The
largest municipality in the Victoria Metropolitan Area with an
estimated (1998) population of 106,726.
The
projected population for 2010 is 107,638 inhabitants.
The
area of land defined as Saanich is 111.83 sq. km.
Population
density is 954 people per sq. km, which is the fifth largest density
in the Victoria Metropolitan Area.
The
average house price (Jan - Mar 1999) in Saanich (East) is $267,999
and Saanich (West) is $208,749.
The
average household income in Saanich is $56,841.
Saanich East Neighbourhoods: Arbutus,
Blenkinsop, Broadmead, Cadboro Bay, Camosun, Cedar Hill, Cordova Bay,
Gordon Head, High Quadra, Lakehill, Maplewood, Mt. Doug, Mt. Tolmie,
Quadra, Queenswood, Sunnymead, Swan Lake, Ten Mile Point
Saanich West Neighbourhoods: Beaver
Lake, Elk Lake, Gateway, Glanford, Gorge, Granville, Layritz, Marigold,
Northridge, Portage Inlet, Prospect Lake, Royal Oak, Rudd Park,
Strawberry Vale, Tillicum, West Saanich
Saanich is the main gateway to downtown Victoria and in terms of real
estate, is divided arbitrarily by the Pat Bay Highway, separating
Saanich East from Saanich West. At the request of its residents,
Saanich has maintained its residential and rural atmosphere by limiting
the growth of commercial and industrial areas to the Douglas and
Blanshard Street corridors and a commercial/warehouse park in Royal Oak.
Saanich East offer a multitude of distinct neighbourhoods to its
residents. Everything from rural living in the fertile Blenkinsop Valley
to the more refined lifestyle offered in Broadmead. Presently, the
majority of dwellings in Saanich are defined as single family dwellings
but this may change over time as the municipal council implements its
urban containment strategy by decreasing the land available for new
residential lots and increasing the ratio between multi-family and
single-family dwellings. As well, Saanich offers 170
municipal parks, three regional parks (there are more parks per capita
in Saanich than any other municipality in B.C.) and 816.49 ha. of fresh
water lakes. Another source of pride for Saanich is its excellent golf
courses: Blenkinsop Valley, Cedar Hill, Cordova Bay and Prospect Lake
golf courses.
