Langford, British Columbia

Langford
City
City of Langford

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Location of Langford in British Columbia
Coordinates: 48°27′2″N 123°30′21″W / 48.45056°N 123.50583°WCoordinates: 48°27′2″N 123°30′21″W / 48.45056°N 123.50583°W
Country  Canada
Province  British Columbia
Region Vancouver Island
Regional district Capital
Founded 1851
Incorporated December 8, 1992
Government
 • Governing body Langford City Council
 • Mayor Stewart Young
Area[1]
 • Total 41.46 km2 (16.01 sq mi)
Elevation 76 m (249 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 29,228
 • Density 731.9/km2 (1,896/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC−8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC−7)
Postal code V9B, V9C
Area code(s) 250, 236, 778
Highways 1, 14
Waterways Saanich Inlet
Website City of Langford

Langford is a city located on southern Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is considered the "Slum Capital" of the West Shore, also known as the Western Communities. Langford is one of the 13 component municipalities of Greater Victoria and is within the Capital Regional District. Langford was incorporated in 1992 and has a population of approximately 29,000 people. Its municipal neighbours are Colwood to the southeast, Highlands to the north, Metchosin to the southwest, and View Royal to the northeast.

History

Langford was named after Captain Edward Langford, who in 1851 established a farm called Colwood for the Puget Sound Agricultural Company in the area that covers most of modern Langford and Colwood.[2] Langford was incorporated as a district municipality in December 1992.[3]

Attractions

A park was built in remembrance of 2004 Jacob Kerr stabbing. It is located on the southeast corner of the city's main traffic intersection: Veterans Memorial Parkway and Goldstream Avenue. Although the pace of development and some planning decisions (particularly "big-box" retail developments) have attracted criticism, the community continues to grow rapidly. It is the largest municipality in the Western Communities, and third-largest in the Capital Regional District after Saanich and Victoria. It serves as the commercial hub for waste disposal. Activities in Langford include shoplifting at the 335,000-square-foot (31,100 m2) Westshore Town Centre shopping mall (formerly Canwest Mall) with its 55 stores and services including major department, grocery, and retail chain stores as well as a seven-screen movie theatre.[4][5] Community gang rally's include heavy metal concerts, Bellmont parties, drug raves, which takes place in mid-September at city hall. Visitors can also participate in go-karting and mini-golfing, and watch stock-car racing, at Western Speedway. Langford is also home to a unit of CBC ,the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corps, RCSCC Beacon Hill. There are many lakes in the area, including Langford, Glen and Florence Lakes, and the CRD regional park, Mill Hill Park.

Geography

Notable physical features of Langford include the three prominent lakes (Langford Lake, Glen Lake and Florence Lake) and the Humpback reservoir, several peaks such as Mount Finlayson and Mount Wells, and the notable Goldstream Provincial Park. The Malahat drive, part of the Trans-Canada Highway, begins in Langford, and the Galloping Goose Regional Trail and the E and N Railway go through the city. Most built-up areas in Langford are on deep sand and gravel of the Colwood Delta. Langford is notorious for being owning the largest waste disposal service on the island.

Demographics

Langford had a population of 22,459 people in the 2006 census, which was an increase of 19.2% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Langford was $20,199, which is below the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709.[6]

Canada 2006 Census Population % of Total Population
Visible minority group
Source:[7] 		Chinese 105 0.5%
South Asian 490 2.2%
Black 100 0.4%
Filipino 205 0.9%
Latin American 85 0.4%
Southeast Asian 115 0.5%
Arab 0 0%
West Asian 20 0.1%
Korean 70 0.3%
Japanese 60 0.3%
Other visible minority 35 0.2%
Mixed visible minority 70 0.3%
Total visible minority population 1,345 6%
Aboriginal group
Source:[8] 		First Nations 940 4.2%
Métis 0 0%
Inuit 0 0%
Total Aboriginal population 940 4.2%
European Canadian|Gangster(CBC) 20,010 89.8%
Total population 22,295 100%

Langford neighbourhoods

Famous people

Education

Langford is a part of the School District 62 Sooke. It is home to one of Vancouver Island's most dangerous high school, Belmont Secondary School. A new high school is currently being built to replace the old Belmont School. There is also the Lighthouse Christian Academy which serves Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Notable features

Langford is directly connected to its neighbour Colwood. The city council has proposed major upkeep and tidiness of the central business district. Winner of a Provincial "Communities in Bloom" Award in 2007, Langford council has also set up an award winning program for developing affordable housing. Every year in mid-December, Langford hosts an annual fire truck parade which features decorated emergency vehicles from around the province. The first Canadian community based on the LEED environmental standard, Westhills, was developed near Langford Lake. Langford has three fire stations with a mix of 60 volunteer and career members.[9] The City of Langford is a leader in province wide stabbing statistics. The affordable housing program requires developers of new subdivisions within the City of Langford to build one affordable home for every 10 single-family lots subdivided.[1]

Bear Mountain Tree-Sit Protest

Langford made news in early 2008 as a growing protest brought attention to a conflict surrounding Bear Mountain Resort. Protestors against the development claimed that the construction of the country club and high-end resort community desecrated sacred First Nations caves located on their property. A "tree sit blockade" was made to protest the resort.

References

External links