City of Victoria

Chamber of Commerce

Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, making it the seat of the provincial Crown.

 

Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a global tourism destination seeing more than 3.65 million visitors a year who inject more than one billion dollars into the local economy.

 

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.

 

Located on the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island, overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the City of Victoria has a population of approximately 78,659.

 

The Capital Regional District, comprising thirteen municipalities informally referred to as Greater Victoria, has a population of more than 345,000 and is the largest urban area on Vancouver Island. By population, Greater Victoria is the 15th largest city metropolitan area in Canada.

 

 

 

 

Victoria has a temperate climate that is usually classified as Marine west coast, with mild, damp winters and relatively dry and mild summers. It is sometimes classified as a Mediterranean climate.

 

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 8.2°C (47°F) and 3.6°C (38°F), respectively.

 

The summer months are equally mild, with an average high temperature of 19.6°C (67°F) and low of 11.3°C (52°F).

 

Victoria does occasionally experience more extreme temperatures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information from Wikipedia.

 

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The city's chief industries are tourism, education, federal and provincial government administration and services.

 

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).

 

Other sectors of the Greater Victoria area economy include: investment and banking, online book publishing, various public and private schools, foodstuff manufacturing, light aircraft manufacturing (Viking Air), technology products, various high tech firms in pharmaceuticals and computers, engineering, architecture and telecommunications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information from Wikipedia

 

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CREA - Canadian Real Estate Association

MLS - Multiple Listing Service

VREB - Victoria Real Estate Board

BCREA - British Columbia Real Estate Association

CMHC - Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation

CAHPI - Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors

ICX - Canada's Commercial Listing

Property Assessment

Lawyers

 

 

The following is a list of neighbourhoods in the City of Victoria, as defined by the city planning department.

 

* Burnside
* Downtown
* Fairfield
* James Bay
* Fernwood
* Harris Green
* North Jubilee
* North Park
* Oaklands
* Rockland
* South Jubilee
* Victoria West

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Victoria area has three public post secondary educational institutions: University of Victoria (UVic), Camosun College, Royal Roads University.

 

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.

 

 

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 the recently-completed Ecole Victor Brodeur.

 

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 House, St. Patrick's Elementary School, St. Margaret's and Pacific Christian Schools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information from Wikipedia.

 

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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 Straight 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. Each summer, Beacon Hill Park plays host to several outdoor concerts, and the Luminara Community Lantern Festival.

 

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 Parliament Buildings, The Empress Hotel, the gothic Christ Church Cathedral, and the Royal British Columbia Museum, 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.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information from Wikipedia.

 

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The city has hosted sports events including the 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 annual 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.

* 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.

 

They exist today in the form of a Junior 'B' team playing in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League and there was also a team called the Victoria Cougars in the WHL, but are now the Prince George Cougars. Other Victoria sport teams include:

 

* Victoria Salmon Kings (ECHL)
* Victoria Grizzlies (British Columbia Hockey League)
* Victoria Shamrocks (Western Lacrosse Association)
* Victoria Rebels (CJFL)
* Victoria United (Pacific Coast Soccer League)
* Victoria Vikes teams at the University of Victoria
* Chargers sports teams of Camosun College

 

 

Information from Wikipedia.

 

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One of the most visitor-friendly cities anywhere, with recreational activities flourishing in the region year round, where many people sail, fish or play golf amidst the pleasant climate of the winter months.

 

The area has many well groomed small and larger parks easily accessible, allowing for sports and family fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information from recreationvictoria.com

 

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The Victoria area has lots of shopping complexes, many of them "Plazas" at intersection of major traffic arteries. Here are the larger "Shopping Centres," that provide fully-enclosed shopping comfort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information from FoundLocally

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The Victoria International Airport has non-stop flights to and from Toronto, Salt Lake City, 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 bi-hourly sailings to Tsawwassen (a ferry terminal south of Vancouver) and to many of the Gulf Islands.

 

 

Public transportation is run by the Victoria Regional Transit System, which is part of BC Transit. In 2000, they introduced the first double decker buses for public transit use in North America.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information from Wikipedia.

 

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SHAW

BELL

TELUS

ROGERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CRD - Capital Regional District

 

 

 

 

 

Information from Wikipedia.

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* Victoria Times-Colonist
* Monday Magazine
* The Martlet - UVic student newspaper
* Black Press
* The Nexus - Camosun College student newspaper
* LookOut - CFB Esquimalt navy base newspaper

 

There are two local stations and a community access channel in Victoria:

* Channel 6: CHEK (E!)
* Channel 53: CIVI (A-Channel)
* Cable 11: "Shaw TV", Shaw Communications community channel

 

Victoria is the only Canadian provincial capital without a local CBC TV affiliate. 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, and Global networks.

 

 

* AM 900 - CKMO, Camosun College campus radio
* AM 1070 - CFAX, news/talk

* FM 88.9 - CBUX, Espace musique
* FM 90.5 - CBCV, CBC Radio One
* FM 91.3 - CJZN (The Zone @ 91-3), modern rock

* FM 92.1 - CBU-2, CBC Radio Two
* FM 98.5 - CIOC (Ocean 98.5), soft adult contemporary
* FM 100.3 - CKKQ (100.3 The Q!), active rock
* FM 101.9 - CFUV, University of Victoria campus radio
* FM 103.1 - CHTT (Jack FM), adult hits
* FM 107.3 - CHBE (Kool FM), hot adult contemporary

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Victoria General Hospital
1 Hospital Way
Victoria, BC V8Z 6R5
Phone: (250) 727-4212

 

Royal Jubilee Hospital
1952 Bay Street
Victoria, BC V8R 1J8
Phone: (250) 370-8000

 

Gorge Road Hospital
63 Gorge E
Victoria, BC
Telephone: (250) 995-4700

 

For Patient Care inquiries please call
(250) 388-CARE (2273)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information from Wikipedia.

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