Incorporated in 1985, the City of Colwood has a population
of over 14,000. The city is divided into residential pockets such as Triangle
Mountain, Colwood Creek, Colwood Lake Estates, Wishart and Lagoon areas.
There are business centres at Colwood Corners and Hatley Park, where Royal
Roads University is located.
The area offers a variety of recreational pursuits. The
Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre is considered to be one of the most complete
sport complexes in the province. For the golf enthusiast, there are highly
rated courses, the Royal Colwood golf course and the Olympic View golf
course and the nine hole Juan de Fuca course. The area offers a nature
reserve as well as a beach for sun tanning, swimming, wind surfing, sailing
or just walking. Views of downtown and views of the American coast over
the Strait of Juan de Fuca are also enjoyed. In addition, there are a
number of smaller parks.
Garbage collection is done on a private basis and the area
is policed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Fire Department is
a mix of regular and volunteer members. The area is well served by public
transit. There are no hospital facilities in the municipality. There is
a private medical clinic available in Colwood Corners for emergency assistance,
but most medical problems are taken care of at the Victoria General Hospital
located on Helmcken Road which is very close by.
Incorporated in 1992, Langford is a young and growing
community of about 19,000 residents, divided into distinct areas such
as Glen Lake, Happy Valley, Florence Lake, Langford proper, Thetis Heights,
Bear Mountain, and the Goldstream Area. There is a business and commercial
area running from north of the Trans Canada highway, south along Veterans
Memorial Parkway, to Can West Mall on Kelly Road, and extending to Jacklin
Road.
The area has a large number of lakes and parks, offering
a variety of recreational pursuits. The larger lakes include Thetis Lake,
Langford Lake, Glen Lake and Florence Lake. The larger parks are Veterans
Memorial Park, Centennial Park, City Centre Park, and Goldstream Park
which also has a provincial campground.
The Langford area is large, extending from West Saanich
to View Royal, along Colwood, Metchosin, Sooke and northwards including
portions of the Malahat Highway.
Most of the community is served by a municipal water system,
however there are large parts that are serviced by private wells. Septic
tanks and septic fields are the norm though some areas are served by private
sewage systems. Garbage pickup is done on a private basis. There is bus
service throughout the area. Langford is policed by the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police.
The town of View Royal was incorporated in 1988 and encompasses
1,007 hectares (2,488 acres) of land and 253 hectares (626 acres) of foreshore
and land covered by water.
With a population of just under 6,000, View Royal lies
at the doorstep of Greater Victoria's urban core and adjacent to the growing
municipalities of Esquimalt and Saanich.
View Royal is served by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Waste disposal is done on a private basis and areas within the township
are protected by a tree-cutting bylaw.
View Royal has been divided into seven distinct Precincts
based on such factors as topography, major transportation corridors, natural
environment and the age of housing stock. They are Craigflower, Harbour,
Helmcken, Hospital, Burnside, Atkins and Wilfert. Each Precinct can also
be described and identified according to its population, the number of
dwelling units by type and ownership, the amount of land available for
new development and the presence of commercial and retail land uses.
Incorporated in 1984 as a result of a perceived need to
preserve the rural lifestyle, the District of Metchosin has a population
of over 4,500. Metchosin is mainly a rural community with large parcels
of land. It includes areas such as Albert Head, William Head, Rocky Point,
Happy Valley and the Kangaroo Road areas.
Horseback riding, nature trails and parks are common in
the district. Matheson Lake is popular for swimming and hiking. Witty's
Lagoon is an oceanfront area for a variety of sports and for relaxation.
There are two golf courses, the Metchosin Golf and Country Club and Green
Acres, and plans for another. Pedder Bay is well known for its fishing
and Metchosin is the setting for Pearson College. As the area is mainly
rural, there are a variety of farm related organizations and horse and
riding clubs.
Parts of the community are served by a community water
system, however there are large parts that are serviced by private wells.
Septic tanks and septic fields are the norm. There are also some private
sewage systems. Garbage collection is done on a private basis. There is
limited bus service throughout the area, both for public transport and
for schools. Metchosin falls under the jurisdiction of the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police and has a volunteer Fire Department.
Many people choose to live in the Highlands because of
its rural character and natural beauty. Residents are encouraged to build
their homes with the least environmental impact by minimizing vegetation
removal, using materials that blend in with the landscape and positioning
homes that are not highly visible from the road or viewpoints.
Mount Work Regional Park boasts swimming holes, fishing
spots and hilly terrain as well as the highest peak on the Saanich Peninsula.
Lone Tree Regional Park has a two kilometre trail that winds uphill, leading
hikers to fabulous views of the Highlands, Victoria and the Olympic Mountains.
During a normal winter, the Highlands experiences cooler
temperatures and approximately 35% more rainfall than Victoria. The precipitation
is essential to recharge well water resources and maintain ecosystems
during severe drought conditions that occur during the summer and fall
months.
The Highlands is home to many interesting plants and ecosystems
such as wetlands, woodlands, wildflowers and old growth trees. The roads
are scenic, narrow and winding.
