| District of North Saanich | |
| — District — | |
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| Coordinates: 48°30′51″N 123°23′2″W / 48.51417°N 123.38389°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  British Columbia |
| Region | Vancouver Island |
| Regional district | Capital Regional District |
| Incorporated | 1965 |
| Government | |
| - Governing body | North Saanich Municipal Council |
| - Mayor | Alice Finall |
| Area | |
| - Total | 37.14 km2 (14.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 10,823 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| Highways | 17, 17A |
| Waterways | Strait of Georgia Saanich Inlet |
| Website | North Saanich |
North Saanich is located on the Saanich Peninsula, approximately 25 km (16 mi) north of Victoria, British Columbia on southern Vancouver Island. The District is surrounded on three sides by 20 km (12 mi) of ocean shoreline, and consists of rural/residential areas and a large agricultural base and is home to the Victoria International Airport and the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.
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History
In July 1905, North Saanich, then including the townsite of Sidney, was incorporated with the original Municipal Hall located in Sidney. Lacking population and a firm tax base, the municipality was dissolved in 1911. In 1940, the site of the present Victoria International Airport was selected as a military forces base and the area boomed with the influx of 10,000 military personnel, leading to incorporation for the Village of Sidney in 1952. Four years later, the residents of the North Saanich unorganized area, numbering 2,865, requested that letters patent be issued to form the "North Saanich Fire Prevention District" with power to own property, to tax and to borrow. In 1965, after a favourable public vote, the letters patent were withdrawn and the North Saanich Municipal District was established with offices at the present location on Mills Road.
Fauna
The largest animal likely to be found in North Saanich is the black-tailed deer. Other native mammals include the mink, otter, raccoon, and deer mouse. Of introduced mammal species, the cottontail rabbit and gray squirrel are often seen, and the skunk is occasionally smelled. Common native birds include the northwestern crow, common raven, bald eagle, turkey vulture, American robin, varied thrush, Steller's Jay, and several species of gull. Introduced birds are represented by the abundant common starling and the declining skylark.
Flora
The most common native tree in North Saanich is Douglas-fir. The other common large conifers are grand fir and western red cedar. Western hemlock is occasionally found. Pacific yew is a frequent understory tree. The arbutus is a large broadleaf evergreen species. Large deciduous trees are black cottonwood, bigleaf maple, red alder, and Garry oak. Small deciduous species include bitter cherry, cascara, Pacific crab apple, Pacific dogwood, quaking aspen, Douglas maple, Common Hawthorn and willow.
Council
The current council is:
- Mayor Alice Finall
- Councillor Peter Chandler
- Councillor Sheila Fea
- Councillor Cairine Green
- Councillor Anny Scoones
- Councillor Bob Shaw
- Councillor Ruby Commandeur
Education
North Saanich is served by School District #63 - Saanich
Neighbourhoods
- Ardmore
- Cloake Hill
- Dean Park
- Deep Cove
- Land's End
- Patricia Bay ("Pat Bay")
Attractions
- Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal
- Sandown Park Race Track
- Victoria International Airport
- 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron (Canadian Forces)
- Institute of Ocean Sciences
- Dunsmuir Lodge Conference Centre of the University of Victoria
- North Saanich Bike Park
External links
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This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
