Mill Bay, British Columbia

Mill Bay is a commuter town of about 7,200 people located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada about 30 km (19 mi) north of Victoria, the capital. It is part of the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

For other places with the same name, see Mill Bay (disambiguation).

Mill Bay
Mill Bay is located in Vancouver Island
Mill Bay
Mill Bay
Location of Mill Bay in British Columbia
Mill Bay is located in British Columbia
Mill Bay
Mill Bay
Mill Bay (British Columbia)
Mill Bay is located in Canada
Mill Bay
Mill Bay
Mill Bay (Canada)
Coordinates: 48°39′02″N 123°33′33″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Regional DistrictCowichan Valley Regional District
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
Area code(s)250, 778

Mill Bay was founded in the 1860s with lumber and milling as its primary industries, done at the mill on the bay. It was named for the sawmill built in the area in 1861 by Henry S. Shepherd soon purchased by William Sayward.[1]: 174  It is known for its ferry to Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula and the historic Malahat Drive, which is also a source of criticism due to frequent closures from either automobile accidents or weather conditions. Numerous suggestions have been made by various groups regarding a 'bypass' route (possibly a bridge), though as of 2007, the Brentwood-Mill Bay Ferry and the Malahat remain the best routes to Greater Victoria from the rest of Vancouver Island (a third route goes south from Lake Cowichan via Port Renfrew to Victoria). The MV Mill Bay that has served the ferry route since 1956 is named for the town but was taken out of service in 2011 and is now served by the MV Klitsa.

Mill Bay schools

Brentwood College is a private high school located in Mill Bay. Frances Kelsey Secondary School is a local public high school named after pharmacologist Frances Oldham Kelsey.

Neighbouring communities

The village of Shawnigan Lake is a ten-minute drive from Mill Bay. Cobble Hill, Cowichan Bay, and Duncan are also part of the Cowichan Valley.

Community organizations

The Mill Bay Freemasons Hall meets on the third Thursday of the month and also offers room to other community organizations.

References
  1. Akrigg, G.P.V.; Akrigg, Helen B. (1986), British Columbia Place Names (3rd, 1997 ed.), Vancouver: UBC Press, ISBN 0-7748-0636-2
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