The Clubhouse gave the C.C.Y.C. members the feeling of owning and with this inspiration, suitable property was located in Blue Heron Bay, just south of Tsehum Harbour. Negotiations for the purchase of some two acres were completed in May, 1964. During the next few years a foreshore lease was applied for and received. Plans to move the Clubhouse became a fact in the later part of 1966. The 1967 programme included the dredging of the entrance channel on a cost sharing basis with the Government of Canada. When this project was completed the same company continued into Blue Heron Basin where a total of 36,149 cubic yards were extracted. All costs for this were paid for by the club. A pile driving company was the next step and approximately thirty piles were driven in the bay. A great deal of praise and credit should be given to the members, the Ladies’ Auxiliary and the newly constituted junior members for the work parties, properly organized, in the building of the floats, wharfs and the grounds surrounding the area. By April 1st., 1968, 825 ft. of mooring floats and docks were placed in the water ready for use by the membership.

Between 1968 and 1972 there were boatsheds moved into the newly formed moorage area. Twelve members worked diligently to design and build a covered moorage complex, which greatly enhanced the Basin area. The Ladies’ Auxiliary were working hard during this time planning and arranging the landscaping of the uplands area. The Ladies’ Auxiliary also paid for the paving of the parking area which was a very great asset for our Club.

The General Meeting in 1972 approved an overall plan for development of the Club. This plan was divided into five separate phases and presented to North Saanich Council in April, 1983, for their approval, which was granted. This first phase consisted of the extension of our present Clubhouse. Many meetings followed and then construction began with the members taking part by way of work parties. All the while the Clubhouse was being constructed, the plans for the dredging were being prepared and in June, 1973, ten copies were sent to Ottawa and one to the Department of Fisheries for their approval. These approvals were granted in the latter part of June and July, 1973.
This then allowed us to prepare tender documents and call tenders for the dredging and driving of piles for the wharfs. Tenders were opened September 6, 1973 with Greenlees Piledriving being the lowest tender received. The contract was awarded and work proceeded through the winter and following spring. By June, 1974, the dredging was complete, piles driven and approximately 600 feet of wharf constructed. During this winter and spring the Clubhouse was progressing very well and a final drive of work parties completed the job in time for our Sailpast in June, 1974. A great deal of credit should go to the Properties Committee for their hard work and also the Ladies for their donation of drapes, etc.

The next phase on the foreshore was the construction of the covered moorage. W. Campbell Ltd. was awarded the contract to design and build these structures. They were started in late August and completed in October, 1974. The new units gave us an additional 46 covered berths and improved the overall appearance of the basin. Erosion along the Clubhouse and parking lot foreshore eventually necessitated a retaining wall. Some creosoted piles were donated to the club, and in 1980 a contract was let to drive them all along the bank. More support proved necessary and in 1982 a further contract installed cross ties and anchors. This has produced a solid and durable retaining wall which has been capped with a cement walkway. The finishing touch is given by aluminum guard rails to match the new aluminum ramp. In the same year the grid was extended five feet through the dedicated efforts of some Club members. Further improvements are intended as popular use of the gird continues.

During 1984 the Clubhouse was extended by 500 square feet and a new garage style storage building was installed to the west of the parking area. B and C docks were rebuilt during 1984, 1985 and 1986. The year 1986 saw major renovations to the Clubhouse heads, a new rear entry and some renovations to the galley. The seawall was extended in 1987 from the gate west to the Cole property. This was necessary to stabilize the parking lot in that area and allow for future dredging in the adjacent channel.

An agreement was reached to purchase the Cole property in 1985, and this was completed in 1988. Planning an extension to our water lease was also initiated at the same time. Development plans and related permits were prepared. Final permits were received in 1988 with plans for some 37 new berths in our basin. Approval for the related expenditures was given by the membership at the Annual General Meeting in November, 1988, and a contract was let to install a seawall extension west from the existing wall in front of the Cole property. This was completed in the early part of 1989 and dredging was done later in the year. Construction and installation of E dock was completed in 1990.

The new breakwater was completed in 1991.

1992 - 1993 two new double wide boat sheds were completed.

1994 - Two more double wide boat houses were completed and the electrical upgrading continued.

1995 - Was a very busy year - 3 additional double wide boat houses were built, an office was added to the storage shed, C Docks roof replacement was started, a canopy was built over the entrance to the club house, the electrical upgrading was completed and the Les Cole house was renovated.

1996 - A year of Construction and Destruction! During the year three double wide boat houses were constructed. The main wharf of E Dock was moved back 15 feet and the fingers were replaced with larger ones. The fingers were also replaced on BB Dock. New dock lighting was installed on A, B, and E Docks. The foreshore purchase was concluded with the exception of final documentation. The seawall repairs were completed and the balance of the plans were to be started when ---- the “Blizzard of ‘96” struck. C Dock collapsed under the weight of the snow and high winds. A and B Docks also lost boat houses. 31 boats were sunk and dozens of boats damaged. Within hours of the disaster the Canadian Coast Guard was on the scene along with the crews of Campbell Construction and Victoria Pile Driving. Our members began arriving and assisting wherever they were needed. So began the lengthy and exhausting task of clearing, refloating the boats and rebuilding. Our Club has a strong tradition of volunteerism and if ever it has been put to the test, this is it!

1997 - The beginning of the year saw many of our members undertaking the massive cleanup of both sunken and floating debris. A considerable amount of aluminum was salvaged for later sale and under the watchful eye of ex-fire chiefs the balance of the debris was burned. A contract was let for 37 piles to be driven and 500 feet of dock space for C wharf. Before building of the boathouses got underway, a fire on B wharf destroyed 2 boathouses and damaged a third. Two tenders were called, the first for a 24 double wide and six single boathouses and the second, to replace the burned boathouses and the damaged one. Once construction began Members completed all the necessary electrical, plumbing, locating and connecting the boathouses together with any other miscellaneous jobs. A sale of bonds within the membership raised $560,000.00 which together with the insurance proceeds was sufficient to complete the work. Eleven months to the day the project was completed and all the berths assigned. Also during the year the membership finished the seawall improvements, the entry gate building and the installation of the new ramp. The flag pole was refurbished and relocated and finally the surrounding area was landscaped. During the next two years our volunteer workers continued to improve the Club’s facilities. A second entry gate and house leading to D wharf was constructed. The balance of the lawn area was regraded and seeded to lawn. During this period a Fire Protection system consisting of mains, stand pipes, hose boxes and fire extinguishers were installed on C wharf. Mains and standpipes were also installed on A & B wharves and initial installation was begun on D wharf. The Electrical system was completed and passed a final inspection. As-built drawings of the entire electrical system were made and are stored on an auto cad disc. At the same time general maintenance was carried on throughout the property. In the fall of 1999 the Cole house was repainted and a contract was let for the repaving of the westerly portion of the parking lot. At the end of 1999 a second repayment of the bond issue was made leaving a balance of only $182,000.00 to be carried into the year 2000.

Between the years 2000 and 2004 a number of changes and improvements have taken place. Repayment of the bonds was completed. The first lady was appointed to the Directorship and the members agreed by vote to construct a new clubhouse. Sadly the Ladies Auxiliary was disbanded and an Auxiliary was formed to include all members. “A” wharf was rebuilt and four double wide boathouses were added replacing old ones. The end of B wharf was rebuilt. The complex was split replacing one half with three double wide boathouses. In all 850 feet of services and wharves were rebuilt on A and B wharves by volunteer members.