More Information on Districts of Saanich

Cloverdale - Heavily built-up commercial area, transitioning in areas to industrial zones. Low-rise apartment buildings predominate in sections, with further commercial development along Cook and Quadra Streets. The rest is a diverse mix of middle, and lower-middle-class homes, including some subsidized housing. Cloverdale Ave. (named for a pioneer farm) runs through the centre of the neighbourhood.

Cordova Bay - A mixed rural and residential area of newer and older homes. It is an upper middle class area and includes a small "village-like" strip along scenic Cordova Bay Road.

Glanford - A mix of all kinds of residential homes. It is named for the central thoroughfare of the neighbourhood, Glanford Rd.

Gordon Head - Converted from an area of small farms and greenhouses into a residential area after the construction of the University of Victoria, part of which lies in the neighbourhood. Originally developed as a comfortable, middle class neighbourhood. More recently, homes in the Gordon Head area closer to the University of Victoria have been undergoing a slow but consistent conversion process from single family occupancy to shared rental homes to meet the demands of the local student population. Lately, there has been some very upscale housing developed at the very tip of Gordon Head called Gordon Point near the north waterfront.

Gorge-Tillicum - A mix of lower-middle and middle-class homes, as well as mixed industrial and commercial neighbourhoods. This area has shown evidence of gentrification as homes are being renovated and upgraded.

Interurban - A largely rural area, with some considerable wooded areas still remaining. Newer subdivisions are creeping in, but much of the agricultural land is protected. The neighbourhood, lying west of Wilkinson Road and south of West Saanich Road, is home to the Interurban Campus of Camosun College, the Greater Victoria Technology Park (a light industrial park), and the historic Wilkinson Road Jail, a provincial maximum security jail housing sentenced and remanded inmates.

Lake Hill - This is a neighbourhood of mainly postwar lower middle class and middle class homes with larger infill housing from the 1970s and 1980s. It includes the Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary.

Maplewood- Older, treed area with many character homes and winding streets. There is a "star" intersection located somewhere here.

Marigold - Some farmland, notably "Panama Flats" remains undeveloped because it has been designated a protected parkland. This is part of an extensive greenbelt which also includes the famous Galloping Goose trail. The bird watcher may have a field day here, as the flats provide home to many types of water fowl, hawks and songbirds. The Marigold area is being developed extensively and no longer has many post-war homes. There are many new neighbourhoods and luckily, they have been developed with respect for the multitude of wildlife found here. "Marigold" is one of many "flower-themed" roads in the neighbourhood.

Mt. Tolmie - This area contains the Lansdowne Campus of Camosun College, St. Michael's University School, the northern pavilions of Royal Jubilee Hospital, and of course the panoramic Mt. Tolmie itself. A mixture of commercial establishments and low-rise apartment blocks lie along the western and southern extremities, and middle class homes farther east.

Prospect Lake - A largely rural and wooded area, with some newer subdivisions, in the northwest of the municipality. It contains a number of wooded parks (notably Prospect Lake and Francis/King).

Strawberry Vale - An area in transition, it is a mix of small farms, older subdivisions, and newer subdivisions.

Swan Lake - A pleasant, treed area of older middle class homes, at the centre of which is Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary.

Ten Mile Point -The most easterly point on Vancouver Island. This wooded upper class area is located east of Cadboro Bay and the University of Victoria. Ten Mile Point is an exclusive, expensive, peninsular neighbourhood known for its secluded beaches, private estates and waterfront properties. While Ten Mile Point is located within the urban part of Saanich, its setting has a quiet, rural feel.

Tillicum Village- anchored by Tillicum Mall, this developing village area is also home the George Pearkes Recreation Center and the new Saanich Centennial Library. This commercial area also has a collection of small locally owned businesses and restaurants in nearby Burnside Plaza.

Town and Country - A largely commercial and industrial zone in the southwest corner of Saanich, it contains mainly small, post-war, lower middle-class housing, and low-rise apartments. The municipal hall and two large shopping centres - Mayfair and Town and Country - are located in this area.

Westview Heights - A classic 1950s residential subdivision. This area was planned Gordon Rolston, who was also the planner for the development of Broadmead. Common traits of the area include sloping landscaping, integration of natural features with the residential development, and the construction of quality middle-class homes. The land was originally owned by William Rowland, and is known for its clear views of the Olympic Mountains and the Sooke Hills.