Lighthouses

Victoria, being an island city, offers many opportunities for lighthouses.

Some, like the Fisgard lighthouse, provide guidance for ships passing in the Georgia Strait:Others simply offer guidance to passing ducks:While many only offer guidance to passersby:Or guidance as to the preferred brand:

The Victoria Classic Boat Festival

Classic boats from all over the west coast and as far away as Hawaii come to Victoria's inner harbour each Labour Day weekend to be admired by the enthusiastic crowds.
You could even get your photo taken with a living statue of sharpshooter Annie Oakley.

Thar she blows!

Depending on who you speak to this is either a rare, or common, occurrence - Grey whales in Ross Bay.Once spotted the call goes in to the local radio stations which broadcast the news that attracts a flotilla of whale watching tourist laden craft to the spot. You've got to be quick though. These whales break water for just a brief moment and reveal just a small part of their back as they blast a spray of foggy breath.
Click on image to embiggen.

Victoria is a government city

Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is a government city. Hence it is home to various government ministries. Ministries such as the:
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Casual LivingMinistry of Casual Living?

Actually, the Ministry of Casual Living is a window gallery mystery box located in the city's Fernwood neighbourhood. It is a volunteer and artist run group that has been in existence for eight years. They've displayed works by everyone from utter crazies to people you could safely give your last ten bucks to.
More information about the Ministry is available by clicking HERE

A chapel surrounded

Gifted to the Royal Jubilee Hospital in 1909, the Pemberton Memorial Chapel has become completely surrounded by the hospital complex. In 1972 the City of Victoria designated the Chapel a heritage building and was carefully restored as a multi-faith sanctuary for patients, their families, staff members, and the community 24 hours a day.

St-Jean-Baptiste Day in Willows Beach Oak Bay

Something we had not realized until we moved to Victoria was how strong the French Canadian presence is despite making up just 2% of BC's population. Today was St-Jean-Baptiste Day in Willows Beach Oak Bay. Every year, on the 24th of June, all Québécois get together with friends and family to celebrate their National Holiday; la Saint-Jean-Baptiste. It is a privileged moment to celebrate their identity, pride of what they were, are, and dream of becoming.

Beachcombing in Ross Bay

Ross Bay Cemetery's south side faces Ross Bay on the Pacific Ocean. When the tide is high, winter winds would blow waves into the cemetery causing severe erosion. In order to absorb the energy of the waves and reduce the damage they cause, the city dumped tones of pebbles on the beach just a few years ago. However, the relentless waves now push the pebbles ever higher on the beach towards Dallas Road posing a danger to passing traffic. As a result the city engineers have decided to comb the beach with an excavator to smooth out the pebbles and push them back towards the water line.The excavator is also used to move wayward logs to help form a barrier along the shingle beach.

Cause to pause - The Gulf oil disaster brought home

The continually updated website at http://www.ifitwasmyhome.com/ enables you to center the impact of the current BP oil disaster anywhere on the globe. Particularly frightening when centered on your home town.

Goofy cars

Victoria is the only city where we've seen these vehicles en masse. In fact, I don't think we've seen them in any other part of the country. The micro trucks are known as "Kei Trucks" and are imported from Japan. Some brands include Daihatsu Hi-jet, Honda Acty, Mazda Scrum, Mitsubishi Minicab, and Subaru Sambar.
Developed in the 1960s, they are all right-hand drive and feature 660cc water-cooled gasoline engines. Owners will very often go to great lengths to personalize their trucks with elaborate paint schemes.

The stone village

On the corner of Quamichan St. and Foul Bay Rd., hidden under the branches of some mature fir trees, lies this little model of a sleepy village complete with castle, Grecian inspired temple and defensive tower.

The sign toppers of Clare Street

They do add a whimsical touch to this very neighbourly street.

A skater wedding on our street

They just liked our street.

Clearing the beach wood

Gonzales Bay is home to Victoria's only sandy beach and as result is a very popular destination for young folks on their summer holiday break. In order to discourage beach fires, which can be dangerous, city staff, for the first time, are clearing the beach of small branches and logs that could be used to build a bonfire.

The naming of houses

One delightful custom seen in some of the older and posher neighbourhoods is the tradition of naming the house. It seems that in the 1930s the most popular names were of Scottish origin and were proudly cut into the stonework at the entrance gate to the home - which in some cases is no longer there or replaced by a more humble dwelling."Locharkaig"
"Knockcool"
"Rappahannock"
"Ashton"
"Cavignol"
"Clenlyon"
"Gisburn"
"Illahie"
"Tancred"
"Gonzales"
"Tredinnock"
"Wilmar"