Municipality of Saanich: Neighbourhoods, Schools & More

Saanich is the most populous municipality in Victoria. With the city’s two main highways cutting through the municipality, Saanich is nudged between the CRD’s two main business centres – Victoria and Langford. It’s the close proximity and accessibility to downtown and major commercial areas that makes Saanich such a convenient and desirable place to live.

There’s a lot going on in Saanich. If you’re interested in entertainment, shopping or attending post-secondary school, there’s a good chance you’ll end up in Saanich. To start, Saanich is home to all three of Victoria’s major colleges and universities – Camosun (both the Lansdowne and Interurban campus) and The University of Victoria. The municipality also has three of the Capital Regional District’s major shopping malls within it’s borders: Mayfair, Hillside and Tillicum.

Saanich is also the place to be if you enjoy recreating and outdoor activities. There are plenty of recreation centres, from Pearkes to Cedar Hill to Commonwealth (home of the 1994 Commonwealth Games), plus there are several golf courses. And if you play baseball or soccer, Saanich is home to many outdoor fields and parks, along with lacrosse boxes, tennis courts and other recreational spaces.

Although Saanich is the most populous municipality in the city, there’s still plenty of greenspace and opportunities for hiking, biking and dog-walking. Mount Doug is one of the largest park in the area – a popular place for good hike complete with amazing views. Swan Lake is also a great walking spot, along with Elk/Beaver Lake, Cuthbert Holmes, Mount Tolmie, and many more.

If you are looking to relocate to the Greater Victoria area you should consider living in Saanich. This municipality offers everything a person could need or want, including a vast range of housing options, access to amenities, outdoor recreation, and proximity to downtown.

Saanich by the Numbers

Photo credit to Tourism Victoria

Population of 17,385 in 2021 (Victoria’s most populous municipality)
- 3.4% population growth since 2016
Population density of 421 people per square km
Average age of residents is 46.7
Of the 7,105 private dwellings, 3,825 are single-detached houses and 1,440 are apartments or flats in a duplex
Of the 14,940 people aged 15+, 9,575 are married or living in common-law
Median total income in 2021 was $49,600

Neighbourhoods of Saanich

Photo credit to Tourism Victoria

Being such a populated and large municipality, Saanich is home to dozens of neighbourhoods. Many of the neighbourhoods are divided even smaller into mini-neighbourhoods, but these are the most prominent and well-known neighbourhoods in Saanich:

Cadboro Bay
Cordova Bay
Gordon Head
Quadra
Royal Oak
Beaver Lake
Prospect Lake
Strawberry Vale
Shelbourne
Tillicum
The Gorge

Schools in Saanich

One of the reasons Saanich is so popular among Victoria families is the available of schools for all ages. No matter where you live in Saanich, there’s sure to be a school around nearby.

For younger children, there are more than a dozen elementary school options. Across the municipality, from Strawberry Vale to Torquay to Quadra, there are plenty to choose from. Take the time to explore the choices, and do your research!

There’s also plenty of choice for kids in grade 6 through 8, such as Glanford Middle School, Gordon Head Middle School, Arbutus Middle School, and Colquitz Middle School. The major high schools in Saanich include Mount Douglas Secondary, Lambrick Park Secondary, Reynolds Secondary, Claremont Secondary, and Spectrum Community School. There are also a handful of private schools that offer K-7 education, and others that offer grades 8-12.

For university aged kids and adults, Saanich has all three of the city’s major post-secondary institutions: Camosun College Interurban (home to the business school, trade school and nursing school), Camosun College Lansdown (home to math, science and humanities) and The esteemed University of Victoria, which attracts top-level students from around the world.

Saanich Links

Geoff McLean

Geoff is an established real estate professional whose years of experience have earned him numerous awards and accolades. He has been one of the top RE/MAX Realtors in the Victoria (BC) area since 1990, a Victoria Real Estate Board MLS Gold Award winner for more than 36 years, and has won many other awards over the years. What do these awards mean to you? They mean that Geoff works hard and that he produces consistently. He is well connected in the industry and in the community. Connect with Geoff via email geoff@mcleanrealestategroup.ca