Langford

Lifestyle & Recreation

As one of the fastest growing cities in the Capital Regional District, Langford is an economic hub offering a wealth of employment, business and recreational opportunities. It’s rapid development and surplus of urban entertainment are eclipsed only by its wealth of natural beauty and outdoor recreational offerings.

Numerous lakes for fishing, swimming, and boating are just a moment away including Langford lake, Glen Lake, and Florence Lake, while residents are also blessed with an abundance of hiking, camping, picnicking, and wildlife watching regions, such as Goldstream Provincial park’s old-growth rainforest with its yearly salmon run, Thetis Lake Regional Park, and the extensive trail systems throughout the mountainous terrain surrounding and ascending Mount Finlayson, and Mount Wells. Fast and slow-paced fun coexist here with Bear Mountain’s cycling trails and world-class hotel and spa, Western Speedway’s auto and demolition racing track, or any of the region’s three world renowned golf courses, just minutes away.

Amenities & Transportation

Langford is located on southern Vancouver Island, 9 km (6 mi) from Victoria, with a population of about 35,000. With a Walkscore of 48, residents of Langford are fairly car dependant. Some neighbourhoods may be close enough to certain amenities to walk or bike for household necessities, however most errands will require a car, especially if a trip to Victoria is needed. Located along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, biking from home to the Victoria core is commonplace, while Langford’s trolley services make it easy for commuters to travel around town and to connect with BC Transit to take them into Victoria, or any other CRD municipality.

Young as it is, Langford has grown quickly with the addition of many big city conveniences such as Millstream Village and Westshore Town Centre, each offering an abundance of retailers and services including major department, grocery, and retail chain stores as well as the nearby Imax-equipped Cineplex movie theatre. Sooke School District 62 services the Langford area and is comprised of 18 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 secondary schools. Due to rapid expansion in the region, two new, state-of-the-art schools, Belmont Secondary, and Royal Bay Secondary, were constructed to LEED Gold standard in 2015.

History

European settlement in the Langford area began in 1851 with the establishment of one of the four Hudson’s Bay Company farms as part of the company’s settlement obligations. The short-lived gold-rush experienced in and around the aptly named Goldstream Provincial Park in the 1860’s was followed in the late 1800’s by its revival as a sought after recreational destination for Victorian’s keen to build hunting lodges along the shores of the mountainous lakes, or summer in and around the still popular Langford Lake. Incorporated in 1992, the city has managed to become one of the most exciting communities in the Capital Regional District, and the fastest growing community in British Columbia.

Schools

Langford is serviced by School District 62 Sooke. This growing school district represents over 10,000 students, offers dedicated athletic, international, and aboriginal programs and is comprised of 26 schools including 18 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 secondary schools.

Location

Langford is located approximately 2 kilometers north west of Colwood, and about 15 kilometers west of downtown Victoria.