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For thousands of years, the Saanich Peninsula, along with the Gulf and San Juan Islands, has been home to W̱SÁNEĆ people who built permanent winter homes in the area in the shape of cedar longhouses.

Sidney’s landscape changed significantly with colonial settlement. Following the British Government’s establishment of the colony of Vancouver Island in 1849, the Hudson’s Bay Company obtained two large tracts of land in 1852, which became known as the North and South Saanich Districts.

Within a few months after the advent of the Fraser River gold rush excitement in April 1858, the majority of the North Saanich District was spoken for by gold miners, settlers, and speculators. Among them were William and Charles Reay, Donald Fraser, William Booth, and Octavius Ommaney, who purchased land which is now part of the Town of Sidney.

In 1891, fifty acres of land owned by the Brethour family were subdivided into lots and registered as the Township of Sidney. By the close of 1892, there was a general store, a post office, a boat-building shop, and a hotel.

The name “Sidney” comes from nearby Sidney Island, which can be seen from the shores of the community. Sidney Island was named after Lieutenant Frederick William Sidney (later Captain), who was a member of the Hydrographic Service of the Royal Navy.