Sidney: Community Information
Sidney is also known as Sidney-by-the-Sea. Located at the northern end of Saanich Peninsula, just minutes away from BC Ferries, Anacortes Ferry and Victoria International Airport. This scenic coastal community offers romantic seaside walks with great ocean views. Local attractions include: whale watching, museums, marine centre and year round community activities such as market days. Sidney’s unique main and side streets offer a variety of restaurants, pubs and small owner operated shops. A variety of marinas provide safe moorage and easy access to marine services. The Galloping Goose Trail winds it way through Sidney and continues along to Victoria and Sooke.
It enjoys a temperate climate, natural amenities and friendly community character. Sidney’s vibrant community is the gateway to the Gulf Islands and the US San Juan Islands. There are majestic views of the ocean, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. With its modern marinas, galleries, gift stores, antique shops and restaurants it is a great seaside town.
Estimated Distance / Travel Time from Sidney
- to Swartz Bay Ferry: 5 km / 7 min;
- to Victoria International Airport: 5 km / 7 min;
- to downtown Victoria: 27 km / 30 min.
Sidney has a population of 11,000.
Location
Sidney is located about 20 km north of Victoria. It is close to the airport and the ferry terminal for easy access to the mainland.There is daily ferry service to Anacortes, Washington, U.S.A. Sidney is less than two kilometres away from the Victoria International Airport, just a few kilometres from the B.C. Ferry Terminal to Vancouver, and only 30 minutes away from downtown Victoria.
Schools
Sidney is served by School District 63.
Recreation
Sidney has extensive waterfront walkways, parks, restaurants and marinas. Sidney is very proud of the redeveloped Mary Winspear Community Centre, which includes the 315 seat Charlie White Theatre. With its sister municipalities of North Saanich and Central Saanich, Sidney helps fund the nearby Panorama Leisure Centre, which provides indoor tennis, two indoor ice rinks, a large indoor pool and other facilities. Sidney’s main attraction is its position by the Salish Sea.
Economy
There is a large boating and marine industry in the area, ranging from marinas to boatbuilders and marine suppliers. Sidney is mainly an industrial town, with most people working in the construction, manufacturing, and warehousing fields.
Sidney Real Estate
The town west of Highway 17 (also called the Pat Bay Highway) has a mixture of single-family residences and light industry. The majority of the town is located east of highway 17. Single family houses are also present east of the highway, but the eastern sector also has many condominiums, plus most of the service and retail outlets.
For more details, call Valentino at 250-686-2242.