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We’ve switched to biennial data gathering for the city profiles — The data available here was collected in early 2022 and originally published in last year’s Canadian City Parks Report.
City Profile
Saanich
2022
British Columbia
Population: 117,735
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  • Saanich is above average for percentage of parkland that is natural area at 65%.
  • Saanich is above average for percentage of park washrooms that are winterized, with 69% open year-round.
  • Saanich is one of 53% of cities with a park system master plan updated within the last 10 years.
  • Saanich’s Natural Intelligence program helps residents build reciprocal relationships with nature. It emphasizes giving back to nature through volunteering in parks or stewarding local habitats, while appreciating the gifts nature provides by spending time in parks for physical activity and connecting with others.
  • The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council and the District of Saanich signed the ÁTOL,NEUEL (“Respecting One Another”) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work towards shared goals of reconciliation. The MOU includes parks management, public art and education projects, and environmental concerns as areas of interest.
  • Pop-up dog parks are being piloted in Saanich for the second year. The pilot program addresses concerns about the potential impact dogs off-leash have on wildlife, natural areas, private property and other park visitors’ ability to use the space, since dogs are currently allowed off-leash in most Saanich parks.
7.4
ha of parks & green space / 1000 people
Total parks and green space

Total hectares of parkland and green space that is publicly accessible and owned, leased, or under a management agreement by the municipality. This number should capture all parks and green spaces that are perceived/used by residents similarly to parkland.

Specifically, it should include:

  • Actively managed parkland
  • Natural parkland/areas
  • Other municipally owned, managed, or leased open spaces that are used as public green space

Excludes:

  • Golf courses
  • School yards, if owned/maintained by the municipality
  • Active (open) cemeteries
  • Sports stadia
  • Parking lots
  • Institutional and other publicly owned green space
  • Other parks/green spaces that are not owned, managed or leased by the municipality (e.g. privately owned public spaces)
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867 ha total

65%
of parkland is natural area
Natural parkland

A natural area is a green space which receives a relatively low level of maintenance and supports natural or naturalizing vegetation. Natural areas may be publicly accessible (e.g. via trail networks) or areas with limited/little public access.

Natural areas may include:

  • trails or walkways
  • washrooms
  • environmentally sensitive/protected areas
  • stormwater ponds/water bodies located within natural areas

Excludes:

  • parking lots
  • actively managed parkland
Click to view full definition →

563 ha total

35%
of parkland is actively managed
Actively managed parkland

Total hectares of parkland that is actively maintained by the municipality for community use. These parks often contain built and natural amenities such as: park furniture, planted trees/beds, sports fields, playgrounds, and mown grass.

Includes:

  • plazas and “grey” spaces used for public recreation, when maintained by the parks department
  • small ponds/water bodies located within actively managed park spaces

Excludes:

  • natural areas
  • hazard lands
  • school yards
  • active (open) cemeteries
  • golf courses
  • sports stadia
  • parking lots
Click to view full definition →

304 ha total

8%
of total city land is parkland

10,830 ha of total city area

906
ha of institutional & other public green space
Institutional & other public green space

Total hectares of parks and publicly accessible green spaces that are owned and maintained as parkland by public entities other than the municipality, such as:

  • The federal government
  • The province
  • A regional government
  • Conservation authorities
  • Universities

Excludes:

  • School board lands
  • Privately owned public spaces
Click to view full definition →
165
With a few exceptions, most of Saanich’s parks are considered “off leash” as long as dogs are kept under the effective control of their owners.
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Dog parks
Off-leash dog areas

Includes both standalone dog parks and off-leash dog areas within parks.

Click to view full definition →
5
Community gardens/urban farms
Community gardens/urban farms

Community gardens/urban farms are food-growing gardens available for the public to use that may require membership. This includes community orchards.

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56
Playgrounds
Playgrounds

A playground refers to an area with purpose-built children’s playground equipment present, and may have just one single item of equipment or several items located together.

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16
15 additional portable toilets are available in parks.
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Public washrooms

11 winterized public washrooms

300
Parkland provision goal (distance to park / ha per 1000 people)
$72
Parks operating expenditures / person
Operating expenditures (actuals)

Direct operating expenditures (not including revenues) for 2021 for maintaining parks and natural areas. This number will be used with your current year population to understand operating budget spent per person.

Includes:

  • planting and maintenance of trees in park/natural areas
  • graffiti & vandalism repair
  • management, administration & operational staff salaries
  • consultant/contractor costs
  • parks horticultural plantings
  • maintenance of closed cemeteries if carried out from the parks operating budget
  • parks litter pickup & waste disposal
  • inspection and maintenance of splash pads, playgrounds & outdoor fitness equipment
  • maintenance & replacement of park furniture
  • public toilets where maintained from parks budget
  • sports field maintenance
  • snow clearing and ice control for parks & natural areas
  • any other parks/green space maintenance costs except cemetery costs where the cemetery is "active"

Excludes: golf courses, swimming pools, indoor recreation facilities/halls, forestry, and zoos.

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$8,503,705 total

$2,938,629
Parks capital expenditures
Capital expenditures (actuals)

Capital expenditure for all capital items related to land improvement works completed during the 2021 financial year.

It includes:

  • Both new and renewal work
  • Capital items carried forward from previous years
  • Salaries and wages for all staff involved in the design, planning and delivery of capital projects.
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$16,180
Total philanthropy/sponsorships
Total philanthropy/sponsorships

Total amount donated to the city through philanthropic sources or corporate sponsorship in 2021 to fund park-based projects.

Excludes:

  • general revenue generated by the city (e.g. through user fees, park bench dedication programs, etc.)
  • provincial/federal government grants
Click to view full definition →
1.7
Volunteers / 1000 people
Volunteers

Includes only volunteers who have worked directly with the municipality (not external organizations). Programming refers to publicly accessible activities and events (e.g., yoga classes, nature walks, park cleanups, farmer's markets, festivals, celebrations, etc.). Programming does not include any large commercial activities, such as a private party.

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200 total park volunteers

127
Volunteer hours / 1000 people

15,000 total park volunteer hours

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