View source for Greater Victoria

{{for|the metropolitan area in southeastern Brazil|Greater Vitória}}
{{short description|Metropolitan area in British Columbia, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                 = Greater Victoria
| settlement_type               = [[Census geographic units of Canada#Census metropolitan areas|Census Metropolitan Area]]
| image_skyline                 = Victoria BC Downtown skyline.jpg
| image_caption                 = [[Downtown Victoria]]
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=240|zoom=9|frame-coord={{coord|48.4900|-123.5000}}
| type1=shape|id1=Q22363238|title1=Becher Bay 1|stroke-color1=#0003FF|stroke-width1=0.5|fill1=#0003FF|fill-opacity1=0.4
| type2=shape|id2=Q1053984|title2=Central Saanich|stroke-color2=#FF0000|stroke-width2=0.5|fill2=#FF0000|fill-opacity2=0.4
| type3=shape|id3=Q22520968|title3=Cole Bay 3|stroke-color3=#FF0000|stroke-width3=0.5|fill3=#FF0000|fill-opacity3=0.4
| type4=shape|id4=Q1113057|title4=City of Colwood|stroke-color4=#0003FF|stroke-width4=0.5|fill4=#0003FF|fill-opacity4=0.4
| type5=shape|id5=Q22353387|title5=East Saanich 2|stroke-color5=#FF0000|stroke-width5=0.5|fill5=#FF0000|fill-opacity5=0.4
| type6=shape|id6=Q14944797|title6=Esquimalt|stroke-color6=#FBBF00|stroke-width6=0.5|fill6=#FFFF00|fill-opacity6=0.4
| type8=shape|id8=Q5759321|title8=Highlands|stroke-color8=#0003FF|stroke-width8=0.5|fill8=#0003FF|fill-opacity8=0.4
| type10=shape|id10=Q115788|title10=City of Langford|stroke-color10=#0003FF|stroke-width10=0.5|fill10=#0003FF|fill-opacity10=0.4
| type11=shape|id11=Q6823363|title11=Metchosin|stroke-color11=#0003FF|stroke-width11=0.5|fill11=#0003FF|fill-opacity11=0.4
| type13=shape|id13=Q2000769|title13=North Saanich|stroke-color13=#FF0000|stroke-width13=0.5|fill13=#FF0000|fill-opacity13=0.4
| type14=shape|id14=Q7073424|title14=Oak Bay|stroke-color14=#FBBF00|stroke-width14=0.5|fill14=#FFFF00|fill-opacity14=0.4
| type15=shape|id15=Q179553|title15=District Municipality of Saanich|stroke-color15=#FF9200|stroke-width15=0.5|fill15=#FF9200|fill-opacity15=0.4
| type16=shape|id16=Q390530|title16=Town of Sidney|stroke-color16=#FF0000|stroke-width16=0.5|fill16=#FF0000|fill-opacity16=0.4
| type17=shape|id17=Q993727|title17=Sooke|stroke-color17=#0003FF|stroke-width17=0.5|fill17=#0003FF|fill-opacity17=0.4
| type18=shape|id18=Q22584748|title18=South Saanich 1|stroke-color18=#FF0000|stroke-width18=0.5|fill18=#FF0000|fill-opacity18=0.4
|type20=shape|id20=Q22386765|title20=Union Bay 4|stroke-color20=#FF0000|stroke-width20=0.5|fill20=#FF0000|fill-opacity20=0.4
| type21=shape|id21=Q2132|title21=City of Victoria|stroke-color21=#007272|stroke-width21=0.5|fill21=#007272|fill-opacity21=0.4
| type22=shape|id22=Q2484356|title22=Town of View Royal|stroke-color22=#FBBF00|stroke-width22=0.5|fill22=#FFFF00|fill-opacity22=0.4
}}
| map_alt                       = Map of Greater Victoria metropolitan area
| map_caption                   = Interactive Map of Greater Victoria, BC [[Census geographic units of Canada#Census metropolitan areas|CMA]]<ref>The Juan de Fuca (Part 1) RDA and three Indian reserves could not be presented on the interactive map due to wikidata code unavailable on [[OpenStreetMap]] application,</ref>
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
{{leftlegend|#007272|[[Victoria, British Columbia|City of Victoria]]}}
{{leftlegend|#FF9200|[[Saanich, British Columbia|District Municipality of Saanich]]}}
{{leftlegend|#FFFF00|Other core areas of the Victoria [[Census geographic units of Canada#Census metropolitan areas|CMA]]}}
{{leftlegend|#FF0000|[[Saanich Peninsula]] municipalities}}
{{leftlegend|#0003FF|[[Western Communities|West Shore]] municipalities}}
{{Col-end}}
| subdivision_type              = Country
| subdivision_name              = Canada
| pushpin_map=Vancouver Island#British Columbia
| coordinates={{coord |48.511|N|123.413|W|display=title, inline}}
| subdivision_type1             = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1             = [[British Columbia]]
| area_footnotes = &nbsp;(2021)<ref name=2021censusCMAs>{{cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=victoria&DGUIDlist=2021S0503935&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0|title=Census Profile, 2021 Census, Victoria [Census metropolitan area], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province]|publisher=Statistics Canada|date=2022-02-09|access-date=2022-02-11}}</ref>
| area_total_km2                = 696.15
| population_footnotes          = &nbsp;(2021)<ref name="2021censusCMAs"/>
| population_blank1_title       = [[Census geographic units of Canada#Census metropolitan areas|CMA]]
| population_blank1             = 397,237
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 571.3
<!-- GDP -------------->
| demographics_type2            = Gross Metropolitan Product
| demographics2_title1          = Victoria {{Abbr|CMA|Census metropolitan area}}
| demographics2_info1           = [[Canadian dollar|CA$]]22.5{{nbsp}}billion (2020)< <ref>{{Cite web|title=Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0468-01 Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by census metropolitan area (CMA) (x 1,000,000)|url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610046801&cubeTimeFrame.startYear=2019&cubeTimeFrame.endYear=2020&referencePeriods=20190101%2C20200101|website=Statistics Canada}}</ref>
| timezone1                     = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset1                   = −08:00
| timezone1_DST                 = {{abbr|PDT|Pacific daylight time}}
| utc_offset1_DST               = −07:00
| postal_code_type              =
| postal_code                   =
| area_code_type                =
| area_code                     =
| iso_code                      =
| website                       =
}}
    
'''Greater Victoria''' (also known as the '''Greater Victoria Region''') is located in [[British Columbia]], Canada, on the southern tip of [[Vancouver Island]]. It is usually defined as the thirteen [[Municipality|municipalities]] of the [[Capital Regional District]] (CRD) on Vancouver Island as well as some adjacent areas and nearby islands.

The Capital Regional District administers some aspects of public administration for the whole metro region; other aspects are administered by the individual member municipalities of Greater Victoria. Roughly, Greater Victoria consists of all land and nearby islands east of a line drawn from the southern end of [[Saanich Inlet|Finlayson Arm]] to the eastern shore of [[Sooke Basin|Sooke Harbour]], along with some lands on the northern shore of Sooke Harbour.

Many places, buildings, and institutions associated with Victoria such as the [[University of Victoria]], [[Victoria International Airport]], and [[BC Ferries]] [[Swartz Bay ferry terminal]], are outside the [[Victoria, British Columbia|City of Victoria]] itself, which has an area of just {{cvt|19.5|km2}} on the southern tip of Greater Victoria. Victoria is the locality indicated in the mailing addresses of several CRD municipalities and localities adjacent to Victoria. The [[central business district|central city]] of Victoria lends its name and cultural influence to many places and organizations in the metro region.

== Municipalities ==
There are 13 cities, towns, and district municipalities in Greater Victoria.

* Core municipalities
** The City of [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], the adjacent district municipalities of [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]], [[Esquimalt]] and [[Oak Bay, British Columbia|Oak Bay]], and the town of [[View Royal]].

* [[Western Communities|West Shore]]
** The cities of [[Colwood, British Columbia|Colwood]] and [[Langford, British Columbia|Langford]] and the district municipalities of [[Highlands, British Columbia|Highlands]], [[Metchosin]], and [[Sooke]], which lie generally west of [[Esquimalt Harbour]] and [[Victoria Harbour (British Columbia)#Portage Inlet|Portage Inlet]].

* [[Saanich Peninsula]]
** The district municipalities of [[Central Saanich]], [[North Saanich]], parts of [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]], and the town of [[Sidney, British Columbia|Sidney]], which lie to the north of Victoria.

This breakdown is roughly mirrored by the three school districts in Greater Victoria.
* [[School District 61 Greater Victoria|Greater Victoria School District #61]] - (the core municipalities)
* [[School District 62 Sooke|Sooke School District #62]] - (the [[Western Communities]])
* [[School District 63 Saanich|Saanich School District #63]] - (the [[Saanich Peninsula]])

Greater Victoria is the southernmost urban area in [[Western Canada]]; it is located south of the [[49th parallel north|49th parallel]].

=== Neighbourhoods ===
This list is similar to, but not identical with, that used by the Greater Victoria real estate sales industry. Neighbourhoods with official status are italicized. Others may have no official definition, hence other lists of neighbourhoods in the Victoria area may differ. Other sources may give different boundaries as well.

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]<ref>[http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/community/about/neighbourhoods.html Neighbourhoods | Victoria] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101064858/http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/community/about/neighbourhoods.html |date=January 1, 2014 }}. Victoria.ca (2012-10-04). Retrieved on 2013-07-12.</ref>
** ''Burnside-Gorge''
*** [[Rock Bay, Victoria|''Rock Bay'']]
** ''[[Downtown Victoria|Downtown]]''
*** [[Chinatown, Victoria|Chinatown]]
** ''[[Fairfield, Greater Victoria|Fairfield-Gonzales]]''
*** Cook Street Village
*** Humboldt Valley
*** ''Gonzales''
** ''[[Fernwood, Greater Victoria|Fernwood]]''
** ''Harris Green''
** ''Hillside-Quadra''
***''Blanshard''
***''Quadra Village''
*** Mayfair
** ''[[James Bay, Greater Victoria|James Bay]]''
** ''Jubilee''
*** ''North Jubilee''
*** ''South Jubilee''
** ''North Park''
** ''Oaklands''
** ''[[Rockland, Greater Victoria|Rockland]]''
** ''[[Victoria West, Greater Victoria|Victoria West]]''
* [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]]
** ''Blenkinsop''
** ''[[Cadboro Bay]]''
*** Queenswood
*** [[Ten Mile Point, British Columbia|Ten Mile Point]]
** ''Carey''
*** Glanford
*** Marigold
** ''Cordova Bay''
** ''[[Gordon Head]]''
*** Arbutus
*** [[Mount Douglas, Saanich|Mount Douglas]]
** ''North Quadra''
** ''Quadra''
*** Cedar Hill
*** Lake Hill
*** Maplewood
** ''Royal Oak''
*** Broadmead-Sunnymead
** ''Rural Saanich''
*** Beaver Lake
*** Elk Lake
*** Interurban
*** Prospect Lake
*** Strawberry Vale
*** West Burnside
** ''Saanich Core''
** ''Shelbourne''
*** [[Mount Tolmie]]
** ''Tillicum''
*** The Gorge
* [[Oak Bay, British Columbia|Oak Bay]]
** Gonzales (Foul Bay)
** [[Uplands, Greater Victoria|Uplands]]
** [[Willows Beach]]
** Windsor Park
** [[South Oak Bay]]
** North Oak Bay
** Estevan
* [[Esquimalt]]
** Craigflower
** Colville Road
** Gorge Vale
** Parklands
** Rockheights
** Saxe Point
** Songhees
** West Bay
** Work Point ([[Department of National Defence (Canada)|DND]])
* [[View Royal]]
** Shoreline
* [[Colwood, British Columbia|Colwood]]
** Belmont Park
** Colwood Corners
** [[Hatley Park, Greater Victoria|Hatley Park]]
** Mill Hill
** Royal Roads
** Royal Bay
** Triangle Mountain
* [[Langford, British Columbia|Langford]]
** North
*** [[Bear Mountain (resort)|Bear Mountain]]
*** Florence Lake
*** Millstream
*** Thetis Heights
** South
*** Glen Lake
*** Goldstream Meadows
*** Luxton
*** Ravenwood
*** Westhills
* [[Highlands, British Columbia|Highlands]]
** Durrance Lake
** Thetis Lake
** Willis Point
* [[Metchosin]]
** [[Happy Valley, British Columbia|Happy Valley]]
** Matheson Lake
** Rocky Point
** William Head
* [[Central Saanich]]
** [[Brentwood Bay, British Columbia|Brentwood Bay]]
** Island View
** [[Saanichton]]
* [[North Saanich]]
** Cloake Hill
** Dean Park
** Deep Cove
** Lands End
** [[Patricia Bay]] ("Pat Bay")
** [[Swartz Bay]]
** Ardmore
* [[Sidney, British Columbia|Sidney]]
* [[Sooke]]
** [[Broom Hill, Greater Victoria|Broom Hill]]
** [[East Sooke]]
** [[Otter Point, Greater Victoria|Otter Point]]
** Kemp Lake
** Sooke Town Centre
** Sunriver
** Saseenos
** Whiffin Spit
{{div col end}}
*
==Climate==
{{Victoria (Gonzales Heights) weatherbox}}
{{University of Victoria weatherbox}}
{{Victoria International weatherbox}}

==Demographics==
[[File:The Granderson building facade - Langford, BC.jpg|thumb|The Granderson building facade, [[Langford, British Columbia|Langford]]]]
The Greater Victoria region has a combined population of 397,237 according to the [[2021 Canadian census]].<ref name=2021censusCMAs>{{cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=victoria&DGUIDlist=2021S0503935&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0|title=Census Profile, 2021 Census, Victoria [Census metropolitan area], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province]|publisher=Statistics Canada|date=2022-02-09|access-date=2022-02-11}}</ref> The region comprises two of the fifteen most populous municipalities in British Columbia (Saanich, at number seven, and Victoria at number thirteen). The Canadian census ranks Greater Victoria as the 12th largest [[List of the largest population centres in Canada|population centre in Canada]]. The combined population of the cities, municipalities, unincorporated areas and [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] [[Indian reserve|reserves]] in the region are as follows:

{{div col}}
# [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]] 117,735
# [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]] 91,867
# [[Langford, British Columbia|Langford]] 46,584
# [[Colwood, British Columbia|Colwood]] 18,961
# [[Oak Bay, British Columbia|Oak Bay]] 17,990
# [[Esquimalt]] 17,533
# [[Central Saanich]] 17,385
# [[Sooke]] 15,086
# [[Sidney, British Columbia|Sidney]] 12,318
# [[North Saanich]] 12,235
# [[View Royal]] 11,575
# [[Juan de Fuca (Part 1)]] 5,132
# [[Metchosin]] 5,067
# [[Highlands, British Columbia|Highlands]] 2,482
# [[New Songhees 1A]]{{efn|[[Indian reserve]] of the [[Songhees First Nation]]}} 1,839
# [[East Saanich 2]]{{efn|[[Indian reserve]] of the [[Tsawout First Nation]]}} 1,790
# [[South Saanich 1]]{{efn|[[Indian reserve]] of the [[Tsartlip First Nation]]}} 712
# [[Cole Bay 3]]{{efn|[[Indian reserve]] of the [[Pauquachin First Nation]]}} 266
# [[T'Sou-ke]]{{efn|[[Indian reserve]] of the [[T'Sou-ke Nation]]}} 230
# [[Becher Bay 1]]{{efn|[[Indian reserve]] of the [[Scia'new First Nation]]}} 221
# [[Esquimalt 1]]{{efn|[[Indian reserve]] of the [[Esquimalt First Nation]]}} 120
# [[Union Bay 4]]{{efn|[[Indian reserve]] of the [[Tseycum First Nation]]}} 109
{{div col end}}

===Ethnicity===
[[File:Central Branch of Greater Victoria Public Library, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 14.jpg|thumb|Central Branch of Greater Victoria Public Library]]
In comparison to the [[Lower Mainland]] ([[Vancouver]] and environs), the region does not have a great deal of racial diversity. Most of the population is of [[European Canadians|Euro-Canadian]] descent. A substantial community of those of [[Chinese Canadians|Chinese]] descent has existed in Greater Victoria since the [[Fraser Canyon Gold Rush]] of 1858–60, which saw the first significant influx, arriving first via San Francisco then directly from China. There is also a substantial [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] ([[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]]) population whose ancestors have lived in the area for thousands of years. Numerous First Nations reserves, forming distinct communities, exist in the region &mdash; primarily on the Saanich Peninsula, in Esquimalt, and in the Western Communities &mdash; although the majority of the First Nations population live off-reserve.

The largest ethnic groups in Greater Victoria, according to the 2016 census,<ref>[http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CMACA&Code1=935&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&Data=Count&SearchText=Victoria&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=Ethnic%20origin&TABID=1 Census Profile, 2016 Census: Victoria (Census metropolitan area), British Columbia and British Columbia (Province)]. Statistics Canada. Retrieved on 2017-12-30.</ref> are:

{{div col}}
#[[English Canadians|English]] - 140,510
#[[Scottish Canadians|Scottish]] - 98,475
#[[Canadians]] - 86,000
#[[Irish Canadians|Irish]] - 73,170
#[[German Canadians|German]] - 50,440
#[[French Canadians|French]] - 38,775
#[[Ukrainian Canadians|Ukrainian]] - 19,410
#[[Chinese Canadians|Chinese]] - 17,825
#[[Dutch Canadians|Dutch]] - 17,790
#[[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] - 15,430
#[[Welsh Canadians|Welsh]] - 14,140
#[[Polish Canadians|Polish]] - 13,610
#[[Norwegian Canadians|Norwegian]] - 12,130
#[[Italian Canadians|Italian]] - 11,665
#[[Swedish Canadians|Swedish]] - 9,380
#[[Indo-Canadians|Indian]] - 9,180
#[[Russian Canadians|Russian]] - 8,565
#[[American Canadians|American]] - 8,485
#[[Métis]] - 7,135
#[[Filipino Canadians|Filipino]] - 6,650
{{div col end}}

The same information, although grouped more geographically, is below. The largest sub-grouping is included.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| European origins || 279,965 (includes 215,945 with British Isles origins)
|-
| Other North American origins || 92,140 (includes 86,000 Canadian)
|-
| Asian origins || 46,940 (includes 17,825 Chinese)
|-
| North American Aboriginal origins || 21,925 (includes 15,430 First Nations)
|-
| African origins || 5,070 (includes 1,140 South African)
|-
| Latin, Central and South American origins || 4,965 (includes 1,880 Mexican)
|-
| Oceania origins || 2,560 (includes 1,330 Australian)
|-
| Caribbean origins || 2,245 (includes 980 Jamaican)
|}

==Culture==
[[File:Centennial Square, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 03.jpg|thumb|[[Centennial Square]]]]
Many Victoria Region municipalities have their own fairs: [[Oak Bay, British Columbia|Oak Bay]]'s Tea Party, [[Esquimalt]]'s Buccaneer Days, [[Sidney, British Columbia|Sidney]]'s Sidney Days, [[Sooke]]'s Sooke Days, [[Western Communities]]' Luxton Rodeo, and [[Central Saanich]]'s Saanich Fair. The Saanich Fair is the oldest and largest of all the Greater Victoria local fair venues; it is considered a ''[[de facto]]'' regional fair because of its greater size, content, and famous reputation. The Saanich Fair has the largest number of attendees of all the Victoria area fairs.

There is a wide variety of entertainment and recreational facilities and activities. The mild coastal climate ensures less extreme weather changes. Outdoor and indoor recreational areas are abundant throughout the region. The [[Rifflandia Music Festival]] takes place in [[Downtown Victoria]] in mid to late September. The Victoria Tall Ships Festival showcase sailing vessels and the sailing life. The [[Victoria Symphony]] performs over 100 concerts a year, including the renowned [[Symphony Splash]], an annual free concert in the [[Victoria Harbour (British Columbia)#Inner Harbour|Inner Harbour]] on the August Sunday preceding [[Civic Holiday#British Columbia|BC Day]]. The orchestra is on a barge playing to an audience of over 40,000. The Electronic Music Festival also takes place at [[Centennial Square]] where [[Disc jockey|DJs]] can show off their music mixing skills.

These regional positive qualities, along with new transportation links, international high-profile events (2007 [[NATO]] meeting, [[2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup]], [[1994 Commonwealth Games]]), could have helped produce a socio-economic effect in terms of: attractiveness as a place of residency, low unemployment, high real estate development potential for profit, increasing immigration of new people(s), and expanding opportunities for business or economic development. High-profile international attention performs its duty as a marketing, public relations, and sales catalyst for further activity. Boaters from around the world gather annually in the waters off of Vancouver Island for the [[Swiftsure Yacht Race]].

An example of this economic opportunity also lies in Victoria's geography. The April 19, 2008 the Victoria ''[[Times Colonist]]'' newspaper printed a section, sponsored by the Downtown Victoria Business Association, focusing on the area's downtown selection of goods and service providers. As it was in the early days with merchants supplying and outfitting gold rush [[Prospecting|prospector]]s, today's modern merchants supply outdoor recreation seekers before they head to other parts of Vancouver Island for surfing, kayaking, hiking, camping, swimming, cycling or whatever activities they seek.

In June 2010, the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] celebrated its 100th anniversary with a [[fleet review]] in the waters off of Greater Victoria, by Canada's former Governor General [[Michaëlle Jean]]. The review was attended by warships from Canada, France, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the United States along with [[United States Coast Guard]] and the [[Canadian Coast Guard]] vessels. These celebration activities coincided with the Esquimalt Buccaneer Days Fair and the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] activities in local bars.

The [[2010 Winter Olympics torch relay|2010 Olympic Torch Relay]] started in Greater Victoria and proceeded to other communities across Canada. The conclusion of the torch relay began the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in [[Vancouver]].

[[File:Sunken Garden.jpg|thumb|Victoria's world-famous [[Butchart Gardens]] are actually located in [[Central Saanich]]]]

==Notable places==

===Educational institutions===
{{div col}}
* [[Camosun College]] (Saanich and Oak Bay)
* [[Pearson College UWC]] (Metchosin)
* [[Royal Roads University]] (Colwood)
* [[University of Victoria]] (Saanich and Oak Bay)
* [[University Canada West]] (Victoria campus closed 2011)
* [[Vancouver Island School of Art]] (Victoria)
* [[Victoria College of Art]] (Victoria)
{{div col end}}

* Schools of [[alternative medicine]]
** Oshio College of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.acupuncture-college.ca/ |title=Oshio College of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
** Royal Pacific Institute<ref>{{cite web|url=https://royalpacificinstitute.net/ |title=Royal Pacific Institute |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
** Pacific Rim College<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pacificrimcollege.com/ |title=Pacific Rim College |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref> (Victoria)

===Hospitals===
{{div col}}
* [[Royal Jubilee Hospital]] (Victoria and Saanich)
* [[Saanich Peninsula Hospital]] (Central Saanich/Saanich Peninsula)
* [[Victoria General Hospital]] (View Royal)
{{div col end}}

===Military installations===
([[Department of National Defence (Canada)|Department of National Defence]])
{{div col}}
* [[CFB Esquimalt]] HMC Dockyard (Esquimalt)
* [[CFB Esquimalt]] Naden (Esquimalt)
* {{HMCS|Malahat}} (Victoria)
* [[Bay Street Armoury]] (Victoria)
* Lieutenant General E.C. Ashton Armoury (Saanich)
* [[Victoria International Airport]] Air Force Squadron detachment (North Saanich)
{{div col end}}

===Parks and natural features===
{{div col}}
* [[Beacon Hill Park]] (Victoria)
* [[Clover Point]] (Victoria)
* Dallas Road Waterfront Pathway (Victoria)
* [[Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park]] (Saanich)
* [[Francis/King Regional Park]] (Saanich)
* [[Galloping Goose Regional Trail]] (from Victoria west through Sooke)
* [[John Dean Provincial Park|ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱/John Dean Provincial Park]] (North Saanich and Central Saanich)
* [[Mount Douglas, Saanich#PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park)|Mount Douglas Park]] (Saanich)
* Moss Rock Park (Victoria)
* [[Ogden Point]] (Victoria)
* [[Rithet's Bog]] (Saanich)
* [[Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt]]
** [[East Sooke|East Sooke Regional Park]] (Juan de Fuca EA)
** [[Goldstream Provincial Park]] (Langford)
** [[Gowlland Tod Provincial Park]] (Highlands, and Juan de Fuca EA)
** [[Mount Work|Mount Work Regional Park]] (Saanich, Highlands, and Juan de Fuca EA)
** [[Sooke Potholes Regional Park]], [[Sooke Potholes Provincial Park]] and [[Sooke River Provincial Park]] (Sooke)
* [[Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary|Swan Lake / Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary]] (Saanich)
* [[Thetis Lake]] Regional Park (View Royal, Langford, and Highlands)
* [[Uplands Park]] (Oak Bay)
** Cattle Point (Uplands Park, Oak Bay)
* [[Saxe Point Park]] / [[Fleming Beach (Esquimalt)|Fleming Beach]], former military defence gun bunkers/observation (Esquimalt)
* [[Hartland landfill]] ([[mountain biking]], tours and [[hiking]]) (Saanich)
* [[Mount Tolmie]] (Saanich)
{{div col end}}

===Scientific facilities===
{{div col}}
* [[Dominion Astrophysical Observatory]] / [[National Research Council Canada]] (Saanich)
* Gonzales Observatory for Atmospheric Biogeochemistry Research<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.victoriabc.ca/historical-buildings/gonzales-hill-observatory/ |title=Gonzales Hill Observatory |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=victoriabc.ca}}</ref> (Oak Bay)
* [[Institute of Ocean Sciences]] / [[Fisheries and Oceans Canada]] (North Saanich)
* [[Geological Survey of Canada]], GSC Pacific / [[Natural Resources Canada]] (Sidney)
* Sidney Laboratory (Centre for Plant Health)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inspection.canada.ca/en/science-and-research/our-laboratories/sidney |title=The Sidney Laboratory |date=June 10, 2024 |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref> / [[Canadian Food Inspection Agency]] (North Saanich)
{{div col end}}

===Sites of interest===

====Historical====
{{div col}}
* [[Craigdarroch Castle]] (Victoria)
* [[Craigflower Manor and Schoolhouse]] (Saanich)
* [[The Empress (hotel)|The Empress]] (Victoria)
* [[Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site|Fort Rodd Hill]] and [[Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site|Fisgard Lighthouse]] / [[Parks Canada]] (Colwood)
* [[Hatley Park, Greater Victoria]] (Colwood)
* [[Ross Bay Cemetery]] (Victoria)
* [[South Oak Bay#Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point|Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point]] (Oak Bay)
* [[Veteran's Cemetery]] (Esquimalt)
* [[Chinatown, Victoria|Chinatown]] (Victoria)
* [[Fleming Beach (Esquimalt)|Fleming Beach]], historical defence bunkers (Esquimalt)
* [[Emily Carr House]] (Victoria)
* [[Victoria High School (British Columbia)|Victoria High School]] (Victoria)
* [[Camosun College]] (Saanich)
* [[Beacon Hill Park]] (Victoria)
* [[Helmcken House]] (Victoria)
* [[Victoria Police Department#Museum|Victoria Police Department Station Museum]] (150 years of policing artifacts) (Victoria)
* [[Butchart Gardens]] (Central Saanich)
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====Political====
{{div col}}
* [[Government House (British Columbia)|Government House]] (Victoria)
* [[British Columbia Parliament Buildings|Parliament Buildings]] (Victoria)
* [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria City Hall]] (Victoria)
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====Cultural====
{{div col}}
* [[Art Gallery of Greater Victoria]] (Victoria)
* [[British Columbia Aviation Museum]] (Sidney)
* [[CFB Esquimalt#Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum|Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum]] (Esquimalt)
* [[Chinatown, Victoria|Chinatown]] (Victoria)
* [[University of Victoria#Libraries and museum#|Maltwood Art Gallery]] ([[University of Victoria]], University Centre, Saanich)
* [[Royal British Columbia Museum]] & [[IMAX National Geographic Theatre]] (Victoria)
* [[Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea]] (Sidney)
* [[Thunderbird Park (Victoria, British Columbia)|Thunderbird Park]] (Victoria)
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===Sports facilities===

*Notable Venues
** [[Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre]] - [[Victoria Royals]]
** [[Royal Athletic Park]] - [[Victoria HarbourCats]], [[Touchdown Pacific]]
** [[The Q Centre]] - [[Victoria Shamrocks]], [[Victoria Grizzlies]]
** [[Centennial Stadium]] - [[University of Victoria]] [[Victoria Vikes|Vikes]], [[1994 Commonwealth Games]]
** [[Starlight Stadium]] - [[Pacific FC]], [[Rugby Canada]], [[Westshore Rebels]]
** CARSA Gymnasium - [[University of Victoria]] [[Victoria Vikes|Vikes]] basketball
** [[Saanich Commonwealth Place]]- [[1994 Commonwealth Games]]


* Golf
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** [[Bear Mountain (resort)|Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa]] (Langford)
** [[Cedar Hill Golf Course]] (Saanich)
** [[Gorge Vale Golf Club]] (Esquimalt)
** [[Olympic View Golf Club]] (Langford and Colwood)
** [[Royal Colwood Golf and Country Club]] (Colwood)
** [[Royal Oak Golf Club]] (Saanich)
** [[Uplands Golf Club]] (Oak Bay)
** [[Victoria Golf Club]] (Oak Bay)
** [[Highland Pacific Golf]] (Saanich)
** [[Prospect Lake Golf Course]] (Saanich)
** [[Cordova Bay Golf Course]] (Saanich)
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* Other
{{div col}}
** [[Gordon Head Recreation Centre]] (Saanich)
** [[Cedar Hill Recreation Centre]] (Saanich)
** [[Victoria City Rowing Club]] (Saanich)
** Crystal Pool & Fitness Centre (Victoria)
** [[George Pearkes]] Recreation Centre (Saanich)
** [[Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre]] (Colwood)
** [[Royal Victoria Yacht Club]] (Oak Bay)
** [[Saanich Commonwealth Place]] (swimming pool and library-[[Greater Victoria Public Library]]) (Saanich)
** [[Victoria Curling Club]] (Victoria)
** [[Western Speedway]] (motor racing) (Langford)
** [[Esquimalt Recreation Centre]] (Esquimalt)
** [[Panorama Recreation Centre]] (North Saanich)
** [[Oak Bay Recreation Centre]] (Oak Bay)
** [[Eagle Ridge Community Centre]] (Langford)
** [[City Centre Park]] (Langford)
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===Transportation and ports===
*Highways
Greater Victoria is served by three provincial highways
** [[British Columbia Highway 17|Highway 17]], connects Greater Victoria to [[Victoria International Airport]] and [[BC Ferries]] service to Vancouver. A four lane highway with mix of [[Controlled-access highway|freeway]], expressway and [[Arterial road|arterial]] standards.
** [[British Columbia Highway 1|Highway 1]] ([[Trans-Canada Highway]]), connects the core eastern municipalities to the western municipalities as a {{cvt|12|km}} freeway with seven interchanges.
** [[British Columbia Highway 14|Highway 14]], connects Greater Victoria to Sooke, mostly a two lane highway.

*Ports
{{div col}}
** [[Puget Sound Navigation Company]] (to [[Port Angeles, Washington]]) (Victoria)
** [[Island Rail Corridor]] terminus (Victoria)
** [[Victoria Harbour (British Columbia)|Victoria Harbour]] (Victoria)
*** [[Victoria Inner Harbour Airport]]
** [[Swartz Bay ferry terminal]] ([[BC Ferries]] to the [[Tsawwassen ferry terminal]], near [[Vancouver]]) (North Saanich)
** [[Victoria International Airport]] (North Saanich)
*** [[Victoria Airport Water Aerodrome]]
** [[Washington State Ferries]] (Sidney, to the [[San Juan Islands]] and [[Anacortes, Washington]])
** [[Downtown Victoria]], [[Ogden Point#Facilities|Victoria Harbour (Camel Point) Heliport]] at [[Ogden Point]] with [[Helijet]] helicopter service to [[Downtown Vancouver]], (Victoria)
** [[Victoria Harbour (British Columbia)#Middle Harbour|Victoria Harbour (Shoal Point) Heliport]] at [[Victoria Harbour (British Columbia)|Victoria Harbour]]'s Middle Harbour
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==Media outlets==

===Print===
* [[Black Press]]
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** ''Victoria News'', local media
** ''Saanich News'' local media
** ''Goldstream News Gazette'', local media
** ''Peninsula News Review'', local media
** ''Sooke News Mirror'', local media
** ''Oak Bay News'', local media
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*Other
{{div col}}
** ''[[Monday Magazine]]'', entertainment weekly publication
** ''[[Times Colonist]]'', regional newspaper
** ''The Nexus'', [[Camosun College]] student [[newspaper]]
** [[The Martlet|The ''Martlet'']], [[University of Victoria]] student newspaper
** ''LookOut'', newspaper of [[CFB Esquimalt]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lookoutnewspaper.com/ |title=LookOut |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
** ''Victoria Marketplace'', monthly business profiles
** ''Douglas Magazine'', Victoria based business magazine<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.douglasmagazine.com/ |title=Douglas Magazine |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
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===Social media communities===
* [[Black Press]]
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** ''Victoria News''
** ''Saanich News''
** ''Goldstream News Gazette''
** ''Peninsula News Review''
** ''Sooke News Mirror''
** ''Oak Bay News''
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* ''Victoria Buzz'', [[Facebook]] community<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaBCBuzz/ |title=Victoria Buzz |website=[[Facebook]] |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>

===AM Radio===
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* [[CKMO (AM)|CKMO]] 900&nbsp;kHz
* [[CFAX]] 1070&nbsp;kHz
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===FM Radio===
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* [[CBUX-FM|CBUX]], [[Ici Musique]] - 88.9
* [[CBCV-FM|CBCV]], [[CBC Radio One]] - 90.5&nbsp;MHz
* [[CJZN-FM|CJZN]] 91.3&nbsp;MHz - "The Zone @ 91-3"
* [[CBU-FM|CBU]], [[CBC Music]] - 92.1&nbsp;MHz
* [[CIOC-FM|CIOC]] 98.5&nbsp;MHz - "The Ocean"
* [[CKKQ-FM|CKKQ]] 100.3&nbsp;MHz - "100.3 The Q!"
* [[CFUV-FM|CFUV]] 101.9&nbsp;MHz - CFUV, University of Victoria
* [[CHTT-FM|CHTT]] 103.1&nbsp;MHz - "Kiss FM"
* [[CHBE-FM|CHBE]] 107.3&nbsp;MHz - "[[Virgin Radio]]"
* [[CILS-FM|CILS]] 107.9&nbsp;MHz - "Francophonics"
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===Television===
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* Channel 6: [[CHEK-DT|CHEK]] ([[Independent station|Independent]])
* Cable 4: [[Shaw Spotlight|SHAW]] (Shaw TV)
* Channel 53, Cable 12: [[CIVI-TV|CIVI]] ([[CTV 2]])
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==Regional organizations==
*[[:Category:Organizations based in Victoria, British Columbia|Organizations based in Victoria, British Columbia]]
** AVI Health and Community Services (AVI)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://avi.org/ |title=AVI Health and Community Services |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
** Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
** [[Greater Victoria Film Commission]]
** [[Art Gallery of Greater Victoria ]]
** [[Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition]]
** [[Greater Victoria Public Library]]
** [[Respecting Aboriginal Values & Environmental Needs]]
** Island Sexual Health<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.islandsexualhealth.org/ |title=Island Sexual Health |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
** Peers Victoria Resources Society<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.safersexwork.ca/ |title=Peers Victoria Resources Society |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
** [[University of Victoria Students' Society]] (UVSS)
**Victoria Pride Society<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://victoriapridesociety.org/ |title=Victoria Pride Society |access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

== See also ==
{{portal bar|Pacific Northwest|Canada}}
* [[Fort Victoria (British Columbia)|Fort Victoria]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{VancouverIslandCommunities}}
{{CapitalRegionalDistrictBC}}
{{VictoriaNeighbourhoods}}
{{Census metropolitan areas by size}}

[[Category:Greater Victoria| ]]
[[Category:Southern Vancouver Island|Southern Vancouver Island]]
[[Category:Capital Regional District|Capital Regional District]]
[[Category:Metropolitan areas of British Columbia|Victoria]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Canada]]