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Victoria
—  City  —
City of Victoria
British Columbia Parliament Buildings
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Semper Liber (Latin) (Translation: "Forever free")
Location of Victoria within the Capital Regional District in British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates: 48°25′43″N 123°21′56″W / 48.42861°N 123.36556°W / 48.42861; -123.36556
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Regional District	Capital
Incorporated	1862[1]
Government
- Mayor	Dean Fortin (past mayors)
- Governing body	Victoria City Council
- MP	Denise Savoie
- MLAs	Carole James, Rob Fleming
Area [2]
- City	19.68 km2 (7.6 sq mi)
- Metro	540.4 km2 (208.6 sq mi)
Elevation	23 m (75 ft)
Population (2006)[2]
- City	78,057
- Density	4,196.9/km2 (10,869.9/sq mi)
- Metro	330,088
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
Postal code span	V0S, V8N-V8Z, V9A-V9E
Area code(s)	+1-250 & +1-778
NTS Map	092B06
GNBC Code	JBOBQ
Website	Victoria.ca

Victoria (pronounced /vɪkˈtɔəriə/) is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a major tourism destination seeing more than 3.65 million visitors a year who inject more than one billion dollars into the local economy.^[3] Victoria is a cruise ship port where cruise liners stop at Ogden Point terminal. The city also receives economic benefits from its close proximity to Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, the Canadian military’s main Pacific naval base. Downtown Victoria also serves as Greater Victoria's regional downtown, where many night clubs, theatres, restaurants and pubs are clustered, and where much larger regional public events occur. In particular, Canada Day fireworks displays and Symphony Splash and Victoria Electronic Music Festival concerts draw tens of thousands of Greater Victorians and visitors to the downtown core.

The city has hosted sports events including the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, 2005 Ford World Men's Curling Championship tournament, the 1994 Commonwealth Games, and 2006 Skate Canada. Victoria co-hosted the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup at Royal Athletic Park, and is the venue for the Bastion Square Grand Prix Criterium road cycling race. The city is also a destination for conventions, meetings, and conferences, including a 2007 North Atlantic Treaty Organization military chief of staff meeting. Every year, the Swiftsure International Yacht Race brings boaters from around the world, to participate in the boat race in the waters off of Vancouver Island as well the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival brings over 90 teams from around North America. The Tall Ships Festival brings sailing ships to Victoria for the public to see and feel the sailing way of life in the past and present. For the more adventurous sailors, Victoria also hosts the start of the Vic-Maui Yacht Race, the longest offshore sailboat race on the West Coast.

History

Prior to the arrival of the Captain James Cook in the late 1700s, the Victoria area was home to several communities of Coast Salish peoples, including the Songhees. The Spanish and British took up the exploration of the northwest coast of North America beginning with the visits of Juan Perez in 1774 and of Captain James Cook in 1778 although the Victoria area of the Strait of Juan de Fuca was not penetrated until 1790. Spanish sailors visited Esquimalt Harbour (within the modern Capital Regional District) in 1790, 1791, and 1792.

In 1841 James Douglas was charged with the duty of setting up a trading post on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, upon the recommendation by Sir George Simpson that a second line of forts be built in case Fort Vancouver and the other lower Columbia River valley forts fell into American hands (see Oregon boundary dispute). Charged with this task, Douglas founded Fort Victoria, on the site of present-day Victoria, British Columbia. This proved beneficial when in 1846 the Oregon Treaty was signed, extending the British North America/United States border along the 49th parallel from the Rockies to the Strait of Georgia.

Erected in 1843 as a Hudson's Bay Company trading post on a site originally called Camosun (the native word was "camosack", meaning "rush of water") known briefly as "Forts Albert", the settlement was later christened Fort Victoria, in honour of Queen Victoria.^[4] The Songhees established a village across the harbour from the fort. The Songhees' village was later moved north of Esquimalt. When the crown was established in 1849, a town was laid out on the site and made the capital of the colony. The Chief Factor of the fort, James Douglas was made the second governor of the Vancouver Island Colony (Richard Blanshard was first governor, Arthur Edward Kennedy was third and last governor), and would be the leading figure in the early development of the city until his retirement in 1864.

Wawadit'la, also known as Mungo Martin House, a Kwakwaka'wakw "big house", with heraldic d. Built by Chief Mungo Martin in 1953. Located at Thunderbird Park in Victoria, British Columbia.^[5]

With the discovery of gold on the British Columbia mainland in 1858, Victoria became the port, supply base, and outfitting centre for miners on their way to the Fraser Canyon gold fields, mushrooming from a population of 300 to over 5000 literally within a few days. Victoria was incorporated as a city in 1862. In 1865, Esquimalt was made the North Pacific home of the Royal Navy, and remains Canada's west coast naval base. In 1866 when the island was politically united with the mainland, Victoria remained the capital of the new united colony and became the provincial capital when British Columbia joined the Canadian Confederation in 1871. Memoirs still in print of those early days include those by painter Emily Carr.

In 1886, with the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus on Burrard Inlet, Victoria's position as the commercial centre of British Columbia was irrevocably lost to the City of Vancouver. The city subsequently began cultivating an image of genteel civility within its natural setting, an image aided by the impressions of visitors such as Rudyard Kipling, the opening of the popular Butchart Gardens in 1904 and the construction of the Empress Hotel by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1908. Robert Dunsmuir, a leading industrialist whose interests included coal mines and a railway on Vancouver Island, constructed Craigdarroch Castle in the Rockland area, near the official residence of the province's lieutenant-governor. His son James Dunsmuir became premier and subsequently lieutenant-governor of the province and built his own grand residence at Hatley Park (used for several decades as Royal Roads Military College, now civilian Royal Roads University) in the present City of Colwood.

A real estate and development boom ended just before World War I, leaving Victoria with a large stock of Edwardian public, commercial and residential structures that have greatly contributed to the City's character. A number of municipalities surrounding Victoria were incorporated during this period, including the Township of Esquimalt, the District of Oak Bay, and several municipalities on the Saanich Peninsula. Since World War II the Victoria area has seen relatively steady growth, becoming home to two major universities. Since the 1980s the western suburbs have been incorporated as new municipalities, such as Colwood and Langford.

Greater Victoria periodically experiences calls for the amalgamation of the thirteen municipal governments within the Capital Regional District.^[6] The opponents of amalgamation state that separate governance affords residents a greater deal of local autonomy. The proponents of amalgamation argue that it would reduce duplication of services, while allowing for more efficient use of resources and the ability to better handle broad, regional issues and long-term planning.

Geology

The landscape of Victoria was molded by water in various forms. Pleistocene glaciation put the area under a thick ice cover, the weight of which depressed the land below present sea level. These glaciers also deposited stony sandy loam till. As they retreated, their melt water left thick deposits of sand and gravel. Marine clay settled on what would later become dry land. Post-glacial rebound exposed the present-day terrain to air, raising beach and mud deposits well above sea level. The resulting soils are highly variable in texture, and abrupt textural changes are common. In general, clays are most likely to be encountered in the northern part of town and in depressions. The southern part has coarse-textured subsoils and loamy topsoils. Sandy loams and loamy sands are common in the eastern part adjoining Oak Bay. Victoria's soils are relatively unleached and less acidic than soils elsewhere on the British Columbia coast. Their thick dark topsoils denoted a high level of fertility which made them valuable for farming until urbanization took over.

Climate

Victoria has a temperate climate that is usually described as Oceanic or Marine west coast, with mild, damp winters and relatively dry and mild summers. Like much of the Pacific Northwest, the Koeppen climate classification places it at the northernmost limits of the cool, dry-summer subtropical zone (Csb), or cool-summer Mediterranean climate, due to its usually dry summers.^[7] Other climate classification systems, such as Trewartha, place it firmly in the Oceanic zone (Do).^[8]

Daily temperatures rise above 30°C (86°F) on an average of one or two days per year and fall below -5°C (23°F) on an average of only 2 nights per year. During the winter, the average daily high and low temperatures are 8°C (47°F) and 4°C (39°F), respectively. The summer months are equally mild, with an average high temperature of 20°C (68°F) and low of 11°C (52°F). Victoria does occasionally experience more extreme temperatures. The highest temperature ever recorded in Victoria was 36.1°C (97°F) on July 16, 1941,^[9] while the coldest temperature on record was -16°C (4°F) on December 29, 1968 and January 28, 1950.

Colourful flowers bedeck the genteel "Garden City" downtown

Total annual precipitation is just 608 mm (23.9 in) at the Gonzales weather station in Victoria, contrasted to nearby Seattle, (137 km/85 mi away to the southeast), with 970 mm (38.2 in) of rainfall, or Vancouver, 100 km away, with 1,219 mm (48 in) of rainfall. Perhaps even more dramatic is the difference in rainfalls on Vancouver Island. Port Renfrew, just 80 km from Victoria on the wet southwest coast of Vancouver Island receives 3,671 mm (144.5 in). Even the Victoria Airport, 25 km north of the city, receives about 45 per cent more precipitation than the city proper. One of the most striking features of Victoria's climate is the distinct dry and rainy seasons. Nearly two thirds of the annual precipitation falls during the four wettest months, November to February. Precipitation in December, the wettest month (109 mm/4.3 in) is nearly eight times as high as in July, the driest month (14 mm/0.55 in). During the summer months, Victoria is the driest major city in Canada.

Victoria averages just 26 cm (10.2 in) of snow annually, or about half that of Vancouver. Every few decades, Victoria receives very large snowfalls, including the more than 100 cm (39.4 in) of snow that fell in December 1996. On the other hand, roughly one third of winters will see virtually no snow, with less than 5 cm (1.97 in) falling during the entire season. When snow does fall, it rarely lasts long on the ground. Victoria averages just 2–3 days per year with at least 5 cm (1.97 in) of snow on the ground.

The rain shadow effect also means that Victoria gets more sunshine than surrounding areas. With 2,223 hours of sun annually, Victoria is one of the sunniest places in British Columbia, and gets more sunshine than most other cities in Canada except those in the southern Prairies. The benefits of Victoria's climate are evident through the city's gardens, which are more likely to display drought-tolerant oak trees, eucalyptus, arbutus, and even banana and Palm Tree, than they are likely to feature evergreen conifers, which are typically associated with the coastal Pacific Northwest environment.

Victoria's Harbour with Songhees condominiums in the background

Victoria's equable climate has also added to its reputation as the "City of Gardens". With its mild temperatures and plentiful sunshine, Victoria boasts gardens that are home to many plant species rarely found elsewhere in Canada. Several species of palms, eucalyptus, and even certain varieties of bananas can be seen growing throughout the area's gardens.^{[citation needed]} The city takes pride in the many flowers that bloom during the winter and early spring, including crocuses, daffodils, early-blooming rhododendrons, cherry and plum trees. Every February there is an annual "flower count" in what for the rest of the country and most of the province is still the dead of winter.

Due to its mild climate, Victoria and its surrounding area (southeastern Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, and parts of the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast) is also home to many rare, native plants found nowhere else in Canada, including Quercus garryana (Garry oak), Arctostaphylos columbiana (Hairy manzanita), and Canada's only broad leaf evergreen tree, Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrone). Many of these species exist here at the northern end of their range, and are found as far south as Central and Southern California, and even parts of Mexico.

Neighbourhoods of Victoria

The Empress hotel

The main dome of the British Columbia Legislative Buildings, topped with a gold-covered statue of Captain George Vancouver

The following is a list of neighbourhoods in the City of Victoria, as defined by the city planning department. For a list of neighbourhoods in other area municipalities, see Greater Victoria, or the individual entries for those municipalities.

• Burnside
• Downtown
• Fairfield
• Fernwood
• Gonzales (Foul Bay)
• Gorge/Tillicum
• Harris Green
• Hillside-Quadra
• James Bay
• Jubilee (North/South)
• North Park
• Oaklands
• Rockland
• Victoria West

Other city districts often regarded as neighbourhoods include:

• Chinatown
• Rock Bay
• Oak Bay Border (Foul Bay Road)
• Songhees (part of Vic West)
• Selkirk

The MV Coho coming in to Victoria's inner harbor. The same harbor is the take off and landing point of seaplanes.

Demographics

Population

The population of the City of Victoria was estimated to be 78,659 in 2006.^[11] The Capital Regional District, comprising thirteen municipalities informally referred to as Greater Victoria, has a population of more than 330,000^[12] and is the largest urban area on Vancouver Island.^[13] By population, Greater Victoria is the 15th largest metropolitan area in Canada.

Age distribution

Victoria is well-known for its disproportionately large retiree population. Some 6.4 percent of the population of Victoria and its surrounding area are more than 80 years of age—the highest proportion for any of Canada's metropolitan areas. The city also boasts the country's third-highest concentration of people 65 and older (17.8 per cent), behind only Peterborough, Ontario, and Kelowna, British Columbia.^[14] Retirees throughout Canada are drawn to Victoria's mild climate, beautiful scenery, year-round golf season, and generally easy-going pace of life. Indeed, a historically popular cliché referring to the city was that it is for "the newly wed and nearly dead".

Visible minorities

Note: these categories are those used in the Statistics Canada census.

Economy

The city's chief industries are technology, tourism, education, federal and provincial government administration and services.^{[citation needed]} Other nearby employers include the Canadian Forces (the Township of Esquimalt is the home of the Pacific headquarters of the Canadian Forces Maritime Command), and the University of Victoria (located in the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich) and Camosun College (which have over 33,000 faculty, staff and students combined). Other sectors of the Greater Victoria area economy include: investment and banking, online book publishing, various public and private schools, food products manufacturing, light aircraft manufacturing, technology products, various high tech firms in pharmaceuticals and computers, engineering, architecture and telecommunications.

The Victoria Advanced Technology Council (VIATeC) is an umbrella organization, partnership between industry and education, promoting high tech industry development in the Victoria region.

The May 24, 2007 edition of the Victoria Times-Colonist newspaper reported that for the first time in Victoria history, high technology has overtaken tourism as the top performing economic sector in Greater Victoria. A gala awards event was staged at the Victoria Conference Centre for business executives and companies that achieved excellence in their respective fields.

The Victoria Region was experiencing a booming real estate economy up until late 2007. Its deflating real estate fortunes are attributed in part to the aftermath of the Global financial crisis of 2008. These incidents and other world financial issues are blamed for a potential economic near future recession, where some regions will survive better than others, depending on their policy plans or lack of plans.

Lower interest rates in the spring of 2009 have fueled yet another round of speculative real estate purchases, despite Victoria already ranking as 'Severely Unaffordable' in the "5th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey". Housing experts who don't stand to gain from high real estate prices in Victoria have pointed out that Western Canadian 'bubble' cities will inevitably follow the path that virtually all the other 'Severely Unaffordable'-ranked cities have taken: substantial and long lasting price decreases. Experts assume the likely trigger for the substantial price decrease will be from many home buyers who, having only afforded their purchase due to historically low rates and very low equity requirements, must reset their mortgage payment amount under significantly higher interest rates and tightened lending environments. Experts further point out this scenario has already been played out by virtually all other 'bubble' housing markets in the world so far, with or without American-style mortgages, with disastrous results for the home purchasers and the local economies.

The Port of Victoria consists of three parts, the Outer Harbour, used by deep sea vessels, the Inner and Upper Harbours, used by coastal and industrial traffic. It is protected by a breakwater with deep and wide opening. The port is a working harbour, tourist attraction and cruise destination. Esquimalt is also a well-protected harbour with large graving dock and shipbuilding and repair facilities.^{[citation needed]} In January 2005, a volunteer study by the Victoria Cool-Aid Society found the homeless population to be approximately 700 individuals (although this number has likely grown since then).^[17] This was the first homeless count in the city.^{[citation needed]} In 2006, a Times-Colonist news article estimated the homeless population to have increased by 30% in just a few weeks due to the anticipated tourism boom of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.^[18] In early 2008, an anti-homelessness program based on a successful Italian program was introduced to Victoria. Built on a farm in Central Saanich, the program would typically span two to five years for a homeless person to fully recover. The program boasts a 70 to 80 percent success rate, as opposed to the usual 28 day program with a five to ten percent success rate.^[19]

The homeless survey conducted by the Victoria Cool-Aid Society found 50% of the homeless population identify themselves as being of First Nations origin, and the majority of people living on the streets do not receive income assistance from the government.^[17]

Culture

Totem pole on the inner harbour.

The Victoria Symphony, led by Tania Miller, performs at the Royal Theatre and the Farquhar Auditorium of the University of Victoria from September to May. Every BC Day weekend, the Symphony mounts Symphony Splash, an outdoor event that includes a performance by the orchestra sitting on a barge in Victoria's Inner Harbour. Streets in the local area are closed, as each year approximately 40,000 people attend a variety of concerts and events throughout the day. The event culminates with the Symphony's evening concert, with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture as the grand finale, complete with cannon-fire from Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Gunners from HMCS QUADRA, a pealing carillon and a fireworks display to honour BC Day. Pacific Opera Victoria, Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Canadian Pacific Ballet and Ballet Victoria stage two or three productions each year at the Macpherson or Royal Theatres. The Electronic Music Festival takes place in Centennial Square during the same time period for the BC Day holiday; DJs from various places show off their music skills.

The Bastion Theatre, a professional dramatic company, functioned in Victoria through the 1970s and '80s and performed high quality dramatic productions but ultimately declared bankruptcy in 1988. Reborn as The New Bastion Theatre in 1990 the company struggled for two more years before closing operations in 1992.

The Belfry Theatre started in 1974 as the Springridge Cultural Centre in 1974. The venue was renamed the Belfry Theatre in 1976 as the company began producing its own shows. The Belfry’s mandate is to produce contemporary plays with an emphasis on new Canadian plays.

One of the stone lions that guard the gate at Chinatown in Victoria.

Other regional Theatre venues include: Phoenix Theatre student theatre at the University of Victoria, Kaleidoscope Theatre and Intrepid Theatre, producers of the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival and The Uno Festival of Solo Performance.

The only Canadian Forces Primary Reserve brass/reed band on Vancouver Island is located in Victoria. The 5th (British Columbia) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery Band traces its roots back to 1864, making it the oldest, continually operational military band west of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Its mandate is to support the island's military community by performing at military dinners, parades and ceremonies, and other events. The band performs weekly in August at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site where the Regiment started manning the guns of the fort in 1896, and also performs every year at the Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park.

The current major sporting and entertainment complex, for Victoria and Vancouver Island Region, is the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre arena. It replaced the former Victoria Memorial Arena, which was constructed by efforts of World War II veterans as a monument to fallen comrades. World War I, World War II, Korean War, and other conflict veterans are also commemorated. Fallen Canadian soldiers in past, present, and future wars and/or United Nations, NATO missions are noted, or will be noted by the main lobby monument at the Save On Foods Memorial Centre. The arena is the home of the ECHL (formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League) team, Victoria Salmon Kings, owned by RG Properties Limited, a real estate development firm that built the Victoria Save On Foods Memorial Centre, and Prospera Place Arena in Kelowna.

A number of well-known musicians and bands are from Victoria, including Nelly Furtado, David Foster, The Moffatts , Frog Eyes, Johnny Vallis, Jets Overhead, Bryce Soderberg, Swollen Members, Armchair Cynics, Wolf Parade, The Racoons and Hot Hot Heat. From the film industry, director Atom Egoyan was raised in Victoria. Actors Cameron Bright (Ultraviolet (film), X-Men: The Last Stand, Thank You For Smoking, New Moon) and Ryan Robbins (Stargate Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica, Sanctuary (TV Series)) were born in Victoria.

Attractions

Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria, British Columbia

Part of Victoria's skyline in May 2006 from Thunderbird Park.

Victoria, British Columbia

The Inner Harbour is popular with tourists.

Fisherman's Wharf has a number of houseboats, some of which serve as restaurants.

Beacon Hill Park is the central city's main urban green space. Its area of 75 hectares adjacent to Victoria's southern shore includes numerous playing fields, manicured gardens, exotic species of plants and animals such as wild peacocks, a petting zoo, and views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic mountain range. The sport of cricket has been played in Beacon Hill Park since the mid-nineteenth century.^[20] Each summer, Beacon Hill Park plays host to several outdoor concerts, and the Luminara Community Lantern Festival.^[21]

The extensive system of parks in Victoria also includes a few areas of natural Garry oak meadow habitat, an increasingly scarce ecosystem that once dominated the region.

In the heart of downtown are the British Columbia Legislative Buildings, The Empress Hotel, Victoria Police Department Station Museum, the gothic Christ Church Cathedral, and the Royal British Columbia Museum/IMAX National Geographic Theatre, with large exhibits on local Aboriginal peoples, natural history, and modern history, along with travelling international exhibits. In addition, the heart of downtown also has the Emily Carr House, Royal London Wax Museum, Victoria Bug Zoo, Market Square and the Pacific Undersea Gardens, which showcases marine life of British Columbia. The oldest (and most intact) Chinatown in Canada is located within downtown. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is located close to downtown in the Rockland neighbourhood several city blocks from Craigdarroch Castle built by industrialist James Dunsmuir and Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.

Numerous other buildings of historic importance or interest are also located in central Victoria, including: the 1845 St. Ann's Schoolhouse; the 1852 Helmcken House built for Victoria's first doctor; the 1863 Temple Emanuel, the oldest synagogue in continuous use in Canada; the 1865 Angela College built as Victoria's first Anglican Collegiate School for Girls, now housing retired nuns of the Sisters of St. Ann; the 1871 St. Ann's Academy built as a Catholic school; the 1874 Church of Our Lord, built to house a breakaway congregation from the Anglican Christ Church cathedral; the 1890 St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church; the 1890 Metropolitan Methodist Church (now the Victoria Conservatory of Music), which is publicly open for faculty, student, and guest performances, also acts as Camosun College Music Department; the 1892 St. Andrew's Cathedral; and the 1925 Crystal Gardens, originally a saltwater swimming pool, restored as a conservatory and most recently a tourist attraction called the B.C. Experience, which closed down in 2006. Victoria is also famous for its Capital Iron Building, which is a prime focus in its downtown core.

CFB Esquimalt navy base, in the adjacent municipality of Esquimalt, has a base museum dedicated to naval and military history, located in the Naden part of the base.

North of the city on the Saanich Peninsula is Butchart Gardens, one of the biggest tourist attractions on Vancouver Island, as well as the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, part of the National Research Council of Canada, Victoria Butterfly Gardens and Centre of the Universe planetarium.^[22] Notable museums in Victoria include the Royal British Columbia Museum and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. There are also numerous National Historic Sites in close proximity to Victoria, such as the Fisgard Lighthouse, Craigflower Manor and Schoolhouse, Hatley Castle and Hatley Park and Fort Rodd Hill, which is a coastal artillery fort built in the late 1890s, located west of the city in Colwood. Also located west of the city is Western Speedway, a 4/10th-mile oval vehicular race track and the largest in Western Canada.

Sports

Steve Nash, twice Most Valuable Player in the National Basketball Association, grew up in Victoria. Baseball pitcher Rich Harden of the Chicago Cubs is from Victoria. Olympic Games athletes Silken Laumann, Ryan Cochrane, and Simon Whitfield reside or were born in Victoria.

Victoria was the first city location of the cross Canada 2010 Winter Olympics torch relay that will occur before the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

• The Victoria Cougars are perhaps the most famous sports franchise the city has known, winning the Stanley Cup as members of the PCHA in 1925. The team then moved to Detroit under the name of the Detroit Cougars before the team changed its name to the current Detroit Red Wings of the NHL. Today a Junior 'B' team of that name plays in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. There was also a team called the Victoria Cougars in the Western Hockey League, but they are now the Prince George Cougars.

Notable Sports Teams

College & University Teams

• Victoria Vikes teams of the University of Victoria
• Chargers teams of Camosun College

Defunct teams

• Victoria Capitals (Canadian Baseball League)
• Victoria Cougars (Western Hockey League)
• Victoria Vistas (Canadian Soccer League)

Recreation

Victoria’s climate, location and variety of facilities make it ideal for many recreational activities including hiking, kayaking, golf, water sports, informal team sports and jogging.

Victoria is also known as the Cycling Capital of Canada,^[23] with hundreds of kilometres of bicycle paths, bike lanes and bike routes in the city, including the Galloping Goose Regional Trail. There are mountain biking trails at Mount Work Regional Park, and Victoria is quickly becoming a bike tourism destination.^[24]

Cycling advocacy groups including Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition (GVCC) and the Bike To Work Society have worked to improve Victoria’s cycling infrastructure and facilities, and to make cycling a viable transportation alternative, attracting 5% of commuters in 2005.^[25]

Infrastructure

The Jordan River Diversion Dam is Vancouver Island's main hydroelectric power station. It was built in 1911.^[26]

The city's water is supplied by the Capital Regional District's Water Services Department from its Sooke Lake Reservoir. The lake water is very soft and requires no filtering. It is treated with chlorine, ammonia and ultraviolet light to control micro-organisms.^[27]

The water used to flow through the 44km Sooke Flowline which has now been retired but can still be visited today.

The Hartland landfill is the waste disposal site for Greater Victoria area. Since 1985, it has been run by the Capital Regional District environmental services. It is located on top of a hill, between Victoria and Sidney, at the end of Hartland Avenue.48°32′17″N 123°27′48″W / 48.538148°N 123.463368°W / 48.538148; -123.463368 There is a recycling centre, a sewer solid waste collection, hazardous waste collection, and an electricity generating station. This generating station now creates 1.6 megawatts of electricity, enough for 1,600 homes.^[28] The site has won international environmental awards.^[29] The CRD conducts public tours of the facility. It is predicted to be full by 2045.

Victoria discharges 129 million litres ^[30] of filtered but untreated sewage into the ocean every day. The sewage treatment facilities at Clover and Macaulay points serve most of Victoria. At these facilities, the sewage is screened to exclude objects larger than 6 millimetres prior to release into ocean outfalls.^[31] This procedure is heavily criticized,^[32][33] and the CRD is currently planning the upgrading of wastewater treatment practices.

The Saanich Peninsula wastewater treatment plant serves North Saanich, Central Saanich and the Town of Sidney as well as the Victoria International Airport, the Institute of Ocean Sciences and the Tseycum and Pauquachin First Nations communities. This is a secondary level treatment plant which produces Class A biosolids.^[31]

Transportation

Local public transportation is run by the Victoria Regional Transit System, which is part of BC Transit. In 2000, they introduced double decker buses. Rider fare payments can be made in cash, monthly bus passes, disability yearly passes, or tickets.

Passenger rail service to Victoria is provided by VIA Rail, which operates the Malahat train north, along the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, to the cities of Nanaimo, Courtenay, and points between. There is one daily round trip, departing Victoria in the morning, and returning from Courtenay in the evening.

The Victoria International Airport has non-stop flights to and from Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle and many cities throughout Western Canada. Multiple scheduled helicopter and seaplane flights are available daily from Victoria's Inner Harbour to Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver Harbour, and Seattle. The BC Ferries Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, located 29 kilometres north of Victoria, has hourly sailings to Tsawwassen (a ferry terminal south of Vancouver) and to many of the Gulf Islands. The Washington State Ferry terminal in Sidney provides ferry service to Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, and ultimately Anacortes, Washington. In Victoria's Inner Harbour, an international ferry terminal provides car ferry service (M/V Coho) to Port Angeles, Washington, high-speed catamaran service (Victoria Clipper) to Downtown Seattle, and seasonal passenger ferries to destinations in Washington including Friday Harbor, Port Angeles, and Bellingham. Victoria also serves as the western terminus (Mile Zero) for Canada's Trans-Canada Highway, the longest national highway in the world. The Mile Zero is located in the southern part of the city at the corner of Douglas Street and Dallas Road, where there is a small monument.

Direct flights between Victoria and the San Francisco Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, Silicon Valley) began service on June 5, 2008 (Victoria Times Colonist, February 6, 2008). Trips will be 2 hours instead of the usual 6 hours because there will be no stop overs in Seattle, as with other flights. The service will be operated by United Airlines, using 66 seat Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft. The same newspaper article also mentions the Victoria Airport Authority's plans for further capacity expansions at the Victoria International Airport. These are expected to offer extended economic benefits to the region, especially the Tourism and High Tech industries. West Jet started a direct flight service to Las Vegas, Nevada, three times per week, on September 9, 2008 (Victoria Times Colonist, May 29, 2008).

Bus service between Victoria and Vancouver is run by Pacific Coach Lines. As the service is a cross-water service it is co-ordinated with the BC Ferries schedule. Average travel time between the two cities is 4 hours. Bus service from Victoria to points up island is run by Vancouver Island Coach lines. Both bus services depart from the Victoria bus terminal located at 900 Douglas Street, behind the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Local roadways, although showing signs of increased congestion due to increased population, is relatively easily navigable via most conveyances. The typical passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks are the obvious preferred choices for daily transportation needs within the Greater Victoria area. However, the city boasts an ever-expanding system designed to facilitate "people powered" bicycles and "E-Bikes" via bike lanes on many main roads, as well as the Galloping Goose Regional Trail and Lochside Regional Trail, designed exclusively for foot traffic and cyclists that now pass through many communities, beginning at the downtown core and extending into areas such as Langford, West/Central Sannich and Cordova Bay.

In addition, the compact size of the city lends itself readily to smaller, fuel efficient alternatives to full blown passenger cars, such as scooters, as areas with excessively steep hills, such as one would find in San Francisco, are negligible. Victoria is also in the process of making the use of such methods of transportation more desirable (in a push towards a more "green", eco-friendly environment), by offering incentives to use such modes of transport, such as parking spaces in the downtown core specifically designed for vehicles "3 metres or less" in wheelbase size, thus fostering the desirability for ownership of vehicles such as Smart Cars, motorcycles and small displacement scooters. Generally speaking, one can expect to reach almost any destination within Greater Victoria within a time span of 20 – 30 minutes, dependent on traffic, where you are coming from and going to. Travel time is longer during rush hour times due to large volume of traffic.

Education

Royal Roads University (Hatley Park National Historic Site)

The city of Victoria lies entirely within the Greater Victoria School District. There is one high school located within the city boundaries, Victoria High School, founded in 1876, making it the oldest High School in North America north of San Francisco and west of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Most of the elementary schools in Victoria now offer the popular French immersion programmes in addition to programs in English. The educational needs of the local Francophone community are served by Ecole Victor Brodeur (recently rebuilt to fit "green" standards). In addition, within the city proper there are several smaller schools serving segments of the community such as the Chinese School in Chinatown, St. Andrew's Elementary School or the Anglican School adjacent to Christ Church Cathedral. Numerous other private schools are located in the municipalities adjacent to Victoria, including St. Michael's University School, Glenlyon Norfolk School, St. Patrick's Elementary School, St. Margaret's School (Victoria) and Pacific Christian School.

The Greater Victoria area has three public post secondary educational institutions: University of Victoria (UVic), Camosun College, and Royal Roads University. There is one international school, in Metchosin Municipality, devoted to the ideals of a united world of peaceful cooperation and coexistence, Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific. Pearson College is named after former Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and architect of the United Nations Peace Keeping program. There are also several private vocational and English (ESL) training schools available for people who want to learn the English language or upgrade new job market skills. University Canada West is a private degree granting school headed by former UVic President David Strong. Sprott-Shaw Community College is a private career training institution that has had a campus in Victoria since 1913.

Media

Victoria is the only Canadian provincial capital without a local CBC Television station, owned-and-operated or affiliate, although it does host a small CBC Radio station in the 1000 block of Pandora Avenue. The region is considered to be a part of the Vancouver television market, receiving most stations that broadcast from across the Strait of Georgia, including the CBC, CTV, Citytv, and Global networks. Television stations based in Victoria include CHEK-TV and A (formerly The New VI and A-Channel).

Sister cities

Victoria has four Sister Cities:

• Khabarovsk, Russia
• Napier, New Zealand
• Morioka, Japan
• Suzhou, People's Republic of China

See also

• List of mayors of Victoria, British Columbia
• Canadian cities
• Monarchy in British Columbia

References

External links

• Victoria (official website)
• Tourism Victoria website
• British Colonist newspaper in Victoria, complete text Dec. 1858 to June 1910, searchable
• A History of Victoria 19th century Victoria
• A unique system of networked weather stations covering Victoria
• Victoria (British Columbia) travel guide from Wikitravel

Coordinates: 48°25′20″N 123°21′57″W / 48.422151°N 123.3657°W / 48.422151; -123.3657 (Victoria)

Subdivisions of British Columbia Subdivisions Regions · Regional districts · Forest Regions and Forest Districts · School districts · Land Districts Settlements Municipalities · Cities · Ghost towns Urban centres Vancouver · Victoria · Kelowna · Abbotsford · Kamloops · Nanaimo · Prince George

Provincial and territorial capitals of Canada Victoria, BC · Edmonton, AB · Regina, SK · Winnipeg, MB · Toronto, ON · Quebec City, QC · Fredericton, NB · Halifax, NS · Charlottetown, PE · St. John's, NL · Whitehorse, YT · Yellowknife, NT · Iqaluit, NU

Communities on Vancouver Island     Ahousat • Bamberton • Bamfield • Black Creek • Bowser • Brentwood Bay • Buckley Bay • Campbell River • Cassidy • Cedar • Central Saanich • Chemainus • Clo-oose • Coal Harbour • Cobble Hill • Colwood • Comox • Coombs • Courtenay • Cowichan Bay • Cowichan Station • Crofton • Cumberland • Deep Bay • Duncan • Errington • Esquimalt • Fanny Bay • French Creek • Genoa Bay • Gold River • Harewood • Highlands • Holberg • Honeymoon Bay • Kildonan • Koksilah • Ladysmith • Lake Cowichan • Langford • Lantzville • Malahat • Maple Bay • Merville • Mesachie Lake • Metchosin • Mill Bay • Nanaimo • Nanoose Bay • Nitinat • North Cowichan • North Saanich • Oak Bay • Oceanside • Oyster River • Parksville • Port Alberni • Port Alice • Port Hardy • Port McNeill • Port Renfrew • Qualicum Beach • Quatsino • River Jordan • Royston • Saanich • Saanichton • Saltair • Sayward • Shawnigan Lake • Sidney • Sooke • Tahsis • Telegraph Cove • Tofino • Ucluelet • Union Bay • Greater Victoria • Victoria • View Royal • Westholme • Winter Harbour • Woss • Youbou • Yuquot (Friendly Cove) • Zeballos

From Wikitravel

Butchart Gardens

Victoria [1] is the capital of the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is located near the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It is a medium sized (approx. 350,000 in Greater Victoria, including the Saanich Peninsula) and beautiful city. Nicknamed the Garden City for Butchart Gardens and much greenspace. It is also said to lie within the world's most northern Mediterranean climate at a latitude of 48.5 North.

Get in

By boat

The main way to get to Vancouver Island and Victoria is via BC Ferries, 1-888-223-3779, [2] which operates a ferry from Tsawwassen (south of Vancouver) to Swartz Bay, a half hour drive north of Victoria. Travel costs are currently $45 per regular sized passenger vehicle and $13.50 per adult passenger (12 years and over) one way. Children between the ages of 5 and 11 are $6.75. Children under the age of 5 are free.

Payment can be made by cash or credit card, and debit cards can be used at an automatic ticket terminal for foot passengers, but not on the ferry or at the vehicle toll booths. Service runs on the odd hours between 7AM and 9PM during the winter (with extra sailings at busier times) and every hour during the summer. The ferry ride is 1 hour and 35 minutes. Reservations are not required but recommended during peak travel times, including weekends throughout the summer months. There is a $15 charge for reservations made 7 days in advance; $17.50 if less than 7 days. Vehicles without a reservation sometimes have to show up a few hours before they can actually board (there can be multiple sailing waits during peak travel times), so make sure that you check their website to see what the wait is, and make sure that you allow plenty of time to catch your sailing; as the ferry's capacity is usually limited by the amount of space on the car decks, foot passengers can usually get on if they show up 15-20 minutes before their sailing.

Map of Greater Victoria

Foot passengers can easily take public transit from Vancouver to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal to Victoria:

• From Vancouver International Airport, take the SkyTrain to Bridgeport Station and then change to bus number 620. From other locations in Vancouver, catch bus number 620 from either Bridgeport Station or Ladner Exchange. Bus fare is $3.50 from Vancouver International Airport and $5.00 from Vancouver proper when zone travel is in effect. On evenings after 6:30pm and on weekends and holidays bus fare is $2.50. Exact fare is required. Translink has detailed information about routes and fares.

• From the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, board bus numbers 70, 72 or 73 to travel to downtown Victoria. Bus number 70 is an express bus and still takes about an hour to travel from Swartz Bay to Victoria. Buses 72 and 73 stop in Sidney and Saanichton. Bus fare is $2.25; exact change is required. BC Transit's Victoria Regional Transit provides detailed information about routes and fares.

Other ways to get to Victoria by boat:

• PCL, 1-800-661-1725, [3] offers an express coach service between Vancouver (downtown, Vancouver Int'l Airport, Cruiseship Terminal) and downtown Victoria. This service runs on BC Ferries, and tickets can be purchased onboard for the trip into town. Cost from downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria is approx. $35 one way, or approx. $10 for the trip into town.

• Victoria Clipper, 1-800-888-2535, [4] operates a modern ultra-fast catamaran ferry from downtown Seattle. Fares $US66-80 less for seniors, half price for children. Service is once a day in the winter and up to 3 times a day in the summer. The sailing time is 2.5 hours.

• Victoria Express, +1-250 361-9144, [5] operates a passenger ferry service from Port Angeles, Washington, about 30 kilometres south of Victoria on the Olympic Peninsula. Fares are $US 13.00 per passenger. Service runs from spring to fall only. Travelling time is approximately one hour.

• MV Coho, +1-250 386-2202, [6] is a passenger and vehicle ferry running from Port Angeles, Washington across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Crossing time is 95 minutes, and fares are $US50.00 for car and driver and $13.50 per passenger ($6.75 for children under 11). Service runs all year except for an annual refit, generally while the Victoria Express is in service. In the winter, this ferry runs 2 sailings a day and in the summer up to 4 sailings a day are scheduled.

• Washington State Ferries, +1-206 464-6400, [7] operates a passenger vehicle ferry between Anacortes and Sidney (about half an hour from Victoria) through the San Juan Islands. Passenger or pedestrian fare is US$16 each way, vehicle fare is $42.95 (increases to $53.70 May-October). This service does not operate during the winter season, generally from the second week of January until the end of March.

• Victoria-San Juan cruises, 355 Harris Ave #104, ☎ +1-(360) 738-8099 (tours@whales.com), [8]. daily May 10th - September 28th, Bellingham-Victoria 9:00AM - 12:00PM, Victoria-Bellingham 5:00PM - 8:00PM. Summer daily sailing between Bellingham, WA and Victoria, BC, timed to be a plausible day trip or mini-cruise through the San Juans. Dinner included in the Victoria-Bellingham leg in the evening. Bellingham Terminal is the Alaska Ferry Terminal / Bellingham Cruise Terminal at 355 Harris Avenue #104, Bellingham, WA 98225. The Victoria Terminal is Belleville Terminal at 254 Belleville Street (Inner Harbour). Toll-free phone +1-800-443-4552. USD $129 r/t.  edit

Private Boats at Victoria

Victoria is a popular destination for boaters from the U.S.A. as well as the Vancouver area. The trip is a long one, and can be rough. The leg across the Strait of San Juan de Fuca from Puget Sound is over 50 kilometres, and has frequent gales and small craft warnings.

Because of the trip, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has a "no one turned away policy".

• Victoria Harbour Authority [9]

• Victoria Marina [10]

• Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel and Marina [11]

• Oak Bay Marina While technically not part of Victoria, this incorporated municipality is on the sea to the east. It is a delightful location and an easy bus/taxi/bicycle ride to downtown Victoria.

By cruise ship

Each year, from April through October, over 200 large cruise ships dock at the Ogden Point cruise ship terminal, with berths for three cruise ships and about 2.5 kilometres southwest of the downtown inner harbor, and disembark more than one-third million visitors to the greater Victoria area. Ogden Point is a transit port for cruise ships, typically coming from or going to San Francisco or Seattle, i.e., no cruise ship is home ported at Victoria.

To get to downtown Victoria from Ogden Point, cruise ship visitors have many options: take a pleasant 30-minutes walk through the James Bay residential area (Dallas St. along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, then north on Menzies St.), hop on ($2.25) the public bus #30 or #31 that runs along Dallas St., use the Cruise Victoria shuttle[12] at the terminal, or hail a taxi/limo lined up at the pier.

By bus

Bus companies travel to Victoria from Vancouver (including Vancouver International Airport), Seattle and from other points on Vancouver Island. Buses travelling to Vancouver Island use BC Ferries, so you still get to enjoy the ferry ride. Some bus companies will make announcements on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay ferry inviting foot passengers to purchase bus tickets for the ride into Victoria. This option is faster than the public transit option noted above, but also more expensive.

• Grayline West [13]

• Pacific Coach [14]

• Greyhound [15] Greyhound travels from various points on Vancouver Island to Victoria.

• Tofino Bus [16]

By plane

Victoria International Airport (IATA: YYJ) is located 30 minutes north of Victoria (off the Pat Bay Highway, on the way to the ferry terminal). Multiple flights per hour to and from Vancouver. Also from Seattle by Horizon Air [17] and with lesser frequency direct from San Francisco (United), Calgary (Air Canada and WestJet), Edmonton(Air Canada and WestJet), and Toronto.

Public transit from Victoria International to the city is not that great (routes 79 and 83 go there but infrequently), but the AKAL Airport Shuttle Bus picks you up from the airport and takes you many downtown hotels (tel 1-877-386-2525, [18], 45 minutes one-way, adults $15).

You can also get into Victoria quickly and easily from Vancouver by either helicopter or floatplane. Helicopters into the city operate from Vancouver Harbour or Vancouver International Airport (YVR) by Helijet [19] with prices from $119 each way, this will take you into the center of Victoria. Floatplanes land in Victoria Inner Harbour (YWH), just meters from the Fairmont Empress Hotel and the BC Parliament buildings. Canadian floatplane operators include West Coast Air [20], Harbour Air [21] and Sea To Sky Air [22], all of which operate from Vancouver Harbour, with prices at $99-114 each way. There is a new floatplane terminal in operation just outside the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) with a shuttle service operated by Harbour Air. Harbour Air has also introduced seasonal amphibious service from Langley Municipal Airport to Victoria Inner Harbour. Daily scheduled floatplane service to the Inner Harbour is also available year round from downtown Seattle's Lake Union on Kenmore Air [23]. Fares, which include complimentary shuttle transfers to/from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) range from $108 to $169 each way. Kenmore Air also provides year-round service to the Pat Bay Seaplane Base, just west of Victoria International Airport (YYJ).

Detail of central Victoria

Walking is an easy, free, and fun way to explore the entire downtown area. Make your way from hotel to museum to shops; stop for coffee; stroll along the harborside; grab a pint and some fish-n-chips - take it in!

Buses run by BC Transit [24], 250-382-6161 (automated information line), form the mainstay of Victoria's public transit network. Regular fares are $2.25; those younger than 18 or older than 65 pay $1.40. Children aged 5 and under are free. As of April 1, 2008 the 'zone' system, with higher fares for greater distances, was eliminated. Bus tickets can be purchased in books of ten, and give a slight discount. Day passes are also available; they cost $7 regularly or $5 for youth or seniors. Victoria, along with Kelowna is one of only two cities in North America which use Double Decker buses in their city transit systems.

Biking Victoria is one of the most bike-friendly cities in Canada, which may have something to do with the very mild winters. There are many places to rent bikes. One place is CycleBCRentals [25], located at 747 Douglas St. behind the Empress Hotel & in the summer at 950 Wharf St (1-866-380-2453). Bike rentals start at $6 and they also hire scooters and motorbikes here.

Pedicabs Take a guided tour of Victoria with an expert pedicab tour guide. The Victoria Pedicab Company[26] offers city tours, garden tours, and customized tours.

Peacock, Beacon Hill Children's Farm

• Emily Carr House, 207 Government Street, +1 250 383-5843, [27]. Fee $5, students $3.50, families $15. Emily Carr is one of Canada's greatest and most loved artists. Her house is within walking distance of the Inner Harbour and Beacon Hill Park.
• Inner Harbour In the summertime the Inner Harbour is full of artists, buskers and other entertainers. The music performers are not permitted to stay in one place for very long, so the entertainment is constantly changing. It still may seem too long with some of the Bagpipers. Many find it fascinating to watch the float planes taking off and landing also. In the springtime, the inner harbour is filled up with many beautiful flowers.
• Undersea Gardens, 490 Belleville St (on the inner harbour, across from the Legislature), +1 250 382-5717, [28].
• Royal London Wax Museum, 470 Belleville St, (on the inner harbor, across from the The Legislature), +1 250 388-4461, [29].
• Chinatown, Fisgard St. between Store St. and Government St. The street is decorated with Chinese ornaments including The Gates of Harmonious Interest. There are some great Chinese restaurants, Chinese fruit and vegetable stores, bubble tea and coffee shops and Canada's smallest 'road', Fan Tan Alley!
• Beacon Hill Park, bounded by Dallas Rd on the south, and Douglas St. on the west. The south end is on the waterfront, with walking path and a view of the Olympic Mountains across the straight. Beacon Hill Children's Farm, which features a goat petting area, is located within Beacon Hill Park [30].
• Butchart Gardens, 800 Benvenuto Ave. in Brentwood Bay (at the westernmost point of Keating X Rd, 866-652-4422, [31]. A large garden planted in what was formerly a limestone quarry. Quite remarkable. During the summer they have fireworks set to music and during winter evenings, the gardens are lit up and include displays illustrating the twelve days of Christmas. You can reach Butchart Gardens from Vancouver and Victoria on several bus tours and also by public transit [32] from Victoria or the Swartz Bay ferry terminal.

Rotunda of the Provincial Legislature

• Legislative Buildings, at the Inner Harbour, +1 250 387-3046, [33]. At night it is lit up with 13,000 lights. Free public tours are excellent.
• Miniature World, 649 Humboldt St. (at the back of the Empress Hotel), +1 250 385-9731, [34]. An extensive display of miniature landscapes, cities etc., some rather bizarre or at comically mismatched scales. Includes the world's smallest working saw mill at a scale of 1:12.
• Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Bellville St. (between the Legislature and the Empress hotel, near the Inner Harbour), ☎ +1 250 356-7226, [35]. Daily 9AM–5PM. This tell's BC story, especially from 1850 to 1920. It has amazing exhibits, and is easily worth half a day. There are three permanent galleries: Modern History, story of the European settlement; First Peoples, pre-contact and post-contact; and Natural History, mainly oceans, large animals, and climate. All are explained with phenomenal immersive exhibits. This is one of two museums in Canada holding the 'Royal' designation. $15 adults, discounts for students and seniors, prices vary for special exhibitions.  edit
• IMAX Theatre, 675 Bellville St. (part of the Royal BC Museum), +1 250 953-4629, [36]. A variety of shows on the IMAX screen. $9.75 adult admission, $7.50 for seniors, students and youth, $5 for children. Tickets are not included with regular museum admission but discounted combo tickets are available.
• Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum, 1050 Joan Crescent (in the Rockland area), +1 250 592-5323, [37]. This castle was built in 1890 by a wealthy and powerful Scottish family who at that time owned a quarter of Vancouver Island. Great architecture. About 25 minutes' walk from the downtown core, or else take buses 11 or 14 up Fort St.
• Victoria Bug Zoo, 631 Courtney Street, +1 250 384-2847, [38]. Open daily except Christmas and New Years, 10AM-6PM (extended summer hours). Fee $8 (several discounts). Looking at bugs while on holidays doesn't sound like it'd be appealing, but this is a fantastic little place filled with very knowledgeable and friendly guides, and where else would you get the chance to hold so many crazy creatures?
• Abkhazi Gardens, 1964 Fairfield Road, +1 250 598-8096‎, [39]. Love affairs make great stories, and this one resulted in a great garden. Prince and Princess Abkhazi along with designer John Wade came together and created a garden that took over 40 years to come together on a beautiful property overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains.

Victoria's Inner Harbour Area

• Calendar of Events for Victoria Festivals, Concerts, Sporting events [40]

• Harbour tours Small harbour ferries (about six passengers) provide transport around and a view of the Selkirk Waterway and Inner Harbour.
• Galloping Goose Trail, [41]. A few places rent bikes and this is a great afternoon or day trip. The trail runs on a decomissioned rail bed from downtown to Sooke.
• Whale Watching For those who are a bit more adventurous there are several Whale Watching companies which operate from the inner harbour. Some are located underneath the Tourist Information centre. The companies offer up to three hour trips and have a good success rate at finding one of the three resident pods of Orcas. One such company is Prince of Whales [42], +1 250 383-4884. Prices from $55 per person. Another good one is Ocean Explorations [43], +1 250 383-6722. Another good one that guarantees whale sightings is Eagle Wing Tours Whale Watching [44], +1 800 708-9488.
• Nature! The surrounding Victoria area is also an amazing place to explore if you're more inclined towards natural spots. From the Inner Harbour you can walk in either direction along the water to the very popular local Dallas Road, or you can cross "The Blue Bridge" and end up on the Westsong Walkway into Esquimalt. Both have beautiful views of the Inner Harbour and even Port Angeles across the water. If you're feeling more energetic check out some of the attractive parks in Victoria's neighbouring towns including Oak Bay, Saanich, Langford, Sooke and Sidney.
• Wine tasting There are five wineries within a 45-minute drive of Victoria, on the Saanich Peninsula, including some estate wineries. These wineries have a wide range of wines including those made from their own grapes, grapes grown elsewhere and fruit wines. Crush Wine Tours [45], +1 250 888-5748, offers a three-hour tour visiting three of the wineries, guided by a friendly and well informed guide.

Learn

There are many different schools in Victoria including ESL & Language schools, films school, art school, private colleges and so on.

The biggest school is the publicly funded University of Victoria[46]. Located on a hill within a short walk from the ocean, UVic prides itself on its beautiful campus with tree-lined paths, large gardens, lush green grass and a large fountain.

The school is on the smaller side, with the whole campus located inside a circular road known as Ring Road. You can walk from one end of campus to the other in 15 minutes – and that is if you walk slowly. UVic is home to many international students and just completed several new residence buildings for those who wish to live on campus. Many different programs are offered, but the school is known for its Earth Science, environmental law and fine arts departments, among others. The campus community is very earth friendly – as is the city of Victoria itself – and is a good place to catch cheap theatre, free lectures and small music, art or film festivals.

Other options:

• Camosun College, 3100 Foul Bay Rd, ☎ +1-250-370-3000 (info@camosun.bc.ca), [47]. A major community college in Victoria. It focusses on students who are getting started on a university degree, gaining hands-on experience, developing technological skills, or upgrading education credentials. There are two campuses: Lansdowne campus listed here, and Interurban campus at 4461 Interurban Rd. Toll free phone: +1–877–554–7555.  edit

Buy

Victoria is full of little shops tucked away in every nook and cranny in the centre. Souvenir shops are all around the Inner Harbour. Although people generally think Victoria is a tourist destination only, there are more than just tourist shops.

• Americans so inclined may want to take the opportunity to pick up a Cuban Cigar or two. Just don't expect to be able to bring any back with you through Customs.
• Government Street, from the Inner Harbour up to Chinatown, is the biggest (and rather touristy) shopping drag. The best way to go is just to wander the streets but make sure you check out some little gems like Market Square, at the bottom of Johnson St. In the summertime there's live music here.
• Fort Street is otherwise known as Antique Row. From Blanshard to Cook Streets, Fort Street is lined with small antique shops and auction houses.
• The Inner Harbour has artisans selling their crafts during the summer (and part of spring and fall as well sometimes), and Bastion Square (off of Government Street) often has a summer craft market as well.
• LoJo or Lower Johnson Street has several higher-end fashion boutiques like Rebel Rebel. (www.rebelrebelfashion.com)It's a good place to find local and international designer clothes.

Eat

Victoria has the second-highest number of restaurants per capita of all North American cities! The waterfront tourist area is home to a wide variety of restaurants and eateries, including several English-style pubs. Try the fish and chips or shepherds pie for a taste of England in Canada. For a more eclectic Victoria experience, check out the classy restaurants that surround Chinatown, offering interesting west-coast fusion and asian dishes.

• Ocean Island Cafe, 791 Pandora, ☎ (250)385-1784, [48]. 5:30 PM - 12:00 AM. Located inside Ocean Island Backpackers Inn, it's priced for backpackers and probably the cheapest place in town to eat (all meals are $5.50 and discounted to $4 after 10PM) and one of the cheapest for drinks. The clientele is a mix of travelers, local downtown dwellers in the know, and bohemian/student types. They have live music several nights a week and their Wednesday Open Mic is a Victoria institution. $.  edit

• Bent Mast Pub and Restaurant, 512 Simcoe St. in James Bay, +1 250 383-6000. A great place to drink, eat, make friends, and have fun. Talk to Jerry, the owner, for a bit of the history of this old Victorian house and invite your friends!
• Irish Times, 1200 Government St, +1 250 383-7775, [49]. Wonderful pub meals, good beer, and lots of seating.
• Spinnakers Brewpub, 308 Catherine St, +1 250 386-2739, [50] Within walking distance of downtown. A great place to go for a drink or a meal. Pub: 7 days a week, 11AM-11PM. Restaurant: 7AM-10:30PM. There is a restaurant on the main floor, and a brewpub upstairs. Great atmosphere and a nice view of the inner harbour, especially in the evening. A variety of in-house brews, as well as whatever else you want to drink.
• Swan's Restaurant and Hotel, +1 250 361-3310, [51] Swan's brews their own beer and feature live music every night of the week.

• Blue Crab Bar & Grill, 146 Kingston St, in The Coast Harbourside Hotel & Marina, 480-1999 [52] Beautiful harbor-view dining with elegant atmosphere.
• Chandlers Seafood House, 1250 Wharf St., +1 250 385-3474. A lovely seafood restaurant located in downtown Victoria. Voted best local seafood restaurant many times. Intimate food at reasonable prices. Great selection for all courses. Reservations recommended.
• Fairfield Fish and Chips, 1277 Fairfield Road, +1 250 380-6880,[53]. They are closed Sunday and Monday and most holidays. Get your chips to go and take them 4 blocks down to the waterfront and enjoy the view of Juan De Fuca Strait. They do an especially light and fluffy batter.
• Ferris' Oyster Bar & Grill, 536 Yates St, +1 250 360-1824.[54]. A large menu and classy atmosphere, perfect for first dates or nights out with friends. Even the burgers are good.
• John's Place, 723 Pandora Ave, 1-250-389-0711, [55]. A local favourite with some of the best staff in town and excellent food at decent prices. Brunch for two is about $27.50 including tax and tip. The Eggs Benedict with hollandaise sauce is to die for (10 varieties, $8.95-10.95)! Great place for Saturday or Sunday brunch. Comfortable, casual family & friends atmosphere. Open 364 days/year, M-Th 7AM-9PM, F 7AM-10PM, Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 8AM-9PM.
• Shine Cafe, 1458 Fort St. A very popular brunch spot located at Oak Bay Corners (Fort and Pandora), outside of downtown. A particularly interesting dish they make is Scottish breakfast with black pudding and potato scones. Expect a long wait after 11AM on weekends.

• Brasserie L'ecole, 1715 Government St, +1 250 475-6260. Open Tuesday through Saturday 5:30PM-11PM. A highly-acclaimed fine dining destination with the atmosphere of a classy but comfy Parisian restaurant. Probably the best food in Victoria.
• Cafe Brio Restaurant 944 Fort St, Victoria - Cafe Brio is open seven nights a week for dinner from 5:30PM - Advance reservations are highly recommended; phone +1 250 383-0009 or Toll-Free at 1-866-270-5461 [56] "Cafe Brio, the hottest restaurant in Victoria, is a destination for serious diners from all over the U.S. and Canada." writes Northwest Palate Magazine.
• Il Terrazzo Ristorante, 555 Johnson St, Off Waddington Alley.[57] Great Italian in a charming patio atmosphere.
• Oh Gelato! Italian Ice Cream, 1013 Government Street. 66 flavours of beautifully-presented gelatos, garnished with bits of fruit or chocolate to illustrate their flavour, at $5.25 for a two-scoop cup. Also snacks and Canadian food souvenirs. Worth a stop to photograph the gelato.
• Pagliaccis, 1011 Broad St, +1 250 386-1662. One of the most popular Italian restaurants in town. Intimate settings and addictively scrumptious endless free bread. Always a good experience.
• Rathskeller Schnitzel House, A taste of Bavaria, best German food and beer in town; authentic interior and atmosphere! Live accordion music most nights. [58]

• Rebar Modern Food, 50 Bastion Square, +1 250 361-9223. M-W 8:30AM-9:00PM, Th-Sa 8:30AM-10:00PM, Su 8:30AM-3:30PM (brunch). A vegetarian restaurant with a diverse modern menu, and a nice location. Lunch for under $10 per person, dinner for under $15.
• The Mint, 1414 Douglas Street, between Pandora and Johnson, 386-6468 & 361-9223. Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine in a swanky atmosphere, DJs included. A popular spot for students.
• The Noodle Box, 626 Fisgard St., +1 250 360-1312, and 818 Douglas St., +1 250 384-1314, [59]. Hours M-Sa 11AM-9PM, Su noon-8PM. Another very popular spot for locals. Serves southeast Asian food fresh and in a takeaway box. Wait times vary depending on the time of day (for example, 20-25 minutes during lunch hour rush), but the meal is worth it. Minimize the wait by phoning in your order in advance. The boxes look deceptively small, but they make a very filling meal.
• Mole, 554 Pandora, between Government and Wharf, +1 250 385-6653. A trendy (yet affordable!) new restaurant serving fusion breakfast, lunches and dinners.

• Afternoon Tea, at the Empress Hotel (see under "Lodging"). This is quintessentially Victoria or unbearably kitsch, depending on your taste. Afternoon Tea, served from 12 noon on, includes fine teas, fruit with cream, and elegant petite sandwiches. Altogether it is a full meal. Price changes with the season, from $48 per person in summer to $38 in the winter. West Coast Tea, served Thursday-Saturday from 7:00PM on during the summer only, builds on the concept but is designed for cruise ship visitors. $42 per person. Reservations required, and should be made 1-2 weeks in advance at (250) 389-2727. Dress-code is "smart casual": dresses and ties not required, but avoid tank tops and flip-flops. See also [60].

• Green Cuisine, #5-560 Johnson St., in the Market Square centre, tel +1 250 385-1809, [61]. Vegetarian Restaurant offers a buffet of 100% vegan dishes. $1.75 per 100g, with fruit drinks and soy milk shakes about $4 on top of that. A generous meal for two was under $30. Open 10-20h daily in the summer, Mon-Sat 10-20h and Sun 10-17h in the winter.

Drink

Because Victoria’s downtown is fairly small, most of the nightlife is located within walking distance. Cabs aren’t too expensive and there isn’t too far to go to get from point A to B. Victoria's police force has an aggressive crackdown on drinking and driving, so take a cab, all you have to do is stumble to Douglas and eventually you will grab one before someone else. But if it’s a “special” night like Halloween or New Year’s Eve, expect a bit of a wait. Compared to clubs in larger cities, cover in Victoria is cheap, ranging from $3 to $10. Fridays and Saturdays: expect to pay $7 to get in the door and another $2 to check your coat. Compared to larger cities, Victoria's liquor is pretty pricey. There is a law in Victoria that requires all drinks to cost $3 at minimum for a serving of alcohol. Expect to pay at least $3 but most likely more for each drink. Beers and shots are about $5. Most bars have cash machines inside, and accept only cash as payment.

• Lucky Bar 517 Yates. A bit small, but not nearly as costly as others. Wednesday night is Mod Night so dress in your hipster finest. Thursday night's "Hang The DJ" is probably the most tasteful music in the city, and the music-snob crowd reflects that. The crowd is a mix of straight and queer. Monday night is 90210 so dress to impress and get down there early.
• Red Jacket View St. (at Blanchard). This opulent nightclub is frequented by a posh crowd looking to see and be seen. The crowd tends to be a bit more ethnically diverse. The bar itself is large (when both sides are open) and features a bright fish tank that is very cool when you’re drunk. When this club is popular, usually Thursdays, expect to wait in line unless you come early or know the right people. Mondays are the hipster night - complete with DSLR photographers and enough electro and mash ups to choke a portland donkey.
• For a slightly older crowd, head to Upstairs Cabaret (in Bastion square). Above the popular pub Darcy’s, the place gets busy on Saturday after the pub crowd are kicked out at 1AM when the (awesome) rock cover band finishes. Upstairs is a good size and plays a wide variety of music. The staff often ignores all patrons but their friends but with a bit of persistence you’ll get a drink.
• The younger crowd tends to head to Plan B. Its a younger crowd so if you are into that head here for an awesome time. They play a good mix of top 40 and house music. Lots of parties are thrown here and there is a large UVIC crowd who goes here on weekends. How can you go wrong with stripper poles and cages?
• One of the most popular spots WAS Legends (on Douglas). As of August 17th 2007 they are undergoing renovations and will likely reopen with a new name (probably Element) and new look.
• For rock and 80s fans, go to Evolution at 502 Discovery. They play classic and modern rock and that’s it. 80’s night on Wednesday’s is especially popular and the drinks tend to be a bit cheaper. The crowd is really mixed and rowdy.
• If you want a club that's open six nights a week and has a different theme every night then stop at The Boom Boom Room. This place is Victoria's only hip hop nightclub but does play to requests. On your way, see if you can score free passes from somebody handing them out usually on the corner of Government and Yates.
• Victoria's gay crowd, although usually more comfortable at Lucky or Hush, will occasionally show their support and hang out at Prism the “official” gay bar on Johnson St. The music is pumping and special drag shows or karaoke contests are often. Straight people are welcome…sort of…if they are willing to have a little fun anyway. This place is also home to the only good Karaoke night in town.
• Another “sort-of” gay bar is Hush. The music is almost purely pounding trance and other dance music genres and anyone is welcome. The bar is fairly small but you can find it on Government St. This is basically where everybody went after the City of Victoria completely destroyed the awesome rave scene that used to happen here.

• Ocean Island Backpacker's Inn & Café, 791 Pandora Ave. (in downtown core, corner of Pandora & Blanshard), +1 250 385-1788 or 1 888 888-4180, info@oceanisland.com, [62]. Open 24/7. Shared hostel-style rooms (4-6 people in a room) $19-$27/night; Private hotel-style rooms $28-$78/night. Weekly and biweekly rates available. There are also discounted monthly rates from October to May. Accommodations are comfortable and this place definitely has character (and an all-ages licensed café). Lots of rooms info and online booking on their website. They also have summer daytrips and an online guide to Victoria & BC with backpackers in mind. Cheapest budget hotel downtown, free wireless internet in every room, and an internet café with computers that even have Skype.
• Travellers' Inn, 1-888-872-8355, [63] A chain of nine budget hotels in the Victoria area. The one closest to the inner harbour is Travellers' Inn - Downtown at 1850 Douglas St. $50-100.
• Blue Ridge Inns, 3110 Douglas Street, Toll Free: 1-800-997-6797, Phone: +1 250 388-4345, Fax: +1 250 388-7613, Email: stay@blueridgeinn.ca.[64] Pretty wide range of pricing, from $70 a night for a single bed to $500+ a week for deluxe cabins. Quaint rooms, but they have coffee makers, and you can request rooms with microwaves and fridges.
• UVic Housing, University of Victoria, +1 250 721-8395, [65] Accommodation is available at Craigdarroch House for $60 (including cafeteria breakfast). Most suitable for those visiting the University. In the summer the University dorm rooms are available for $44-55 , or a 4 bedroom unit in the cluster housing for $160.
• The Turtle Refuge, 1608 Quadra St, Phone: +1 250 386-4471, Fax: +1 250 386-4471, Email: info@turtlerefuge.com.[66] Open 24/7, rates run from $14 for a dorm bed a night to $35 singles. Free coffee every morning, linens are provided, free wireless internet, Laundry facilities, etc. Pretty standard, located in a very small house just outside of downtown (about a five minute walk). If you are looking for a cheap and fun place to crash, this is about as good as you can get.
• HI-Victoria Hostel, 516 Yates Street, ☎ +1 250 385-4511 (toll free: +1 888 883-0099, fax: +1 250 385-3232), [67]. checkin: Noon; checkout: 11AM. A bit institutional, but a good location otherwise. 24 or 44 people in a dorm. Private rooms also available. Internet access, free wifi, laundry, luggage storage, and lockers offered. Dorms start at $20 for members, $24 for non members. Private rooms start at $57.75 for members, $65.75 for non-members.  edit
• Urban camping. There is a large homeless population in Victoria, so it is not surprising to see people sleeping in public parks; a recent bylaw change allowed homeless people to camp in most city parks between 9pm and 7am. Although safety is a concern, it is doable.

• Best Western Carlton Plaza (Best Western Carlton Plaza), 642 Johnson St, ☎ 1-800-663-7241, [68]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 11AM. 3-star hotel located right in the heart of downtown and Victoria's shopping district featuring free internet and complimentary bicyle rental. $89-$179. (48.453343,-123.434143) edit

• Birds of a Feather (Birds of a Feather Victoria Bed and Breakfast), 206 Portsmouth Dr, ☎ (800) 730-4790, [69]. Victoria Bed and Breakfast Waterfront Accommodation with free parking. "Affordable" luxury accommodations. $140+. (48.453343,-123.434143) edit

• Ambrosia Victoria Historic B&B (Ambrosia Victoria Bed and Breakfast), 522 Quadra Street, ☎ 1.877.262.7672, [70]. Ambrosia Victoria bed and breakfast is a historic 1897 heritage home offering the luxury accommodations romance and relaxation in downtown Victoria BC. $125-$255. (48.418107,-123.36168) edit

• Fairholme Manor B&B (Fairholme Manor Victoria Bed and Breakfast), 638 Rockland Place, ☎ 1-877-511-3322, [71]. Fairholme Manor Victoria Bed and Breakfast BC accommodation is a Victorian mansion in downtown Victoria on Vancouver Island British Columbia Canada. $145-$325. (48.420258,-123.337926) edit

• The Embassy Inn, 520 Menzies St. (Next to the Parliament Buildings), +1 250 382-8161 or +1 800 268-8161, [72] - Victoria's most affordable inner harbour hotel, offering a wide variety of rooms and suites available at your request. Free parking and wireless internet included in your booking. Rates starting at just $89 plus taxes.

• Abbeylee Guesthouse, 255 Government St, ☎ +1-888-831-5660 (US & Canada toll-free) (info@abbeylee.com, fax: ''+1 250'' 389-2857), [73]. A quiet elegant 1892 Victorian gingerbread masterpiece in historical James Bay, 3 doors away from the Emily Carr house. Antiques and modern comforts, gourmet breakfasts and within minutes walking to from the Inner Harbour, US Ferries, the ocean, Beacon Hill park and all downtown attractions. Canada Select 4 stars. Alternate tel +1-250-370-1469. skype: abbeyleeryan. $79-$199/night.  edit

• The Polo Pacific suite, 415 Quebec St, ☎ +1-888-831-5660 (US & Canada toll-free) (info@abbeylee.com, fax: ''+1 250'' 389-2857), [74]. A 2BR, 2-bath condo operated by Abbeylee Guesthouse, but at a separate location just off the inner harbour. Available for monthly rental. Alternate tel +1 250 370-1469. $2700/month.  edit

• Dashwood Manor Bed and Breakfast, 1 Cook Street, 1-800-667-5517, (Email: stay@dashwoodmanor.com), [75] Dashwood Manor is Victoria’s only seaside heritage B&B in walking distance to downtown. Beside historic Beacon Hill Park, a few, short blocks from the eclectic Cook Street Village and within easy walking distance to Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Eleven sparkling ocean view guest rooms, some with fireplaces and double Jacuzzis. Full breakfast. Free off-street parking. The style and elegance of an old-world and gracious home. Monthly and weekly rates available. Canada Select 4 Star

• Gazebo Bed and Breakfast, 5460 Old West Saanich Road, 1-877-211-2387. ("email=stay@gazebo-victoria.com")[76] Country manor house near the Butchart Gardens. Quiet central location with secluded cottage and elegant rooms. Canada Select 5 Stars at 4 Star prices. $145-210.

• Victoria Harborwalk Bed & Breakfast Suite, 427 Heather St, +1 250 294-9985.[77] A popular private character suite in James Bay just behind the Legislative Buildings and the Royal BC Museum. A terrific location. $108-148.

• Ocean Island Suites, 143 Government St., +1 250 385-1788, or 1-888-888-4180, info@oceanisland.com.[78] Individually designed and decorated bright character suites at fantastic daily/weekly/monthly rates. In quiet and historic James Bay, one block from Beacon Hill Park, three blocks from ocean bluffs and beaches and five blocks from downtown. Fully-equipped kitchens, queen sized beds, spacious garden/deck, private entrance, TV/DVD, laundry facilities, free parking, free wireless internet. For prices/photos/details, see website or call. Starts at $95/night.

• Queen Victoria Hotel, 655 Douglas. Right on the edge of Downtown Victoria and James Bay. [79] An ideal location. $100-200.

• Ramada Huntingdon Hotel & Suites, 330 Quebec St, 1-800-663-7557.[80] Good location on the south side of the Inner Harbour. Slightly faded rooms with British character. $100-250.

• Dalton Hotel and Suites in Victoria, BC, 759 Yates Street, +1 250 384-4136.[81] A Victoria, British Columbia hotel offering the best in elegant comfort. The management and staff of the Dalton are committed to ensuring your visit to Victoria is relaxing, satisfying and memorable. $120-199.

• Howard Johnson Hotel & Suites, 4670 Elk Lake Drive, +1 250 704-4656.[82] Clean, comfortable rooms. Easy access to lots of Victoria attractions $109-248.

• City Life Suites, Victoria, 751 Fairfield Road/524 Yates Street/724 Cormorant Street, ☎ +1 250 360-0774, [83]. checkin: 4 p.m.; checkout: 11 a.m.. Four, self-catering, fully furnished short or long-term rentals in downtown Victoria. All are close to shopping, restaurants, tourism activities. $110-165..  edit

Fairmont Empress Hotel

• The Magnolia Hotel & Spa, 623 Courtney Street, +1 877 624-6654 .[84] The Magnolia is a boutique hotel, infused with European elegance. The Magnolia Hotel & Spa has been repeatedly recognized by Condé Nast readers as one of the top ten hotels in Canada. It is conveniently located just steps from the Inner Harbour, great shopping, and most of the cultural attractions in the city. $149-$499.

• Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour, 728 Humboldt Street, +1 250 480-3800.[85] A newer building located half a block away from Victoria's tourism heart. $150-$500.

• Laurel Point Inn, 680 Montreal St. (short walk from Inner Harbour past the Coho Terminal), +1 250 386-8721, [86] A nice hotel with a subtle oriental feel to it. All rooms have a view over the harbour area. Free taxi vouchers sufficient to get you to The Bay shopping centre are a nice touch. $250-450.

• The Empress Hotel, 721 Government St. (on the inner harbour, near the Legislature & Royal BC Museum), +1 250 384-8111, theempress@fairmont.com, [87] Victoria's grand old hotel and most famous luxury hotel, designed in the same Edwardian-style as many former Canadian Pacific Hotels such as Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. $350-500.

• Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe, 45 Songhees Rd. (ideally located in the heart of the city, on the waterfront of Victoria's charming Inner Harbor.), +1 800 667-4677, [88] A nice hotel, with charming staff and a slightly modern feel to it. Beautiful harbor views and lovely harbor-side dining. $130-$350 (CD).

Stay safe

There is a drug presence among people living on the streets and in the bars. This means that panhandling can be a problem. Panhandlers are aggressive despite laws against this behaviour. Avoid Pandora Street between Cook and Quadra as this where a huge majority hang out and it is not safe. Do not walk around parks and grassy areas in sandals or bare feet as there are many needles discarded in these areas, city workers are quick to clean them up but it is always a good idea to be precautious in these areas. However there is a strong police presence on downtown streets during the summer, especially on weekends at night. This problem is generally confined to the tourist area bounded by Blanshard Street.

Because all the bars and clubs are very close together, many drunken people spill into the streets at 2 AM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night and are in fact more dangerous than the street people. The police usually break things up before they get out of hand but if you are out and about at this time (or have your downtown hotel room window open) be prepared to deal with all that drunken idiots have to offer such as public urination, shouting, and the occasional rude comment.

Contact

Area code for Victoria, as with all of British Columbia outside Vancouver, is 250. Recently, the area code 778 was extended to cover the entire province of British Columbia as well. This means that numbers dialed within Victoria would need either one or the other of the two area codes [89].

Get out

Victoria is only a starting place to explore Vancouver Island by bus, car or bike.

Five hours by car to the west, Tofino is famous for its surfing and nature. The small town of Comox and its neighbour Courtney are cozy and full of beautiful beaches. Head to Shawinigan Lake for a really small town and hit the lake in a canoe or the trails by foot. Nearby Hornby, Denman and Salt Spring Island each have a distinct vibe and are worth the visit just to check out something a little different. There is a lot of hiking, biking and camping. And of course for the more city-loving folk ferries from Victoria take you to bustling Vancouver or Seattle.

Hitchhiking is relatively common on Vancouver Island and may be useful for getting around.

Vancouver ← Langford ←	N  S	→ END
Vancouver (via ) ← Saanich ←	N  S	→ END