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Ancestors of the First Nations people lived in the area we call Saanich for a period of at least
4,000 years before the early European settlers arrived in the Greater Victoria area.
Archaeological evidence of many midden sites containing great amounts of shell remains, ash
deposits from fires and evidence of the food processing activity of the First Nations people can
be found along the sea shore and inland as well.
By the mid-1850s, employees of the Hudson's Bay Company and the first colonial settlers embarked
on transforming the virgin forests of the Peninsula into one of the oldest agricultural
settlements in British Columbia. The farms and dairy herds of Saanich soon became a vital source
of food for Victoria's expanding population and by the turn-of-the-century the district was
renowned for its cultivation of fruit and flowers. Since that time Saanich has become a major
residential area in the Capital Regional District while still maintaining an important
agricultural base.
The history of Saanich and its pattern of settlement is still evident in many of the old
buildings and structures located throughout the district. The homes, schools, churches,
commercial buildings, and farm buildings of heritage significance reflect the efforts and
aspirations of the pioneer era as well as later periods of development. They provide a tangible
link with the past and a meaningful sense of historical continuity.
The Saanich Heritage Register
2008 is an updated edition including a total listing of 298 heritage
Registered and Designated sites. Eighty of these sites are Designated Heritage Buildings.
The BC Local Government Actgives Municipal Governments
authority to establish a Heritage Register as a record of real property that is
considered heritage property.
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Properties listed on the Register may be protected by Municipal Council through a
variety of measures outlined in the Local Government Act;
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The Register is used by Saanich Staff in the decision making process for the
future of each property listed; and
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The Register is a great record and resource for Saanich residents, staff and
Council on the history of our community.
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You may wish to refer to our Info on Saanich Heritage Register (837 KB) brochure
for Frequently Asked Questions.
Copies are available for purchase ($24.95) at Saanich Municipal Hall, Planning
Department, 3rd Floor.
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The Saanich Heritage Management
Plan 1999 (304 KB) provides Policies and Procedures for the designation and alteration of heritage buildings and
the development and subdivision of lands connected with heritage buildings. The Heritage
Action Plan 2007 is an update and appendix to the Management Plan.
Heritage Designation of a structure requires approval by Saanich Council.
The Application for
Heritage Designation provides a list of criteria for evaluating a building or site and
information on what is the effect and benefit of designation.
Heritage Alteration Permits are required when an owner applies to alter the exterior of a
Designated Heritage Building. When a Building Permit Application is submitted for a Designated
Heritage Site the Building Department initiates a heritage review process by referring the
application to the Planning Department and the Heritage Foundation.
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The Heritage Foundation’s mandate includes:
Click here to
visit the Saanich Heritage Foundation.
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The Arts Culture & Heritage Advisory Committee has a mandate to give advice and feedback to Council on Saanich Arts, Culture and Heritage services and programs. Click here to visit the Committees page.
Centennial Heritage Banners
The Centennial Heritage stand alone display banners were created for the Municipality’s Centennial Celebrations in 2006 and may be borrowed for public display. The display banners are organized into 15 themes. Each banner contains fascinating facts and captivating photographs depicting events, people or places of Saanich in connection with the themes.
The banners can be used to encourage awareness, education and pride in Saanich Heritage and are available to be displayed at any public indoor event or facility.
Please visit our banners page to learn more! |
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Some of Saanich’s Significant Heritage Structures are included on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.
Heritage Walking Tours
Download and view or print both Heritage Walking Tours of the Gorge Road West area. Gorge Tour One covers the area between Admirals Road and Colquitz Avenue and Gorge Tour Two provides a guide between Adelaide Avenue and Inez Drive. These brochures begin to tell the history of Saanich and, in particular, the Gorge Road West area.
Centennial Trails
The trails and walkways in Saanich are diverse and provide opportunities for recreation, transportation, exploration, and connection of the rural and cultural richness of our community. Many biking and walking trails follow the historic rail rights-of-way that pass historic points of interest.
Download the brochures and maps for the trails from Phase 1 of the Centennial Trails webpage.
Natural History
Saanich has established a Tree Preservation Bylaw to preserve and protect our native and significant trees in order to retain much of the beauty and heritage that we recognize as important in preserving our environment and quality of life.
Significant Tree Bylaw - Summary
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Memorial Trees Along Shelbourne St.
Marker erected at the corner of Shelbourne and Elmida in 1976
In Memoriam Victoria area soldiers fallen in World War I
These heritage trees were planted by:
General Sir Arthur Currie, Sept. 21, 1922
Lord Byng of Vimy, Aug. 24, 1922
Joseph J. Cesare Joffre, Mar. 29, 1922
Erected by the Municipality of Saanich and the Heritage Tree Committee Victoria Horticultural Society, 1976
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WWI Memorial Cornerstone inscribed:
‘Saanich War Memorial Health Centre, November 1920’
located at 4353 West Saanich Road.
(*arch no longer standing)
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Plaques at Lansdowne Airfield
William Wallace Gibson and the first all Canadian designed and built aircraft flew Lansdowne Airfield in 1910.
Marker erected at Lansdowne and Richmond road in 1985. |
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Dodd House
Historic Dodd House interpretive sign was installed in July 2007, located at Lambrick Park in front of the Designated Heritage Dodd family house restored by the Heritage Foundation.
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Feng Shui Site in Saanich
In 2006 the District of Saanich installed an interpretive sign on the Galloping Goose Trail next to Swan Lake to commemorate the historical significance of the auspicious Feng Shui site on the slopes of Christmas Hill |
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Congratulations to the Heritage Foundation for being awarded a 2008 Hallmark Society Award of Merit for their work in conserving and restoring Captain Charles and Grace Dodd House at 4139 Lambick Way in Lambrick Park. The volunteers of the Heritage Foundation have work for many years to restore this house that dates back to © 1859.
An interpretive sign has also been erected on the site to inform visitors to the park of the history of the home and the Dodd family. |
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Memories of the past and dreams of the future and what they have in common are explored by pioneers and young students working together in a Healthy Saanich Advisory Committee Initiative - "Life in Saanich" Memories Book Project.
1999 Healthy Saanich map was also created at a community workshop sponsored by the District of Saanich.
 
The District of Saanich has installed several Anti Graffiti traffic control box wraps for community beautification. Some of the boxes exhibit historic photos and information in relation to the area they are located.
To view a map listing the Heritage Locations in Saanich, please click the map to the left and agree to the terms.
Once the map launches look to the left-hand side of the page. Expand the Planning and Environment folder under the Map Layers heading and select the Heritage Sites box.
Go to the Saanich Archives web page.
Gardens and Farms in Saanich
Knockan Hill Park on Burnside Road
Glendale Gardens, Doris Page Winter Garden
Island Farms Guide - Download the guide to local farms found along scenic West Saanich Road, Old Field Road and Blenkinsop Road
Part 27 of the BC Local Government Act
Saanich Pioneer & Log Cabin Museum
Saanich Historical Artifacts Society
Hallmark Society
Victoria Heritage Foundation
BC Heritage Branch
BC Heritage
Vancouver Heritage Society
BC Archives
Canada’s Historic Places
BC Orchard Industry Museum
History provided by Saanich Community Associations
Mount Tolmie Community Association
Broadmead's Rithets Bog
North Quadra Land Use Protection Association
Royal Oak Community Association
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