Carrying the last name ‘Sluggett’ comes with a rich cultural heritage in Brentwood Bay.
With a legacy stretching back 150 years, more than 100 family members gathered in HEL,HILEC/ Pioneer Park on July 13 to mark the anniversary of their family’s arrival and to celebrate their long history and deep roots in the community.
Cousins Anne Henderson and Larry Sluggett, descendants of the area’s first settlers, shared the story of their family’s arrival in the small Saanich Peninsula community.
In the early 1870s, John and Fanny Sluggett, both born in Devon, England, were looking to escape the harsh weather of Bruce County, Ont.
After giving it some thought, John decided to head west to see if a new life awaited them on the other side of the country, thousands of kilometres away.
“He was very involved with the Baptist church and his minister told him, ‘Have you ever thought about the West Coast?'” said Larry. “On his own, he travelled from Ontario out here, via the U.S. railroad.
“The story I’ve always been told is that he found (Brentwood Bay) was so beautiful that he had to move.”
Shortly thereafter, John moved back to Ontario and helped his family of seven move to the Peninsula community in 1875.
Over the years, the Sluggetts bought acre after acre of land, eventually amassing nearly 1,200 acres, stretching from today’s Brentwood Bay ferry terminal in the north to Butchart Gardens in the south.
A farmer, politician, and community advocate among other things, John Sluggett wore many hats and left an indelible mark on the community he helped create.
After his death in 1909, John Sluggett’s legacy was carried on by his descendants. From donating land to building a school and community hall, and serving as a philanthropic force during the Great Depression, the Sluggett family’s roots run deep in the Peninsula.
Fast forward to 2025, the family now counts nearly 200 members, according to Henderson. On July 13, more than 100 relatives of all ages gathered to reconnect, share a meal, and reflect on what it means to be a Sluggett.
“It's just really nice to get the family together,” said Larry. “The Sluggett family has been community-minded, helping schools, churches, and sports, and so that's really what it's about.”
