Cadboro-Gyro Park

Cadboro-Gyro Park is a scenic 6 hectare waterfront destination offering a sandy beach, an iconic sea-creature-themed playground, and a rich local history.

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Location

Saanich
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About

Welcome to Cadboro-Gyro Park, a unique waterfront destination that attracts residents from throughout the region. Located within easy walking distance of Cadboro Bay Village and the University of Victoria, the park offers just over six hectares of beachfront, recreation, and history, along with beautiful views of Cadboro Bay, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Mountains (source).

Park amenities & features

According to the District of Saanich, the park features a sandy, log-strewn beach and a beloved beach-themed playground. Constructed in 2014, the current playground builds upon the unique character of the park's historic concrete sculptures. Combined with an accessible ship, shipwreck, swings, and a zip-line, children and adults alike can create their own adventures.
- Beach access: Sandy, log-strewn beach with a seasonal wheelchair-accessible ramp (in place from Victoria Day to Labour Day long weekends).
- Playground: Beach-themed play area featuring a zip-line and the iconic giant octopus, salmon, and sea serpent sculptures.
- Recreation: Tennis court and a boat launch for non-motorized craft.
- Facilities: Picnic areas, washrooms, and a water bottle filling station.
- Parking: On-site parking available.

The legend of the sea serpent

It’s a mystery born in the 1930s. A number of reports surfaced sighting a sea monster in Cadboro Bay, describing a 10-metre-long serpent with the head of a horse. In 1933, a Victoria Daily Times newspaper report affectionately named the creature ‘Caddy’, short for Cadborosaurus.
Later, in 1940, Frederick Holm added that the snake-like creature had a head resembling a sheep or a horse (source, source).
Caddy has since inspired books and even an episode of the Canadian television show Mystery Hunters.
While we could debate the existence of an actual sea creature for decades, one fact remains: we’ll be seeing and enjoying the cartoon-like, climbable concrete likeness of ‘Caddy’ in the playground for a long time.

History of Cadboro-Gyro Park

The land surrounding Cadboro-Gyro Park has a rich history spanning from its Indigenous roots to its time as a bustling seaside resort, before finally becoming the beloved public park it is today.

Lkwungen territory: The ancestral and unceded territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations (Lkwungen) incorporates the land around Cadboro Bay. Eight distinct families lived, fished, hunted, and harvested these lands, sustained by rich natural resources like spawning salmon, shellfish, waterfowl, and seal. Cadboro-Gyro Park is situated near Ququ'lEq, a village site of the Chekonein family. Today, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations remain a living culture, governed by the foundation and legacy of their ancestors (source).
1837 - Cadboro Bay named: The bay is named after the Hudson's Bay Company brigantine Cadborough, which first sailed into the area. By 1850, HBC employees lived on the nearby Uplands Farm. (source)
1912 - Cadboro Bay Hotel built: The Cadboro Bay Hotel Company builds a 30-room summer resort on the waterfront. Despite early financial struggles and losing its liquor license, the resort stays afloat by hosting popular community dances. (source)
1920 - The Cadboro Beach Hotel era: Stuart and Francis Armour purchase and renovate the property, renaming it the Cadboro Beach Hotel. It becomes a highly popular seasonal destination for tourists and locals alike. (source)
1931 - Hotel destroyed by fire: On August 18, 1931, a massive fire destroys the $40,000 hotel. Fortunately, no one is injured, but the community loses a beloved seaside hostelry. (source)
1953 - Gyro Club purchases the land: At the suggestion of Reverend William Hills, the Gyro Club of Victoria purchases 1.77 hectares of the marshy former resort land from Owen Goward for $4,500, raising funds through a hole-in-one contest and carnival. (source)
1954 - Land donated to Saanich: The Gyro Club donates the land to the Municipality of Saanich. Thousands of cubic yards of wood chips are trucked in to fill the marshy areas, making way for a playground and grassy fields. (source)
1958 - Iconic sculptures added: Parks Manager Bert Richman enlists Saanich Engineering to build the beloved concrete octopus, salmon, boat, and Cadborosaurus sculptures. Over the years, Saanich continues to acquire adjacent properties, expanding the park to over six hectares. (source)

Lands

The District of Saanich lies within the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples represented by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples represented by the W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) Nations.

Amenities