A (brief) History of Royal Oak
The Royal Oak area is rich in history. Much of it has been farmed since the 1860’s and early landowners included such familiar names as Goyette, Cheeseman, Quck and Rithet. The Royal Oak name is attributed to Jane Cheeseman who was said to describe a particularly large oak tree as a “Royal Oak”. The heritage structures along West Saanich Road are a reminder of the village character and its rural roots. Early residents in Royal Oak were responsible for the incorporation of Saanich as a municipality in 1906. The municipal hall was located in Royal Oak until the current municipal hall was built in 1965.