Hendra Moving Victoria Living Guide Part 1

VICTORIA AND THE CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT

13 MUNICIPALITIES, 1 GREAT REGION

PLANNING ON MOVING TO VICTORIA?

The Hendra Moving Team is here to help you move you in town, up island, across the country or around the world. Our ongoing blog series will provide insight into the city of Victoria, living on Vancouver Island and moving, in general. As you read on, our next blog entries will help you find out which neighbourhoods will work best for you, your family and lifestyle. So, you will be able to check out some of the parks, stores, beaches, restaurants and unique downtowns of the featured communities that make up the Capital Regional District (CRD).

Find out how Victoria’s moving expert can help you move to and on Canada’s island paradise!

VICTORIA

Located on the Southern shore of Vancouver Island, Victoria, known as the Garden City, is the Capital BC, and is home to the Provincial Parliament and Legislature, Royal BC Museum, and historic Empress Hotel. Victoria is a vibrant, dynamic city that has an active, healthy and community-based culture with an exciting nightlife, music festivals, like Rifflandia, local restaurants and craft breweries and great family fun.  Whether cheering for the Victoria HarbourCats in the summer, the Victoria Royals in the winter or beachcombing at Dallas Beach anytime of the year, there is also something great to do in the city. Featuring rugged shorelines, extensive beach access, mountain views, ancient old-growth forest, an active arts scene, gardens, parks, quality outdoor sports facilities and cherry blossoms in February, Victoria, BC is Canada’s island paradise.

Consequently, Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC is the perfect city to match your active, outdoor lifestyle. Furthermore, the diverse communities of the CRD present a wide range of unique, varied housing options for those buying their first home or looking to upgrade, starting a family or looking to relocate to one of Canada’s most mild climates and beautiful environments. The Hendra Moving team will help you make you dream move to Victoria a reality.  So, let’s get to know the area better.

THE CRD

he Greater Victoria region is not amalgamated.  Instead, it is a collection of communities that is composed of 13 municipalities, 3 Electoral Areas, 10 First Nations with Reserves and 8 more First Nations, whose traditional territories are within part of the CRD.  The region is known as the Capital Regional District, wherein Victoria is only one municipality within the CRD.  The CRD is responsible for some local governance and is composed of elected members of regional district.  As a result, each municipality has it’s own mayor and elected officials.  While this structure can lead to challenges in the decision making process (such as the ongoing issue with where to build a waste treatment centre), it also allows for each region to develop and maintain their distinctive characters.

FEATURED COMMUNITIES IN VICTORIA

When moving to a new city or neighbourhood, it is essential to find the community that will fit you and your family best. The many municipalities of the CRD have their own unique downtown centres and cultures. Each municipality, and their many communities, features a diverse range of housing options–from ocean views to forest cabins, float homes to Condos, heritage or modern.  Here, we will feature some of the most popular and up-and-coming neighbourhoods in Victoria.

VICTORIA

DOWNTOWN

Harbour front living at the heart of the City, Victoria’s downtown is urban living at its finest on the Island: enjoy a Phillip’s Blue Buck on the patio of The Local while harbour planes take-off after a morning of stand-up paddle boarding!

• The downtown core is the vibrant entertainment and economic centre of the CRD
• Many residences in this area feature stunning heritage architecture
• Modern, stylish condos are also a popular housing option
• Local restaurants and shops: from 10 Acres to the Patch–from locally, organically and ethically-produced fine dining to classic vintage clothing
• Must Sees: The House of Parliament, Chinatown, The Empress Hotel, Fan Tan Alley, Victoria Public Market at the Hudson, BC Royal Museum, Robert Bateman Centre
• Hotspots: Canoe Club, Pink Bicycle, The Local, Swans, Shine Cafe, Bin4 Burgers, Strathcona Hotel, Big Bad John’s
• Outdoor Activities: Whale Watching tours, Beacon Hill Park, Kelp Reef Adventures, The Empress Garden, the Harbour Front, the grounds of St. Ann’s Academy
• This neighbourhood is perfect for young professionals and wanderers who want to be at the centre of the action, business and culture of Victoria.

JAMES BAY

From Fisherman’s Wharf to Dallas Beach, James Bay is a tight-knit community that features some of Victoria’s most breath-taking ocean vista’s, routine visits from ocean animals and beachfront living

• Residential options include float homes, oceanfront cabins, boat houses, apartment buildings, and modern condos
• Float Home Village: quite possibly the most unique housing option in Victoria, the Float Home Village can be found at Fisherman’s Wharf; each floating home has its own distinct design, decoration and personality.
• The community invites visitors into the village to view their homes from the outside; so, these homes are perfect for anyone who doesn’t mind showing off their home and individuality.
• Must Sees: Fisherman’s Wharf, Mile Zero, the Ogden Point Breakwater, Float Home Village
• Hotspots: Il Covo, The Bent Mast, The Blue Heron, The Breakwater Cafe & Bistro
• Outdoor Activities: Dallas Beach, Beacon Hill Park, Kelp Reef Adventures, Clover Point
• This neighbourhood is perfect for anyone–from recent grads to new families to seniors
• James Bay is ocean front living in a small but vibrant community with an artistic and active culture.

COOK STREET VILLAGE

Located in the Fairfield neighbourhood, the Cook Street Village is the commercial centre of the area.  This a young, outgoing community that is only a short distance from both the inner harbour and Dallas Beach.

• This neighbourhood features beautiful heritage homes with rental and buying options that include rooms, suites and houses
• Shops: Lifestyle Markets, Fairfield Book Shop, Pic-a-Flic, Mother Nature’s Market & Deli
• Restaurants: The Beagle Pub, Pizzeria Prima Strada,
• This neighbourhood is fantastic for students, young professionals and couples who want to balance the convenience and excitement of downtown living with the rugged beauty of James Bay

ROCKLAND

A neighbourhood of giants: the heritage homes of Rockland

• The most remarkable feature of the Rockland neighbourhood is it’s massive heritage mansions that have been divided into apartments and suites
• Must Sees: Craigdarroch Castle, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
• The Rockland neighbourhood is ideally suited for anyone looking for invest property
• Nic options for renters looking for a character heritage home in quiet family neighbourhood.

VIC WEST

Modern and affordable waterfront living for you and your pet.  Once the industrial centre of Victoria, Vic West now features some of Victoria’s most innovative and eco-friendly housing options.  This new neighbourhood is ideal for young families and professionals

• Located along the Gorge Waterway, it is a quick walk, bike or drive into downtown
• Dockside Green: an international celebrated green building complex, the Dockside Green provides environmentally friendly residential, commercial and office space
• Victoria’s Craft Brewery District: Spinnaker’s Brewpub, Hoyne Brewery, Moon Under Water Brewery with Philips and Vancouver Island Brewery a short water taxi ride away
• Must Sees: Selkirk Trestle, Johnston Street Bridge, The Gorge Waterway
• Hotspots: Cafe Fantastico–located at the mouth of the Galloping Goose trail, Cafe Fantastico is community centre, and a great meeting spot for young families on a walk and for bikers and hikers looking for some refreshments.

FEATURED COMMUNITIES AROUND VICTORIA

OAK BAY

Quaint and quiet, downtown Oak Bay is the perfect community for the couple or family looking to live in one of Victoria’s highest-end and most beautiful neighbourhoods

• The Oak Bay Village is home to over a half-dozen art galleries
• Willows Beach Park
• Oak Bay Marina and Royal Victoria Marina
• The Oak Bay Beach Hotel
• The Penny Farthing Public House

UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA

Located at the edge of Oak Bay and Saanich in the community of Gordon Head, the UVic campus is a beautiful, natural space with fantastic academic and sporting facilities

• Ideal for students and young families
• Classes, intramural sports and group meet-ups
• Felicitas Campus Pub
• Cinecenta Film Series
• Ring Road
• Clover Point and Gyro Beach

LANGFORD

Located only 30 minutes outside of Victoria along Highway 1, Langford is one of the fastest growing cities in Western Canada. Langford is the ideal community for young families and couples looking for affordable housing.  Watch out for the rush hour traffic in the morning and evening though.  For those looking to beat the “Colwood Crawl” while getting a workout, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail connects Victoria to Langford for bikers and joggers.

• Langford has some of the Victoria areas most reasonable housing prices
• Close proximity to Victoria makes it a commuter city for both cars and cyclists
• Close to the communities of Colwood, Metchosin, the Highlands and View Royal
• Amenities and large commercial district–Goldstream Village and Millstream Village
• Year-round recreation activities and sports–Rugby Canada calls Langford home
• Royal Roads University
• Beautiful parks and trails
• Hatley Park, the Esquimalt Lagoon, Thetis Lake, Mt. Finlayson and the Galloping Goose regional trails
• Royal Colwood Golf Club features some of the Island’s best golfing

SALT SPRING ISLAND

Salt Spring is the island next to island. With nearly 12,000 permanent residents and only a 45 minute ferry ride to Swartz Bay, Salt Spring Island is the perfect community for the prospective homeowner looking a quieter way of life.

• Ganges: The eccentric hub of Salt Spring Island and home to many of the Islands of shop, restaurants, and art galleries. The village is known for its natural beauty, colourful community markets and active harbour with marinas and docks, as well as the occasional pod of passing orcas. The Saturday Market is not to be missed if you are visiting in the summer.
• Must Sees: The Saturday Market, Tree-House Cafe, Ruckle Provincial Park, Festival of the Arts, Mt. Tuam,
• Activities: Salt Spring Island Ales Tour, Whale Watching, Kayak or stand-up paddleboard rentals
• Getting there: you can take the BC ferry to Fulford Harbour, dock your own boat in Long Harbour or fly into Ganges harbour
• What’s in a name: is it Saltspring or Salt Spring Island?  There is no strong consensus.  Rather, both spellings are accepted by Canada Post
• Salt Spring Island is a rugged marine paradise with a friendly, vibrant community of artists, artisans and nature lovers

CONCLUSION

Victoria is is one of Canada’s most temperate climates and beautiful environments.  If you’re moving, the various communities of the CRD present a wide range of unique, varied housing options.   Getting out of the city is perfect for those buying their first home or looking to upgrade or starting a family.  Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC offers the perfect balance of urban comforts, like locally-sourced restaurants and unique downtown stores, history, culture, and outdoor activities to match your active, outdoor lifestyle.

Whether you’re moving you from across town, up island, across the country or around the world, the Hendra team will help you make you dream move to Victoria a reality–make Canada’s island paradise your home with Hendra Moving & Storage!