Ports of Call: Sidney, British Columbia

Wandering the Waterfront

Sidney deserves a world of credit for making its charming waterfront the public centerpiece of the town. A visiting boater who exits the Port Sidney Marina is plopped right on a pedestrian trail that winds south along the edge of the beautiful Haro Strait. Beyond the cluster of waterfront dining and drinking establishments is a large grassy expanse known as Beacon Park that has picnic written all over it. This area also has ready access to the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea (essentially an aquarium and cultural center hybrid), Haven Spa and Salon, and a pier with great views and a seafood bistro at the end.

Keep up the southerly course on the path and you’ll make it to Glass Beach and Diver’s Point. These areas are popular in the summer months, with visiting families wading along the beach or wandering to the end of the southerly fishing pier to see what the recreational crabbers are pulling up in their pots. Scuba divers can be spied as they surface from exploring the local depths.

Brain Food

A standout feature of Sidney is the menagerie of adorable, independent bookstores along Beacon Avenue. You’ll find no fewer than four standouts between 1st and 5th streets: Galleon Books & Antiques, The Haunted Bookshop, Tanner’s Books, and Beacon Books. Each has its own distinctive flavor, somehow coexisting peacefully. Perhaps this speaks to the high mindedness of the locals.

Other sources of brain food include the Sidney Museum, which focuses on local history (more online at sidneymuseum.ca) and the Mary Winspear Centre, an event and theater facility (marywinspear.ca). The Mary Winspear Centre is also across the street from the Visitor Information Booth, a smart stop for those wanting to stay in the know.

Shopaholics Unite

Sidney is a jolly-feeling, boutique town, so of course there are plenty of fun shopping opportunities catered towards out-of-towners and those looking for an afternoon escape from Victoria. To idle away a few hours and pick up some gifts or souvenirs, a stroll up and down Beacon Avenue is highly recommended.

In addition to the pack of bookstores, Beacon Avenue is home to Brown’s The Florist, Cameron Rose Gifts, Marmalade Tart Boutique, Baden-Baden Boutique, Buddies Toys, Dancing Orchid Gift Shop, and much more tucked among cafes and restaurants. Your exact path will be determined by what you’re looking for, but you’ll probably find whatever is on your list (and plenty of things that you didn’t even know you needed).

What’s the Deal with the Art?

You probably won’t be off the boat for more than five minutes before you encounter a prominent piece of art in Sidney. The Eye of the Ocean by David Hunwick is essentially two whale bones arranged into the shape of an eye gazing out at the sea.

The Sidney Pirate by Jake James is a playful, jaunty character, with a telescope over one eye and eye patch over the other. The Diver is an all-wood, super-sized scuba diver cut from a single 80-foot red cedar by Alan C. Porter and marks Diver’s Point, where scuba enthusiasts explore.

Many of the sculptures on display are part of the Sidney Seaside Sculpture Walk, opened to the public in 2012. Some are for sale, while others are commissioned by the town. The onslaught of art certainly adds flavor to the place, the gorgeous natural backdrop a part of each masterpiece. A few memorials, such as the United Nations and NATO Forces Memorial, and murals, like the First Nations Nil/tu,o, are scattered about the area as well. A map of these sights can be found at the aforementioned Visitor Information Booth near the Mary Winspear Centre.

Event Madness

Given Sidney’s charming public waterfront, cultured vibe, and visitor-oriented offerings, it’s no wonder that it serves as a venue for events of all kinds. From the annual BC Boat Show (May) to the massive summer Sidney Street Market on Thursdays (June through August, 1030 to 1730 hours), Sidney is the kind of place ripe for live concerts, festivals, outdoor art shows, and the like.

To stay in the know, you can check out the town’s event calendar at sidneybia.ca/events/calendar.

Springboard

Key to Sidney’s identity is its role as a crossroads, positioned near the Victoria International Airport and the Swartz Bay ferry terminals. For the adventurous with bicycles in tow, Sidney sits on a 55-kilometer (34-mile) multi-use trail from Swartz Bay to Victoria called the Lochside Regional Trail.

For boaters, Sidney represents a tempting stopover for those heading north to wilder waters and who want to fuel up and fully provision. Boaters heading south may be hankering for some of that civilization and culture after weeks navigating the waters of rural B.C. Whatever your travels have in store for you in this corner of the world, don’t be surprised if Sidney acts as a springboard to the next step in one form or another.