# Greater Victoria

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 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 Finlayson Arm to the eastern shore of 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 City of Victoria itself, which has an area of just 19.5 km$^2$ (7.5 sq mi) 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 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, the adjacent district municipalities of Saanich, Esquimalt and Oak Bay, and the town of View Royal.
* West Shore
** The cities of Colwood and Langford and the district municipalities of Highlands, Metchosin, and Sooke, which lie generally west of Esquimalt Harbour and Portage Inlet.
* Saanich Peninsula
** The district municipalities of Central Saanich, North Saanich, parts of Saanich, and the town of Sidney, which lie to the north of Victoria.
This breakdown is roughly mirrored by the three school districts in Greater Victoria.
* Greater Victoria School District #61 - (the core municipalities)
* Sooke School District #62 - (the Western Communities)
* 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.

### 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.
* Victoria
** Burnside-Gorge
*** Rock Bay
** Downtown
*** Chinatown
** Fairfield-Gonzales
*** Cook Street Village
*** Humboldt Valley
*** Gonzales
** Fernwood
** Harris Green
** Hillside-Quadra
*** Blanshard
*** Quadra Village
*** Mayfair
** James Bay
** Jubilee
*** North Jubilee
*** South Jubilee
** North Park
** Oaklands
** Rockland
** Victoria West
* Saanich
** Blenkinsop
** Cadboro Bay
*** Queenswood
*** Ten Mile Point
** Carey
*** Glanford
*** Marigold
** Cordova Bay
** Gordon Head
*** Arbutus
*** 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
** Gonzales (Foul Bay)
** 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 (DND)
* View Royal
** Shoreline
* Colwood
** Belmont Park
** Colwood Corners
** Hatley Park
** Mill Hill
** Royal Roads
** Royal Bay
** Triangle Mountain
* Langford
** North
*** Bear Mountain
*** Florence Lake
*** Millstream
*** Thetis Heights
** South
*** Glen Lake
*** Goldstream Meadows
*** Luxton
*** Ravenwood
*** Westhills
* Highlands
** Durrance Lake
** Thetis Lake
** Willis Point
* Metchosin
** Happy Valley
** Matheson Lake
** Rocky Point
** William Head
* Central Saanich
** Brentwood Bay
** Island View
** Saanichton
* North Saanich
** Cloake Hill
** Dean Park
** Deep Cove
** Lands End
** Patricia Bay ("Pat Bay")
** Swartz Bay
** Ardmore
* Sidney
* Sooke
** Broom Hill
** East Sooke
** Otter Point
** Kemp Lake
** Sooke Town Centre
** Sunriver
** Saseenos
** Whiffin Spit

## Climate

Climate data for Victoria (Gonzales Heights) Climate ID: 1018610; coordinates 48°24′47″N 123°19′30″W﻿ / ﻿48.41306°N 123.32500°W﻿ / 48.41306; -123.32500﻿ (Victoria (Gonzales Heights)); elevation: 69.5 m (228 ft); 1971–2000 normals, extremes 1898–present :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.1 (62.8) | 17.4 (63.3) | 23.6 (74.5) | 27.0 (80.6) | 31.6 (88.9) | 39.8 (103.6) | 36.0 (96.8) | 33.4 (92.1) | 31.7 (89.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 18.9 (66.0) | 15.0 (59.0) | 39.8 (103.6) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 11.9 (53.4) | 12.5 (54.5) | 15.1 (59.2) | 19.4 (66.9) | 24.4 (75.9) | 27.3 (81.1) | 29.3 (84.7) | 28.9 (84.0) | 25.8 (78.4) | 19.8 (67.6) | 14.5 (58.1) | 12.4 (54.3) | 29.3 (84.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.0 (44.6) | 8.6 (47.5) | 10.6 (51.1) | 13.1 (55.6) | 15.9 (60.6) | 17.9 (64.2) | 19.8 (67.6) | 20.1 (68.2) | 18.5 (65.3) | 13.8 (56.8) | 9.4 (48.9) | 7.1 (44.8) | 13.5 (56.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) | 6.2 (43.2) | 7.6 (45.7) | 9.6 (49.3) | 12.1 (53.8) | 14.0 (57.2) | 15.6 (60.1) | 15.9 (60.6) | 14.6 (58.3) | 10.9 (51.6) | 7.2 (45.0) | 5.2 (41.4) | 10.3 (50.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.0 (37.4) | 3.7 (38.7) | 4.5 (40.1) | 6.0 (42.8) | 8.2 (46.8) | 10.0 (50.0) | 11.3 (52.3) | 11.7 (53.1) | 10.7 (51.3) | 7.9 (46.2) | 5.0 (41.0) | 3.2 (37.8) | 7.1 (44.8) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | −5.8 (21.6) | −4.2 (24.4) | −2.3 (27.9) | −0.3 (31.5) | 2.4 (36.3) | 5.8 (42.4) | 7.9 (46.2) | 7.9 (46.2) | 4.7 (40.5) | 0.8 (33.4) | −2.5 (27.5) | −4.9 (23.2) | −5.8 (21.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −14.2 (6.4) | −12.8 (9.0) | −7.1 (19.2) | −2.2 (28.0) | 1.1 (34.0) | 3.9 (39.0) | 6.1 (43.0) | 4.4 (39.9) | 1.7 (35.1) | −2.8 (27.0) | −11.1 (12.0) | −15.6 (3.9) | −15.6 (3.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 94.3 (3.71) | 71.7 (2.82) | 46.5 (1.83) | 28.5 (1.12) | 25.8 (1.02) | 20.7 (0.81) | 14.0 (0.55) | 19.7 (0.78) | 27.4 (1.08) | 51.2 (2.02) | 98.9 (3.89) | 108.9 (4.29) | 607.6 (23.92) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 85.2 (3.35) | 68.1 (2.68) | 45.3 (1.78) | 28.5 (1.12) | 25.8 (1.02) | 20.7 (0.81) | 14.0 (0.55) | 19.7 (0.78) | 27.4 (1.08) | 51.1 (2.01) | 95.5 (3.76) | 101.9 (4.01) | 583.1 (22.96) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 9.7 (3.8) | 3.5 (1.4) | 1.1 (0.4) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.0) | 4.1 (1.6) | 7.8 (3.1) | 26.3 (10.4) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 17.0 | 15.4 | 13.6 | 10.4 | 9.0 | 7.1 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 7.9 | 11.9 | 16.1 | 17.5 | 135.6 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 14.6 | 14.3 | 12.9 | 10.4 | 9.0 | 7.1 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 7.9 | 11.9 | 15.3 | 16.1 | 129.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 2.6 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 7.8 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 74.1 | 93.7 | 149.5 | 201.5 | 266.6 | 273.8 | 327.8 | 297.3 | 204.1 | 153.4 | 83.1 | 68.7 | 2,193.3 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 27.1 | 32.6 | 40.6 | 49.2 | 56.6 | 56.9 | 67.5 | 66.9 | 53.9 | 45.6 | 29.9 | 26.4 | 46.1 |
| Average ultraviolet index | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Source 1: Environment and Climate Change Canada (June maximum) (July maximum) (October maximum) ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather Atlas ||||||||||||||
Climate data for University of Victoria (Oak Bay / Saanich) WMO ID: 71783; coordinates 48°27′25″N 123°18′17″W﻿ / ﻿48.45694°N 123.30472°W﻿ / 48.45694; -123.30472﻿ (University of Victoria); elevation: 60.1 m (197 ft); 1991–2020 normals :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 19.6 | 16.6 | 21.9 | 25.3 | 31.3 | 35.2 | 40.4 | 35.0 | 33.4 | 31.1 | 20.5 | 20.9 | 40.4 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.2 (59.4) | 16.5 (61.7) | 21.0 (69.8) | 25.0 (77.0) | 28.8 (83.8) | 32.2 (90.0) | 37.6 (99.7) | 34.5 (94.1) | 30.2 (86.4) | 23.5 (74.3) | 19.0 (66.2) | 16.5 (61.7) | 37.6 (99.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) | 8.8 (47.8) | 11.0 (51.8) | 14.0 (57.2) | 17.9 (64.2) | 20.6 (69.1) | 23.7 (74.7) | 23.5 (74.3) | 20.0 (68.0) | 14.3 (57.7) | 10.3 (50.5) | 8.0 (46.4) | 15.0 (59.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.8 (42.4) | 5.9 (42.6) | 7.5 (45.5) | 9.8 (49.6) | 12.9 (55.2) | 15.4 (59.7) | 17.7 (63.9) | 17.7 (63.9) | 15.0 (59.0) | 10.7 (51.3) | 7.6 (45.7) | 5.5 (41.9) | 11.0 (51.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.4 (38.1) | 2.9 (37.2) | 3.9 (39.0) | 5.5 (41.9) | 7.9 (46.2) | 10.2 (50.4) | 11.7 (53.1) | 11.8 (53.2) | 10.1 (50.2) | 7.2 (45.0) | 4.7 (40.5) | 3.1 (37.6) | 6.9 (44.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −7.5 (18.5) | −7.2 (19.0) | −4.1 (24.6) | −0.6 (30.9) | 0.2 (32.4) | 5.1 (41.2) | 6.2 (43.2) | 7.2 (45.0) | 3.6 (38.5) | −2.1 (28.2) | −9.5 (14.9) | −11.2 (11.8) | −11.2 (11.8) |
| Record low wind chill | −15.4 | −11.8 | −9.0 | −1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | −3.3 | −12.4 | −14.5 | −15.4 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 109.6 (4.31) | 59.6 (2.35) | 52.6 (2.07) | 35.6 (1.40) | 29.2 (1.15) | 19.7 (0.78) | 10.7 (0.42) | 15.6 (0.61) | 30.4 (1.20) | 77.2 (3.04) | 123.2 (4.85) | 97.8 (3.85) | 661.2 (26.03) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 18.7 | 15.1 | 17.2 | 13.2 | 11.2 | 9.1 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 11.1 | 17.8 | 21.4 | 19.3 | 164.0 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST) | 83.3 | 75.5 | 70.5 | 63.8 | 60.8 | 58.0 | 55.5 | 57.8 | 65.7 | 76.6 | 81.9 | 82.8 | 69.3 |
| Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada ||||||||||||||
Climate data for North Saanich (Victoria International Airport) WMO ID: 1018620; coordinates 48°38′50″N 123°25′33″W﻿ / ﻿48.64722°N 123.42583°W﻿ / 48.64722; -123.42583﻿ (Victoria International Airport); elevation: 19.5 m (64 ft); 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1940–present :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 17.4 | 17.1 | 21.1 | 26.1 | 33.6 | 34.7 | 39.6 | 36.8 | 34.7 | 27.0 | 20.0 | 17.7 | 42.6 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.1 (61.0) | 18.3 (64.9) | 21.4 (70.5) | 26.3 (79.3) | 31.5 (88.7) | 39.4 (102.9) | 36.3 (97.3) | 34.4 (93.9) | 31.2 (88.2) | 27.6 (81.7) | 18.3 (64.9) | 16.1 (61.0) | 39.4 (102.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) | 8.7 (47.7) | 10.8 (51.4) | 13.7 (56.7) | 17.5 (63.5) | 20.2 (68.4) | 22.7 (72.9) | 22.6 (72.7) | 19.7 (67.5) | 14.3 (57.7) | 9.9 (49.8) | 7.3 (45.1) | 14.6 (58.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.6 (40.3) | 5.0 (41.0) | 6.8 (44.2) | 9.1 (48.4) | 12.6 (54.7) | 15.2 (59.4) | 17.2 (63.0) | 17.1 (62.8) | 14.5 (58.1) | 10.2 (50.4) | 6.5 (43.7) | 4.4 (39.9) | 10.3 (50.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.6 (34.9) | 1.4 (34.5) | 2.7 (36.9) | 4.6 (40.3) | 7.6 (45.7) | 10.1 (50.2) | 11.7 (53.1) | 11.6 (52.9) | 9.2 (48.6) | 6.0 (42.8) | 3.0 (37.4) | 1.5 (34.7) | 5.9 (42.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −15.6 (3.9) | −15.0 (5.0) | −10.0 (14.0) | −3.9 (25.0) | −1.1 (30.0) | 2.1 (35.8) | 4.1 (39.4) | 4.4 (39.9) | −1.1 (30.0) | −4.4 (24.1) | −13.3 (8.1) | −14.4 (6.1) | −15.6 (3.9) |
| Record low wind chill | −19.1 | −23.7 | −13.9 | −6.7 | −5.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | −9.1 | −19.4 | −25.1 | −25.1 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 155.3 (6.11) | 84.5 (3.33) | 79.9 (3.15) | 48.2 (1.90) | 36.5 (1.44) | 29.2 (1.15) | 19.5 (0.77) | 24.2 (0.95) | 35.7 (1.41) | 96.1 (3.78) | 146.0 (5.75) | 146.1 (5.75) | 901.2 (35.48) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 144.2 (5.68) | 78.5 (3.09) | 76.3 (3.00) | 47.7 (1.88) | 36.5 (1.44) | 29.2 (1.15) | 19.5 (0.77) | 24.2 (0.95) | 35.7 (1.41) | 95.9 (3.78) | 141.8 (5.58) | 137.0 (5.39) | 866.6 (34.12) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 11.2 (4.4) | 7.1 (2.8) | 3.7 (1.5) | 0.5 (0.2) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.1) | 3.6 (1.4) | 12.4 (4.9) | 38.6 (15.2) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 19.8 | 15.2 | 17.0 | 13.7 | 11.6 | 9.5 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 8.0 | 14.1 | 18.9 | 19.4 | 158.1 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 18.9 | 14.5 | 16.8 | 13.7 | 11.6 | 9.5 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 8.0 | 14.0 | 18.5 | 19.0 | 155.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 7.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST) | 78.4 | 69.9 | 65.3 | 60.5 | 58.4 | 56.3 | 55.4 | 56.4 | 60.7 | 69.7 | 76.6 | 79.3 | 65.6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 70.8 | 95.5 | 145.3 | 191.3 | 241.5 | 251.7 | 318.1 | 297.5 | 228.6 | 136.9 | 72.8 | 58.9 | 2,108.8 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 26 | 33.3 | 39.5 | 46.7 | 51.2 | 52.2 | 65.4 | 66.9 | 60.3 | 40.7 | 26.2 | 22.7 | 44.3 |
| Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (June maximum) (sun 1981–2010) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

The Greater Victoria region has a combined population of 397,237 according to the 2021 Canadian census. 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 population centre in Canada. The combined population of the cities, municipalities, unincorporated areas and First Nations reserves in the region are as follows:
* Saanich 117,735
* Victoria 91,867
* Langford 46,584
* Colwood 18,961
* Oak Bay 17,990
* Esquimalt 17,533
* Central Saanich 17,385
* Sooke 15,086
* Sidney 12,318
* North Saanich 12,235
* View Royal 11,575
* Juan de Fuca (Part 1) 5,132
* Metchosin 5,067
* Highlands 2,482
* New Songhees 1A 1,839
* East Saanich 2 1,790
* South Saanich 1 712
* Cole Bay 3 266
* T'Sou-ke 230
* Becher Bay 1 221
* Esquimalt 1 120
* Union Bay 4 109

### Ethnicity

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 Euro-Canadian descent. A substantial community of those of 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 (Indigenous) population whose ancestors have lived in the area for thousands of years. Numerous First Nations reserves, forming distinct communities, exist in the region — primarily on the Saanich Peninsula, in Esquimalt, and in the Western Communities — although the majority of the First Nations population live off-reserve.
The largest ethnic groups in Greater Victoria, according to the 2016 census, are:
* English - 140,510
* Scottish - 98,475
* Canadians - 86,000
* Irish - 73,170
* German - 50,440
* French - 38,775
* Ukrainian - 19,410
* Chinese - 17,825
* Dutch - 17,790
* First Nations - 15,430
* Welsh - 14,140
* Polish - 13,610
* Norwegian - 12,130
* Italian - 11,665
* Swedish - 9,380
* Indian - 9,180
* Russian - 8,565
* American - 8,485
* Métis - 7,135
* Filipino - 6,650
The same information, although grouped more geographically, is below. The largest sub-grouping is included.
| 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

Many Victoria Region municipalities have their own fairs: Oak Bay's Tea Party, Esquimalt's Buccaneer Days, 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 Inner Harbour on the August Sunday preceding 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 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 prospectors, 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 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.

## Notable places
### Educational institutions

* 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)
* Schools of alternative medicine
** Oshio College of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine
** Royal Pacific Institute
** Pacific Rim College (Victoria)

### Hospitals

* Royal Jubilee Hospital (Victoria and Saanich)
* Saanich Peninsula Hospital (Central Saanich/Saanich Peninsula)
* Victoria General Hospital (View Royal)

### Military installations

(Department of National Defence)
* 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)

### Parks and natural features

* 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)
* ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱/John Dean Provincial Park (North Saanich and Central Saanich)
* Mount Douglas Park (Saanich)
* Moss Rock Park (Victoria)
* Ogden Point (Victoria)
* Rithet's Bog (Saanich)
* Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt
** East Sooke Regional Park (Juan de Fuca EA)
** Goldstream Provincial Park (Langford)
** Gowlland Tod Provincial Park (Highlands, and Juan de Fuca EA)
** 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 / 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, former military defence gun bunkers/observation (Esquimalt)
* Hartland landfill (mountain biking, tours and hiking) (Saanich)
* Mount Tolmie (Saanich)

### Scientific facilities

* Dominion Astrophysical Observatory / National Research Council Canada (Saanich)
* Gonzales Observatory for Atmospheric Biogeochemistry Research (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) / Canadian Food Inspection Agency (North Saanich)

### Sites of interest
#### Historical

* Craigdarroch Castle (Victoria)
* Craigflower Manor and Schoolhouse (Saanich)
* The Empress (Victoria)
* Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse / Parks Canada (Colwood)
* Hatley Park, Greater Victoria (Colwood)
* Ross Bay Cemetery (Victoria)
* Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point (Oak Bay)
* Veteran's Cemetery (Esquimalt)
* Chinatown (Victoria)
* Fleming Beach, historical defence bunkers (Esquimalt)
* Emily Carr House (Victoria)
* Victoria High School (Victoria)
* Camosun College (Saanich)
* Beacon Hill Park (Victoria)
* Helmcken House (Victoria)
* Victoria Police Department Station Museum (150 years of policing artifacts) (Victoria)
* Butchart Gardens (Central Saanich)

#### Political

* Government House (Victoria)
* Parliament Buildings (Victoria)
* Victoria City Hall (Victoria)

#### Cultural

* Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (Victoria)
* British Columbia Aviation Museum (Sidney)
* Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum (Esquimalt)
* Chinatown (Victoria)
* 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)

### 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 Vikes, 1994 Commonwealth Games
** Starlight Stadium - Pacific FC, Rugby Canada, Westshore Rebels
** CARSA Gymnasium - University of Victoria Vikes basketball
** Saanich Commonwealth Place- 1994 Commonwealth Games
* Golf
** 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)
* Other
** 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)

### Transportation and ports

* Highways
Greater Victoria is served by three provincial highways
** Highway 17, connects Greater Victoria to Victoria International Airport and BC Ferries service to Vancouver. A four lane highway with mix of freeway, expressway and arterial standards.
** Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), connects the core eastern municipalities to the western municipalities as a 12 km (7.5 mi) freeway with seven interchanges.
** Highway 14, connects Greater Victoria to Sooke, mostly a two lane highway.
* Ports
** Puget Sound Navigation Company (to Port Angeles, Washington) (Victoria)
** Island Rail Corridor terminus (Victoria)
** 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, Victoria Harbour (Camel Point) Heliport at Ogden Point with Helijet helicopter service to Downtown Vancouver, (Victoria)
** Victoria Harbour (Shoal Point) Heliport at Victoria Harbour's Middle Harbour

## Media outlets
### Print

* Black Press
** 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
* Other
** Monday Magazine, entertainment weekly publication
** Times Colonist, regional newspaper
** The Nexus, Camosun College student newspaper
** The Martlet, University of Victoria student newspaper
** LookOut, newspaper of CFB Esquimalt
** Victoria Marketplace, monthly business profiles
** Douglas Magazine, Victoria based business magazine

### Social media communities

* Black Press
** Victoria News
** Saanich News
** Goldstream News Gazette
** Peninsula News Review
** Sooke News Mirror
** Oak Bay News
* Victoria Buzz, Facebook community

### AM Radio

* CKMO 900 kHz
* CFAX 1070 kHz

### FM Radio

* CBUX, Ici Musique - 88.9
* CBCV, CBC Radio One - 90.5 MHz
* CJZN 91.3 MHz - "The Zone @ 91-3"
* CBU, CBC Music - 92.1 MHz
* CIOC 98.5 MHz - "The Ocean"
* CKKQ 100.3 MHz - "100.3 The Q!"
* CFUV 101.9 MHz - CFUV, University of Victoria
* CHTT 103.1 MHz - "Kiss FM"
* CHBE 107.3 MHz - "Virgin Radio"
* CILS 107.9 MHz - "Francophonics"

### Television

* Channel 6: CHEK (Independent)
* Cable 4: SHAW (Shaw TV)
* Channel 53, Cable 12: CIVI (CTV 2)

## Regional organizations

* Organizations based in Victoria, British Columbia
** AVI Health and Community Services (AVI)
** 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
** Peers Victoria Resources Society
** University of Victoria Students' Society (UVSS)
** Victoria Pride Society