 12,000-square-foot indoor garden with more than 2,000 exotic butterflies and the world’s largest species of moth. Tropical plants, birds, ducks, flamingos, fish, waterfalls and streams add to the ambience. Fun for the family and a photographer’s paradise. Free guided tours with naturalists. 1461 Benvenuto Ave, 250-652-3822, www.butterflygardens.com
GOLF ARDMORE – Enjoy a round of golf in a serene atmosphere surrounded by natural greenspace at this charming nine-hole North Saanich course. Pro-shop, dining room and heated seasonal patio. 930 Ardmore Dr., North Saanich, 250-656-4621, www.ardmoregolfcourse.com GLEN MEADOWS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB – A challenging 18-hole championship course with
four sets of tees designed to suit every level of play, and known among locals for its friendly atmosphere and playable design. Pro-shop, tennis and dining facilities also available, 1050 McTavish Rd, North Saanich, 250-656-3921, www.glenmeadows.bc.ca
AGRITOURISM CHURCH & STATE WINES – This award-winning Central Saanich winery welcomes visitors for tastings and lunch in its bistro overlooking the vineyards and Haro Strait. 1445 Benvenuto Ave, 250-652-2671, www.churchandstatewines.com DRAGONFLY HILL VINEYARD – Located on an
historic acreage, and home to some of the oldest grape vines in the area. Tastings are offered Fridays and Saturdays from 1
SHAW OCEAN DISCOVERY CENTRE – Discover the amazing diversity of the Salish Sea in massive aquarium habitats teeming with marine life. 9811 Seaport Pl, Sidney, 250-665-7511. www.oceandiscovery.ca SIDNEY MUSEUM – Devoted to the history of the early
lives of Sidney and North Saanich pioneers, portrayed through photographs and artifacts, the museum also offers a variety of special events throughout the year. Open daily, except Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day; admission by donation. 2423 Beacon Ave, Sidney, 250-655-6355, www.sidneymuseum.ca
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The BC Aviation Museum
to 5 p.m. during July and August, or by appointment. 6130 Old West Saanich Rd, Brentwood Bay, 250-652-3782, www.dragonflyhillvineyard.com
MUSE WINERY – This charming local winery produces a selection of award-winning red and white vintages; bistro available from spring through fall. 11195 Chalet Rd, 250-656-2552, www.musewinery.ca SEA CIDER FARM & CIDERHOUSE – The
Saanich Peninsula’s only cidery brews a selection of ciders in the British style from its certified organic apples. Tours, tastings, sales and special events. 2487 Mt. St. Michael Rd, 250-544-4824, www.seacider.ca
SYMPHONY VINEYARD – Savour wines made from Saanich-grown fruit. The tasting room and deli counter open May 3 for the summer season – weekends during May, June & September, and weekdays in July & August. 6409B Oldfield Rd, Saanichton, 250-208-8784, www.symphonyvineyard.com VICTORIA GIN – Discover Canada’s first premium gin, hand-made in small batches. Open for tours and tastings on weekends and holidays, April through September and by appointment during the off-season. 6170 Old West Saanich Rd, 250-544-8217, www.victoriaspirits.com
PHOTO COURTESY SEA CIDER
ATTRACTIONS NEARBY CORDOVA BAY GOLF COURSE – Beautiful 18-hole championship course. Restaurant, lounge, pro shop, driving range and putting green. Across the road, find the Ridge, a 9-hole par 3 course, 18-hole grass putting course and short game facility. 5333 Cordova Bay Rd at Mattick’s Farm, 250-658-4444, www.cordovabaygolf.com HORTICULTURE CENTRE OF THE PACIFIC
– Specialty and demonstration gardens offering year-round interest and inspiration. 505 Quayle Rd, 250-479-6162, www.hcp.ca
Sports fans visiting between September and March can catch the Peninsula Panthers’ fast-flying junior hockey action at Panorama Recreation Centre. (http://ppanthers.bc.ca) Baseball fans will find the boys and girls of summer dreaming of home runs and double plays at the Rotary Park Field of Dreams, in North Saanich by the Airport. PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW / VISITOR'S GUIDE 2014 / WWW.VICNEWS.COM
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PARKS & BEACHES WHILE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND THE VISITOR CENTRE CAN OFFER MANY MORE POSSIBILITIES, HERE ARE A FEW FAVOURITE SAANICH PENINSULA PARKS AND BEACHES.
CENTENNIAL PARK – This 18.42 hectare community park, in Saanichton in the 7500 block of Wallace Drive, features sports fields, children’s playground, a skate park, picnic shelters, lawn bowling green, lacrosse box, tennis courts, walking trails and natural areas. COLES BAY REGIONAL PARK – From Inverness Road in North
Saanich, follow a winding nature trail past towering western red cedars along a quiet creek to a secluded bay. Rich in tidal lagoon life, picnicking, bird watching and beachcombing are popular activities in this waterfront park.
ELK/BEAVER LAKE REGIONAL PARKS – At the south
end of the Peninsula, just a few minutes from downtown Victoria on Highway 17, this local treasure offers two lakes popular with boaters, fishers and swimmers, and the home of Canada’s national training facility for rowing. On land, the 10km loop trail around the lakes is popular with runners, walkers and dog walkers.
ISLAND VIEW BEACH REGIONAL PARK – With its
expansive sandy beach along the eastern shore of the Saanich Peninsula, this is a popular spot for exploring, picnicking and summer swimming. The beach, dune and wetland areas are also home to numerous resident and migratory bird species, while a loop trail offers an easy and scenic way to explore. RV and tent camping is available with sites overlooking the panoramic views of Haro Strait, James Island and Mount Baker.
HORTH HILL – At the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula, Horth Hill is a 36-hectare hilltop park featuring varied forest communities and panoramic views
Island View Beach is a popular destination for families and birdwatchers.
of the peninsula, Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands. Find the park off Tatlow Road in North Saanich.
JOHN DEAN PROVINCIAL PARK – Pristine 174-hectare natural
park on top of Mount Newton overlooking the pastoral Saanich Peninsula, Gulf Islands and Cascade Mountains. Hiking trails of varying difficulty wind through old growth forest.
LOCHSIDE & GALLOPING GOOSE REGIONAL TRAILS –
Unique park system with 84 km of cycling/ hiking trail along a former railway line, connecting the Saanich Peninsula with Victoria and Saanich to the West Shore. Beautiful landscapes of rolling farmland, forest and rocky shoreline. Accessible from numerous points along the route. Call 250-478-3344 or pick up a map at the Visitor Centre.
ROTARY PARK-FIELD OF DREAMS – The boys and girls of
summer converge on this airport-area baseball and softball centre from spring through fall. Five fields offer sports enthusiasts a great opportunity to catch their favourite outdoor sport – not to mention some of the best ballpark cuisine in town!
SIDNEY SPIT
– Part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, Sidney Spit is a breath-taking oasis just 20 minutes from the Town of Sidney on a seasonal foot-passenger ferry features long sandy beaches, forested walking trails, a tidal lagoon popular with birds and 27 campsites, plus a geocaching program and the family-friendly summer interpretation program.
SIDNEY WATERFRONT WALKWAY – A must for Sidney and
Saanich Peninsula visitors, this paved waterfront path is popular with walkers and joggers, with its stunning views of the Salish Sea and Mt. Baker. The walkway extends from Port Sidney Marina to the north past Beacon Park and wharf, at the foot of Beacon Avenue, past the Bevan Fishing Pier, the Anacortes Ferry Terminal
and Tulista Park to the south, where the walkway connects to the Lochside Trail. Along the way, enjoy a variety of sculptures, landscaping and access to the town and beach.
TOD INLET – At the northern tip
of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park is Tod Inlet, with parklands surrounding the protected waters. A trail leads from Wallace Drive at the small Quarry Lake through the West Coast forest to the waters of the inlet.
TULISTA & IROQUOIS PARKS – Located just south of
downtown Sidney on 5th Street, Tulista Park is a family favourite for its large playground, boat ramp, wheelchairaccessible washrooms, picnic shelter, large grassy area, benches and picnic tables, in addition to the Community Arts Centre. The newly refurbished Lochside Walkway continues south all the way to the North Saanich border. Across Fifth Street, Iroquois Park is a newly developed area with playing fields, multi-sport court, water spray park, practice putting green and more. JENNIFER BLYTH PHOTOS
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YOUR PLACE ON THE PENINSULA Clean, Comfortable Rooms at Reasonable Rates Wireless Internet
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Under an hour from Swartz Bay with direct daily ferries to Mayne Island
Toll Free U.S. & Canada 1-800-463-4464
Minutes from Butchart Gardens, Ferry Terminals, Airport, Shopping, Fishing & Golfing western66motorinn@telus.net www.western66motorinn.com 2401 Mt. Newton X Rd., Saanichton, B.C. (Off Highway 17) Tel: 250-652-4464 Fax: 250-652-1681 Sorry, No Pets
TO LEARN MORE:
• parkscanada.pc.gc.ca/gulfislands • www.sidney.ca • www.centralsaanich.ca • www.northsaanich.ca • www.crd.bc.ca/parks • www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/ Spring wildflowers in Centennial Park
Nine Elegant Guestrooms:
• Complimentary gourmét breakfasts • Spa-inspired ensuite bathrooms • Gas Fireplaces / Wi Fi / Air Conditioning • Stroll to local shops and restaurants
9724 3rd Street, Sidney, BC Tel. 250.655.3288 / Toll Free 1.877.420.5499 www.thebeaconinn.com
Self-accomodating cabins Open year-round www.bluevistaresort.com bluevista@bluevistaresort.com
250-539-2463 1-877-535-2424
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9775 First St. Sidney, BC 250-656-1131
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ACCOMMODATION
The following listings represent a selection of accommodations in Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula; please call ahead to confirm details.
BRENTWOOD BAY BENVENUTO BED & BREAKFAST – Just 20
minutes from both downtown Victoria and Sidney, this threesuite B&B offers spacious suites with private entrances and a delicious full breakfast delivered to the privacy of your room. 1130 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay, 778-351-2071 or toll-free 1-855-352-2071, www.benvenutobandb.com
BRENTWOOD BAY RESORT & SPA – Award-
winning, five-star oceanfront resort featuring a waterfront West Coast Lodge, spa and restaurant located minutes from the Butchart Gardens. 849 Verdier Ave, Brentwood Bay, 250-544-2079 or toll-free 1-888-544-2079, www.brentwoodbayresort.com
SAANICHTON QUALITY INN – Known locally as the Waddling Dog
WESTERN 66 MOTOR INN – Comfortable, friendly motel just five minutes from Butchart Gardens; White Spot Restaurant on premises, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. 2401 Mt. Newton X-Rd, Saanichton, 250-652-4464 or toll-free 1-800-463-4464, www.western66motorinn.com
SIDNEY BEACON INN – Elegant, adult-oriented, nine-room inn offering reasonably priced, eco-friendly accommodation and gourmét breakfast. 9724 Third St, Sidney, 250-655-3288 or toll-free 1-877-420-5499, www.thebeaconinn.com BEST WESTERN PLUS EMERALD ISLE MOTOR INN – Comfortable, well-appointed pet-friendly
hotel with a host of amenities, including optional kitchenettes. 2306 Beacon Ave, Sidney, 250-656-4441 or toll-free 1-800-315-3377, www.bwemeraldisle.com
CEDARWOOD INN & SUITES – Set amongst Hotel, this cozy, 30-room English Tudor-style hotel features award-winning gardens, enjoy comfortable, pet-friendly antique-style furnishings and decor, fireplace lounge, on-site restaurant and a variety of nearby amenities. 2476 Mt. Newton accommodations in a quiet residential neighbourhood overlooking Sidney’s waterfront walkway and beaches. 9522 X-Rd, Saanichton, 250-652-1146 or 800-567-8466, Sidney Pier – PNR Visitor's Guide 2014 • Size: 7.25” (w)Dr,x Sidney, 4.8125”250-656-5551 (h) • Rev 1 • or April 07/14 Lochside 1-877-656-5551, www.qualityinnvictoria.com www.thecedarwood.ca
YOUR ISLAND ESCAPE
Discover a naturally different island escape with our perfect blend of contemporary style and comfort. Our 55 guestroom boutique hotel anchors the charming town of Sidney-by-the Sea, filled with friendly locals and year-round adventures. Take time to rejuvenate at our beautiful Haven Spa and Salon, and enjoy our fresh island flavours at Haro’s Restaurant & Bar. Located 5 minutes from Swartz Bay and Washington State Ferry Terminals, and Victoria International Airport.
9805 Seaport Place, Sidney, BC • Toll Free 1.866.659.9445 • www.sidneypier.com 38
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CORBETT HOUSE – Two-suite B&B with sailing and fishing packages available. 9651 Fourth St, Sidney, 250-656-8080, www.corbetthouse.ca
ORCHARD HOUSE B&B – Enjoy this romantic, twosuite B&B in a 1914 arts & crafts home. 9646 Sixth St, Sidney, 250-656-9194 or 1-888-656-9194, http://members.shaw.ca/oldorchardhouse SIDNEY PIER HOTEL – Relax in one of 55 spacious guestrooms and suites at the foot of Beacon Avenue at the Sidney waterfront. 9805 Seaport Pl, Sidney, 250-655-9445 or toll-free 1-866-659-9445, www.sidneypier.com SIDNEY WATERFRONT INN & SUITES
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Overlooking Sidney’s breathtaking 3.6 km coastline and waterfront walkway, find 10 deluxe accommodations and 26 standard rooms & suites. 9775 First St, Sidney, 250-656-1131 or toll-free 1-888-656-1131, www.sidneywaterfrontinn.com
VICTORIA AIRPORT/SIDNEY TRAVELODGE – Conveniently located near BC Ferries,
the Victoria International Airport and downtown Sidney, enjoy a free continental breakfast and seasonal heated outdoor pool, with pet-friendly and kitchenette suites available. 2280 Beacon Ave, Sidney, 250-656-1176 or toll-free 866-656-1176, www.travelodge.ca
Quality Time Step back in time and relax in the ambiance of Olde England. Located near world famous Butchart Gardens, the Inn has old world charm and all the modern amenities including complimentary internet. The Quality Inn - Waddling Dog 2476 Mt. Newton X Road (off Hwy. 17) Victoria, B.C. V8M 2B8
1-800-567-8466 t qualityinnvictoria.com
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