Greater Victoria Neighbourhoods – Cordova Bay

Cordova Bay is a serenely beautiful region of south Vancouver Island. Bounded by the Central Saanich municipality on the north, Haro Strait on the east, Patricia Bay Highway on the west and Broadmead residential area and Blenkinsop Valley on the south, it is accessed via Sayward Road just north of Elk Lake and Royal Oak Drive via Highway 17 (between Victoria and Swartz Bay).

The bay and gorgeous sand and pebble beach with nearby seaside cottages and restaurants is only minutes from Victoria by car or bicycle and is a delightful area to explore year-round. The area’s charms include a meandering road between Claremont Ridge and the oceanfront, beach access and single-family homes on the shore side, a “small village feel,” along with plenty of green space and the absence of box stores or large commercial areas. There are several public access points to the beach along Cordova Bay Road and the beaches are popular for swimming and sunbathing on warm summer days.

The most prominent topographical feature is the ridge running its length from sea level up to 90 meters then dropping again to meet Elk Lake on the west side. The ridge affords breathtaking views of Haro Strait, Mt. Baker, and the San Juan Islands to the east and Elk Lake and the Sooke Hills to the west.

Residents and visitors enjoy a delightful blend of relaxing spaces and unique shops featuring the works of local artisans at Mattick’s Farm. The whole family can enjoy outdoor fun with mini golf, high tea at Adriennes and locally grown meats and produce at Red Barn. https://www.matticksfarm.com

Close by, the Cordova Bay Golf course is a beautiful testament to the sport. Their staff are friendly and helpful, the flower beds, shrubbery and trees add to the beauty of the course, and the vistas are exhilarating. As one of their admirers put it, "The Cordova Bay facility and its staff have been integral to the development of the love of golf for our entire family.” http://www.cordovabaygolf.com
There is a good selection of schools in the area which include Carrot Seed and Cordova Bay Preschools, Lochside, Frank Hobbs and Cordova Bay Elementary, Royal Oak Middle School, Claremont Secondary and Lakeview Christian School.

Cordova Bay is a mix of suburban, rural residential and agricultural land use. While Saanich counsellors are working with the neighbours, developers and the community association to allow development while preserving the charm and character of Cordova Bay, there is no doubt among residents the area is at a crossroads. Modest beachfront houses continue to be replaced by large upscale houses valued in the millions. Planned developments are poised to add more than 450 residential housing units to the area. These projects include Sayward Hill – an eight-storey building with 46 condos, a mixed-housing development to build 309 homes at the former Trio Ready-Mix gravel pit, 25 condos in a four-storey building at Doumac Avenue, and plans to redevelop the Cordova Bay Plaza features 37,000 square feet of retail space - more than doubling the size of the grocery store - and the addition of 85 new condos.