Located on the northern tip of the Saanich Peninsula, Sidney, BC is a coastal town on Vancouver Island with a history that begins thousands of years before its founding. The area is within the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, including the Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum, and Pauquachin First Nations. These Coast Salish communities have lived on and cared for this land and surrounding waters since time immemorial.
The W̱SÁNEĆ way of life was closely tied to the Salish Sea. Fishing, especially reef-net salmon fishing unique to this region, was central to their culture and economy. Seasonal harvesting of shellfish, cultivation of camas, and travel by canoe supported strong networks of trade and connection across the Gulf Islands. Today, the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations continue to live and work in the region, maintaining a deep and ongoing relationship with the land and sea.
European settlement began in the mid-1800s following the Douglas Treaties, which opened the Saanich Peninsula to settlers while significantly altering Indigenous land use. By the 1860s, farming communities were taking shape, drawn by fertile soil and a mild coastal climate. Sidney was officially founded in 1891 by the Brethour family as a small agricultural and commercial centre. The arrival of the Victoria & Sidney Railway in 1894 connected the town to Victoria, supporting trade and encouraging early growth.
Today, the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations remain an active and essential part of the region, continuing to share their culture, language, and traditions.
Discover further information through the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, which represents surrounding nations including, Tsartlip, Tseycum, Tsawout, and Pauquachin Nations and works to preserve language, culture, and land stewardship.
In the early 20th century, Sidney developed as a working waterfront community. Fishing, boat building, and maritime services became key industries, supported by a sheltered coastline and proximity to the Gulf Islands. Its location on southern Vancouver Island helped position Sidney as a natural hub for transportation and marine activity.
This role expanded with the development of the nearby Victoria International Airport and the BC Ferries terminal at Swartz Bay, strengthening Sidney’s connections to the mainland and surrounding islands. As transportation infrastructure grew, so did the town’s importance as a gateway to Vancouver Island.
Sidney was incorporated in 1967 and gradually transitioned from a resource-based economy to a service and tourism-focused community. Today, Sidney by the Sea is known for its walkable downtown, waterfront pathways, and strong local business community. It has also earned recognition as Canada’s only Booktown, with a notable collection of independent bookstores.
Modern Sidney blends its coastal setting with a strong sense of history and place. Visitors can explore the Sidney Museum, enjoy views across the Salish Sea, and experience a community shaped by both its maritime past and its evolving future. The town continues to acknowledge the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, whose presence remains foundational to the identity of Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula.
Discover further information about Sidney’s history through the Sidney Museum & Archives, which preserves and shares the stories, artifacts, and heritage of the town and surrounding peninsula communities.
Take a self-guided walk through Sidney with the On This Spot tour, where history is layered directly onto the streets around you. Using your phone, you can stand in key locations and see archival photos of the same spot from decades past, then slide between past and present to watch the town transform in real time. You can also explore the full experience online from anywhere, making it just as engaging from home as it is on the street. It’s an easy, flexible way to discover Sidney at your own pace, blending a waterfront stroll with stories of its early days, local businesses, and coastal life.
