Langford, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Langford is a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of 22,459 residents on southern Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
, within the province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is considered one of Greater Victoria
Greater Victoria, British Columbia
Greater Victoria is located in British Columbia, Canada, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It is a cultural rather than political entity, usually defined as the thirteen easternmost municipalities of the Capital Regional District on Vancouver Island but also includes adjoining areas and...
's Western Communities
Western Communities
The Western Communities or WestShore is a term used to describe the suburban municipalities of Colwood, Langford, Metchosin and The Highlands. Greater Langford and unincorporated districts west of Esquimalt Harbour and Portage Inlet, and south of the Malahat in the Capital Regional District ,...
. Its municipal neighbours are Colwood
Colwood, British Columbia
Colwood is a city located on Vancouver Island to the southwest of Victoria, capital of British Columbia. Colwood was incorporated in 1985 and has a population of approximately 15,000 people. Colwood lies within the boundaries of the Victoria Census Metropolitan area or Capital Regional District,...
to the southeast, Highlands to the north, Metchosin
Metchosin, British Columbia
The District of Metchosin is a small, coastal community in the metro Greater Victoria region of British Columbia. It is part of the Western Communities and one of the 13 regional municipalities. Many Metchosinites are small farmers . Most are retired or work outside the community...
to the southwest, and View Royal
View Royal, British Columbia
View Royal is a town in Greater Victoria and a member municipality of the Capital Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. View Royal has a population of approximately 8000 residents and was incorporated as a municipality in December 1988....
to the northeast.
History
Langford was named after Captain Edward Langford, who established a Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
farm in the area in 1851. Langford was incorporated as a district municipality in December 1992.
Attractions
A new park was also built in remembrance of Canadian war veterans. It can be found on the southeast corner of the city's main traffic intersection: Veterans Memorial Parkway and Goldstream Avenue. Although the pace of development and some planning decisions (particularly "big-box" retail developments) have attracted criticism, the community continues to grow rapidly. It is the largest municipality in the Western Communities, and third-largest in the Capital Regional District after SaanichSaanich
The Saanich or W̱SÁNEĆ are indigenous nations from the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, the Gulf and San Juan Islands, southern Vancouver Island and the southern edge of the Lower Mainland in British Columbia.*BOḰEĆEN – Pauquachin...
and Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
. It serves as the commercial hub for the Western Communities. Things to do in Langford include shopping at Westshore Town Centre
Westshore Town Centre
Westshore Town Centre is a shopping centre in Langford, British Columbia, near Victoria. The centre is bounded on the west by Jacklin Road, Langford Parkway to the north, Brittany Drive to the east, and Kelly Road to the south...
(formerly Canwest Mall) and taking in some county-fair style amusement and food at Luxton Fair, which takes place in mid-September at the local fairgrounds. Visitors can also participate in go-karting and mini-golfing, and watch stock-car racing, at Western Speedway
Western Speedway
Western Speedway is located just outside of Victoria, British Columbia, in the All Fun Recreation Park which features go-karts, batting cages, and water slides. It is a 4/10-mile paved oval track that was founded in 1954, and it is western Canada's oldest speedway. It is southern Vancouver...
. One of Canada's sea cadet corps is RCSCC Beacon Hill on Dunford Road. There are many lakes in the area, including Langford, Glen and Florence Lakes, and the CRD regional park, Mill Hill Park.
Geography
Notable physical features of Langford include the three prominent lakes (Langford Lake, Glen Lake and Florence Lake) and the Humpback reservoir, several peaks such as Mount FinlaysonMount Finlayson
Mount Finlayson is a mountain located on the border of Highlands and Langford, British Columbia, about 14 km northwest of Victoria. It is located within the Gowlland Range...
and Mount Wells, and the famous Goldstream Provincial Park
Goldstream Provincial Park
Goldstream Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It is known for the annual fall salmon runs in the Goldstream River, and the large numbers of bald eagles that congregate to feed at that time. The total size of the park is 3.79 square kilometres. It is located in the...
. The Malahat drive, part of the Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
, begins in Langford, and the Galloping Goose Regional Trail and the E and N Railway
E and N Railway
The Southern Railway of Vancouver Island is in length, and is one of two remaining railways on Vancouver Island, the other being the Englewood Railway. The railroad runs from Victoria to Courtenay, with a branch line from Parksville to Port Alberni...
go through the city.
Demographics
Langford had a population of 22,459 people in 2006, which was an increase of 19.2% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Langford was $64,199, which is above the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709.Langford neighbourhoods
- Florence Lake
- Glen Lake
- GoldstreamGoldstream, British ColumbiaGoldstream is a neighbourhood of the city of Langford, on the northwest outskirts of Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.The community is located just west of Langford Lake and the Trans-Canada Highway and adjacent to the river of the same name, which was the scene of a small gold rush in...
- Luxton
- Millstream
- Ravenwood
- Thetis Heights
- Bear MountainBear Mountain (resort)Bear Mountain is a golf resort and adjacent community straddling the boundary between the City of Langford and the District of Highlands, in the Western Communities of Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada...
Education
Langford is a part of the School District 62 SookeSchool District 62 Sooke
School District 62 Sooke is a school district in British Columbia, Canada. It includes the suburbs of Victoria known as the Western Communities as well as the mostly rural areas around the sea-side villages of Sooke and Port Renfrew...
.It is home to one of Vancouver Island's largest high schools Belmont Secondary School
Belmont Secondary School
Belmont Secondary School is located in Langford, a western suburb of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of three secondary schools in School District 62 Sooke...
. There is also the Lighthouse Christian Academy which serves Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Notable features
Langford is directly connected to its neighbour Colwood. The current city council has recently enjoyed praise regarding the upkeep and tidiness of the central business district. Winner of Provincial blooming award in 2007, Langford council has also set up a programme for affordable housing. Every year in mid-December, Langford hosts an annual fire truck parade which features decorated fire trucks from around the province. Most recently, Langford has plans to build the first Canadian community based on the LEEDLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
environmental standard.
Bear Mountain Tree-Sit Protest
Langford made news in early 2008 as a growing protest brought attention to a conflict surrounding Bear Mountain ResortBear Mountain (resort)
Bear Mountain is a golf resort and adjacent community straddling the boundary between the City of Langford and the District of Highlands, in the Western Communities of Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada...
. Protestors against the development claimed that the construction of the country club and high-end resort community desecrated sacred First Nations caves located on their property. A "tree sit blockade" was made to protest the resort.