Sidney (Town) adopted in the 13th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 30 June 1914, as labelled on BC map 2A, 1913. Incorporated as a Village Municipality 30 September 1952. Re-incorporated as a Town Municipality 1 January 1967; confirmed in 1977 Cumulative Supplement to the BC Gazetteer.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Sidney Post Office was opened 1 June 1892, named in association with nearby Sidney Island, in turn named 1859 by Captain Richards. See also the municipality's own website.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

There was a village here, called SET,TINES meaning 'chest sticking out'. (writing system developed by Dave Elliot Sr., Saanich Native Studies Program, 1983).

Source: included with note

The W̱SÁNEĆ People have lived on the Saanich Peninsula for thousands of years. Prior to European contact, they maintained winter villages throughout the Region. The language of the W̱SÁNEĆ People is SENĆOŦEN, and the site which the Town of Sidney now sits on is called "SET,TINES", which means "chest sticking out," in reference to the way the land juts out into the water. The area was used for launching boats to travel to the Gulf Islands. The W̱SÁNEĆ People are saltwater people, meaning the sea is very important to their way of life. (Information from Sidney website, for additional information see: http://www.sidney.ca/About_Sidney/History_of_Sidney___SET_TINES.htm)

Source: included with note

....Apparently the Sidney [Richards'] had in mind was Frederick W. Sidney, who entered the Royal Navy only a few months after Richards and like him joined the surveying branch. Hydrographer of the Admiralty, 1864-74. The Saanich Indians knew the site of Sidney as "Tseteenus' meaning 'sticking out'.

Source: Akrigg, Helen B. and Akrigg, G.P.V; British Columbia Place Names; Sono Nis Press, Victoria 1986 /or University of British Columbia Press 1997