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Aerial view of Sidney. Photo by Bob T.

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Sidney, British Columbia

Sidney is a town on Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula. It is one of the 13 municipalities that make up Greater Victoria. It has a population of about 11,583 people.

Sidney is about 6 kilometers (4 miles) south of BC Ferries’ Swartz Bay Terminal and just east of Victoria International Airport. It’s the only Canadian port of call in the Washington State Ferries system, with ferries running from Sidney to the San Juan Islands and Anacortes.

Sidney is bisected by Highway 17, which runs north to south through town. It is commonly considered to be a part of the Victoria metropolitan area.

1.  Sidney is more of an industrial town

Sidney is primarily an industrial town, with the majority of residents employed in construction, manufacturing, and warehousing (26%). Retail employment accounts for approximately 10% of total employment. Healthcare and social assistance employ 13% of the workforce.

Sidney has a population of over 4,000 people and a 6.1 percent unemployment rate. It should also be noted that some of this labor force commutes from nearby municipalities such as Saanich or Victoria.

The median household income is $24,638. The town’s median household income is $63,840. Rent in Sidney has risen significantly in recent years, with a Standard 2-Bedroom Suite costing up to $2000 per month. In March 2019, the average price of a house in Sidney was $645,500.

2. Sidney is filled with independent bookstores

As evidenced by the town’s numerous bookstores, all within a few blocks of one another, Sidney residents must share a love of the written word. Each bookstore has something unique to offer, ranging from new releases to children’s classics and rare and antique works.

3.  Sidney is governed by a council

The municipal courts in Sidney. Photo ByvDerek Jensen.

The town of Sidney is an elected municipality governed by a Council. The elected Council from 2015 to 2018 is made up of one Mayor and six Councillors. Mayor Steve Price, Councillors Erin Bremner-Mitchell, Tim Chad, Barbara Fallot, Mervyn Lougher-Goodey, Cam McLennan, and Peter Wainwright

4. Sidney has an aviation museum

Sidney, British Columbia, Canada is home to the British Columbia Aviation Museum. It is located on the grounds of Victoria International Airport at 1910 Norseman Road on the airport’s east side. 

The museum is divided into two hangars and includes a display area, a classroom, a restoration workshop, and a gift shop. Historical civilian and military artifacts, such as uniforms, medals, and models, are on display.  Aircraft are on display, and volunteers at the museum are constantly working to restore new acquisitions.

5. Sidney has an in airport distillery

Before the pandemic, Victoria Distillers, which has its headquarters in Sidney, British Columbia, had planned to open a distillery at Victoria International Airport in British Columbia. Moreover, despite the decline in air travel and the implementation of travel restrictions, the company forged ahead and opened North America’s first airport distillery in September 2021.

Victoria Distillers has been producing some of Canada’s finest handmade spirits for over ten years. It has established a still and a shop in the airport’s recently expanded departures lounge. Customers can watch through the distillery’s floor-to-ceiling windows as their personal bottles are blended, bottled, and labeled.

If one wants to try the gin in a cocktail before purchasing a full bottle, one orders from the menu at the Spinnakers Lounge, which is located across from the airport distillery. A signature cocktail featuring the airport-made gin is in the works.

Travelers who want to bring home a bottle of the purple gin can do so easily. The airport distillery currently produces 50 to 60 bottles per day, but it has the capacity to increase production as passenger traffic increases. The airport’s bottle prices are lower than those found in local government and private retail stores.

6. Salish sea is in Sidney, British Colombia

A ferry at Salish sea. Photo by Colin Stepney. Wikimedia

Sidney’s most popular attraction is its position on the Salish Sea. Sidney-by-the-Sea is an eco-tourist destination with whale-watching, bird-watching, kayaking, and scuba-diving opportunities.

It is the location of the new Shaw Ocean Discovery Center. Shoal Harbor Migratory Bird Sanctuary is part of the internationally recognized Sidney and Sidney Channel Important Bird Area, which is home to a variety of seabirds and waterfowl.

7. Sidney has a museum 

Part of the collection of artifacts inside Sidney museum. Photo by Sidney Museum.

The Sidney Museum and Archives is a non-profit community organization. It is dedicated to the history of Sidney and North Saanich.

The museum, which is run by the Society of Saanich Peninsula Museums, raises awareness of local heritage through exhibits, programs, and collections. It has over 6000 items in its permanent collection.  The museum has rotating temporary exhibits in addition to its permanent exhibits.

8. Sidney was founded by the Brethour brothers

The Brethour brothers, who incorporated their farms into the Township of Sidney in 1891, founded Sidney. The name was inspired by nearby Sidney Island, which was named in 1859 after Royal Navy Captain Frederick W. Sidney.

The Victoria and Sidney Railway opened in 1894, and by the early 1900s, the local economy included a roofing factory, a cannery, and a large sawmill. Several fires and competition from the mainland destroyed Sidney’s early industries in the 1920s and 1930s.

9. Sidney has a couple of festivals and events

Thursday Street Market. Photo by Tony.

In May, they have the Sidney Street Market and a Taste of Sidney. June World Oceans Day and Spring Studio Tour. July Sidney Days, Canada Day Celebrations and Summer Sounds Outdoor Concerts (July & August). August Torque Masters Car Show Extravaganza and First Nations, Inuit & Metis Art Show. September – Sidney Shakespeare Festival. October: Sidney Fine Art Show, ArtSea Festival, Fall Studio Tour and Literary Festival. Lastly in December, Christmas in Sidney.

10.  Sidney has a favorable climate 

Sidney has a cool Mediterranean climate, with mild temperatures and moderate rainfall all year. Most years, there is little snow. Daily temperatures rarely exceed 31 °C (88 °F) or fall below 7 °C (19 °F). Minimum temperatures in the mildest winters remain above 3 °C (27 °F). Winds are less frequent than in most other Canadian maritime areas.