Oak Bay Local

New to Oak Bay? Start here

The first week, sorted: the decal, the library card, the pool and the people who will drive your neighbour to the doctor.

  1. Community & nonprofit Cadboro Bay Road

    Oak Bay Drop Off Depot

    Get the decal first. It lasts five years, and you need proof of an Oak Bay address to get one.

  2. Community & nonprofit Oak Bay Village

    Oak Bay Municipal Hall

    Permits and council are upstairs. The archives are downstairs, open to drop-ins on Tuesday mornings.

  3. Community & nonprofit Oak Bay Village

    Greater Victoria Public Library, Oak Bay Branch

    Get a card, then check the Fastreads shelf: popular books, no holds.

  4. Community & nonprofit Cadboro Bay Road

    Oak Bay Recreation Centre

    Pool, arena, gym and seven indoor tennis courts. The kids will find the rope swing on their own.

  5. Community & nonprofit Oak Bay Village

    Oak Bay Police Department

    Before your first trip away, sign up for Vacant Home Patrol.

  6. Food & drink Oak Bay Village

    Fairway Market Oak Bay

    The Village grocery, open 7 to 9 every day.

  7. Health & wellness Oak Bay Village

    Pharmasave Oak Bay

    Three generations of Tuckers. Bring expired medications and used sharps back here.

  8. Community & nonprofit Oak Bay Village

    Oak Bay Volunteer Services

    Rides to appointments, check-in calls and Snow Angels who shovel walks for older neighbours.

  9. Community & nonprofit Across Oak Bay

    Community Association of Oak Bay

    Walks, talks and the all-candidates nights before every municipal election.

  10. Shops Oak Bay Village

    Ivy's Bookshop

    Some regulars drop in every day, sometimes just to chat. You may as well start now.

More lists

Every place in Oak Bay
8

Raining again

Places to wait it out in the Village and nearby, with or without kids.

16

Places with a past

A yacht club whose first clubhouse sank three times, a golf club older than Oak Bay and a pub that came back with its own beer mugs. Oldest first.

4

Take it to Willows Beach

Estevan Village is a block from the sand. Pick something up and eat it there.

5

Bring the dog

Places where the dog is welcome, plus one for after the beach.

7

Free in Oak Bay

Bowling, sculpture, archives and a painting party on a creek path. None of it costs anything.

9

Open by 7

Coffee, groceries, a swim or a physio slot before work. Opening times come from each place's own hours.

12

Still open after 9

For the forgotten dinner-party bottle and the late pad thai. Closing times come from each place's own hours.