Metchosin

For the geologic formation, see Metchosin Igneous Complex. For the former provincial riding, see Esquimalt-Metchosin.
Metchosin
District municipality
District of Metchosin[1]
Metchosin

Location of Metchosin in British Columbia

Coordinates: 48°22′55″N 123°32′16″W / 48.38194°N 123.53778°W / 48.38194; -123.53778Coordinates: 48°22′55″N 123°32′16″W / 48.38194°N 123.53778°W / 48.38194; -123.53778
Country  Canada
Province  British Columbia
Region Vancouver Island
Regional district Capital Regional District
Founded 1840
Incorporated 1984
Government
 • Governing body Metchosin Council
 • Mayor John Ranns
Area
 • Total 71.09 km2 (27.45 sq mi)
Elevation 40 m (130 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 4,803
 • Density 67.6/km2 (175/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
Highways 14
Waterways Strait of Juan de Fuca
Website District of Metchosin

The District of Metchosin is a coastal community of just over 5000 people 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 operators of small farms (vegetables, orchards, poultry, sheep, some pigs and cattle). Most are retired or work outside the community. There are also many home based businesses (everything from massage and dentistry to international consulting). Located on the edge of a rapidly growing urban area, Metchosin is subject to a variety of pressures. While the municipality has maintained its slow population growth, traffic has exploded due to growth in the larger region.

Metchosinites, especially the younger ones, are traditionally friendly rivals of neighbouring communities Sooke, East Sooke, Langford, and Colwood. A 1995 move to merge Metchosin and East Sooke, which has a similar rural-utopian character, failed; some East Sookese adopted the slogan "East Sooke Forever, Metchosin Never!" as they saw the proposition not as a merge but as an assimilation into larger Metchosin. Since then, several pieces of East Sooke have been assimilated into its urban neighbour, Sooke. Remaining rural residents are seeking to join Metchosin, and a new set of studies and consultations started in 2007 and is ongoing.

Metchosin is known for its many regional nature/recreational parks, such as Devonian, Witty's Lagoon, Albert Head, and Matheson Lake. Their well-maintained trails and scenic vistas are popular with tourists and locals. While these outdoor attractions do not offer souvenirs, Victoria itself has most of the region's money-spending opportunities (e.g. souvenir shops and museums). As many Metchosinites work in Victoria, the tourists do indirectly benefit Metchosin's economy.

The name Metchosin is the anglicised version of the native "Smets-Schosen", which means "place of stinking fish". Local legend maintains that many years prior to the Europeans' arrival, an orca beached and died, and that everywhere that could smell it rotting became part of Metchosin. The town's museum, which was once its one-room school before an increasing population necessitated a larger building, claims to have vertebrae from the animal on display. Metchosin's community symbol is, perhaps unsurprisingly, an orca.

Metchosin Council was inaugurated on December 8, 2014 for a four-year term. Mayor John Ranns, Councillor Bob Gramigna, Councillor Kyara Kahakauwila, Councillor Andy MacKinnon, Councillor Moralea Milne.

Climate

Climate data for Metchosin
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 12.2
(54)		 15
(59)		 18.3
(64.9)		 23.9
(75)		 29.4
(84.9)		 32.2
(90)		 32.2
(90)		 31.1
(88)		 30
(86)		 24.4
(75.9)		 15.6
(60.1)		 14.4
(57.9)		 32.2
(90)
Record low °C (°F) −13.9
(7)		 −12.2
(10)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 −2.8
(27)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 1.7
(35.1)		 3.9
(39)		 5.6
(42.1)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 −5
(23)		 −6.1
(21)		 −12.2
(10)		 −13.9
(7)
Source: Environment Canada

Neighbourhoods of Metchosin

Physiography

Much of Metchosin is hilly, with shallow, stony soils over basalt bedrock. Lower-lying areas, as in Happy Valley, have deep deposits of clay, silt and sand. Alluvial loams occur along some of the streams. Mount Matheson rises above Matheson Lake in the southwest part of Metchosin.

Other facts

Metchosin is home to Lester B. Pearson College,[2] one of the thirteen United World Colleges around the world. Pearson College is named after former Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and architect of the United Nations Peace Keeping program.

Metchosin is also home to the Albert Head Air Cadet Summer Training Centre at CFB Esquimalt, the main training centre for Royal Canadian Air Cadets in British Columbia.

The community newspaper, Metchosin Muse, is published monthly.

Events

Education

As a part of the School District 62 Sooke Metchosin has 2 public schools. These are Hans Helgesen (grades K-5) and the Metchosin Technical Centre which offers an alternative approach to secondary education with a focus on the Trades and an opportunity for real hands-on, project-based learning. Metchosin is also home to West-mont Montessori School which offers a comprehensive Montessori education to children from Early Primary (age 3 & 4) up to grade 8. Rounding off the compliment of educational facilities there is the Metchosin Pre-school.

Parks

References

  1. ↑ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Sheep Dog Trials
  5. ↑ Bite Me Fishing derby
  6. ↑
  7. 1 2 3 4
  8. ↑
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