To submit comments or requests, please use our official contact channels: https://www.sidney.ca/government/contact-us/ Sidney-by-the-Sea is the transportation hub to Vancouver Island. It is located at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula and is one of the 13 Greater Victoria Area municipalities. Sidney is located just east of Victoria International Airport, and a few kilometres south of BC Ferries' Swartz Bay Terminal. The town is also the only Canadian port-of-call in the Washington State Ferry system, with ferries running from Sidney to the San Juan Islands and Anacortes. The community has a population of approximately 11,583. Its main economic drivers are manufacturing, high-tech, tourism and retail. There is also a large boating and marine industry in the area, ranging from marinas to boat builders and marine suppliers. The island-studded Haro Strait, part of the Salish Sea, forms Sidney's eastern boundary. Sidney's main attraction is its position on the Salish Sea. It is the gateway to the southern Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, and is a popular eco-tourist destination, with whale-watching, bird-watching, kayaking and scuba-diving. It is also home to the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre Aquarium. Sidney has its own local history museum, the Sidney Museum and Archives, and is home to the British Columbia Aviation Museum. During the summer, Sidney hosts the famous Sidney Street Market which takes place every Thursday evening on the main street (Beacon Avenue) from May to September. "Sidney days" is another popular event that occurs on June 30 and July 1. Sidney has many dining options including Greek, Thai, Chinese and west-coast restaurants. It also has many coffee shops and cafes to sit and read in. Sidney is officially Canada's only Booktown, boasting 12 bookstores.
