Victoria, BC – January 2000

By: Barbara Ballard

Winter in Victoria usually means rain and cloudy skies with an all-pervasive grayness to the weather. Hours of daylight are short, and the city does seem to lose its ambiance. However, there are advantages to off-season travel. Room rates can be almost half the high season ones – and there’s still lots to see and do.

If wind and rain don’t bother you, it’s a perfect time to put on your waterproof boots and walk the ocean-front path to Ogden Point to watch the waves crash over the breakwater. Stop for a warming cup of coffee or other goodies at the Ogden Point Cafe. From here walk along the oceanfront Dallas Road walkway to Douglas St, and you’ll be at Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway. A quick turn to the left leads you along Beacon Hill Park and back to the city centre. If you’ve really got your boots on, you can continue the waterfront walk for several miles to Oak Bay where you can catch a bus back to downtown.

Really brave souls can join the Polar Bear Swim at Elk Lake (just off the Pat Bay Highway) at 2pm on New Year’s Day.

Art lovers can keep busy for days visiting the galleries that dot the city. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is presenting three exhibitions. “Sword of the Samurai” will showcase swords, suits of armour, masks and more. The art of Emily Carr, a native Victorian and one of Canada’s most significant 20th century artists, will be on display. And something really unusual – eight monks from Tibet will be creating a three dimensional wooden mandala, a ritual performance in Tibetan tradition. They will also create a 16-foot high sculpture in butter, and a Tibetan astrologer will be on hand for consultations.

If you’re in the mood for art shopping, the Gallery features a gift shop or try Out of Hand Gallery in Market Square, a craft shop featuring handmade, one-of-a-kind art objects from Canadian artists. They feature glass, pottery, jewelry, sculpture and fabric art.

Victoria has its own symphony orchestra and two special millennium events are planned. On January 16 and 17th, the Greatest Hits of the Millennium will be presented. Music will range from Gregorian chant to the musicals of the 60’s. A classical and jazz trumpet program with highlights from three centuries of music takes place on January 20/22. Both are at the Royal Theatre on Broughton St. To book tickets, contact them at 250-385-6515.

An Irish dance and music concert happens on January 7/9th at the same theatre. Call 250-386-6121 for details.

The Royal British Columbia Museum is well known for the quality of its exhibits. Learn more about British Columbia in its three galleries: Natural History, First Peoples, and Modern History. A special exhibit, “Out of the Mist”, is currently highlighted. This historic world premier exhibit showcases the culture and heritage of the People of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. Their history dates back 7000 years. General information: 1-800-661-5411.

Happening in February – you may want to plan ahead for it – is an unusual trip, “Storms that Shape Us”, with the Museum’s curator, Dr. Hebda, to the Institute of Ocean Sciences. You’ll learn about El Nino and global warming, then head off to the east coast of the Island to see the effects of winter storms and help museum staff take earth core samples at a research site. The museum says, “Bring your camera and hope for a stormy day.”

The trip runs Friday, February 11 from 9am to 5:30pm. $95 + tax. Note: This field trip is meant for adults in good physical condition. There will be travel on some possibly slippery terrain.

If the weather’s really bad, cozy down at the National Geographic Imax Theatre attached to the Museum. January’s films are Wolves, The Living Sea, and Mysteries of Egypt.

And, of course, cold weather uses up so many calories, you’ll have to refuel. Indulge at Roger’s Chocolates in a 1903 heritage storefront on Government St. Their chocolates are still made the old-fashioned way. Or try Bernard Callebaut, my personal favorite, at 623 Broughton, just off Government St. Callebaut was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix International Artisan Chocolatier, the top award presented at the International Chocolate Festival held in Roanne, France.

Quirky Stuff
Winston Churchill planted a tree in downtown Beacon Hill Park in 1929. Supporters toast his memory with the annual Churchill champagne toast at the foot of the tree on Quadra St. at 2pm Sunday, January 23rd.

ï¿½1999 Barbara Ballard. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from the author is prohibited.

Back to Victoria Guide

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.

Location
Victoria, a world renowned tourist destination and capital city of British Columbia, is nestled on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.

It’s about as far west as you can get in Canada – just across the Strait of Georgia from the city of Vancouver on Canada’s mainland and 85 miles northwest across the Juan de Fuca Strait from Seattle.

The jagged coastline boasts stunning views, and the mild climate allows gardens to run rampant. It’s no wonder Travel and Leisure voted it one of the 10 best cities in the world to visit.

The downtown, embraced by the water and the bustling Inner Harbour (map), is busy and vibrant. Tourism is big business here, and it’s royally catered to.

Once a British colonial outpost, Greater Victoria (Victoria and its outlying areas) now sports a population of more than 300,000. Although it still retains remnants of its past in high teas, hanging baskets and shops filled with British goods, Victoria today is alive with sidewalk cafes, night life, cosmopolitan dining, superb shopping and cultural activities.

The Victoria Visitor’s Information Centre is located on the Inner Harbour. There are free maps and brochures on accommodations, attractions, restaurants, services, tours, cultural events, festivals and more. There is also a ticket outlet in the Centre.
Call them at 1-800-663-3883 or
(250) 953-2033
Email info@travel.victoria.bc.ca

Map link to Victoria

Seeing the City
There are lots of ways to get around Greater Victoria. The least expensive are the public bus system (B.C. Transit, 250-385-2551, from $1.25) and bike and scooter rentals.

Being a tourist Mecca means several companies run scenic tours – there’s double-decker or horse-drawn carriages plying their wares, but they aren’t cheap. Tiny water tugs ply the Inner Harbour for great views of the shoreline.

There’s always car rentals (not really necessary here where everything is either accessible on foot or by bus). Taxis are available but costly. From the airport take the Airporter mini-bus, cheaper than a taxi, to downtown Victoria.

Money
It should be noted that all prices in this guide are in Canadian dollars. For up to date currency rates, click here.

Weather
Best site for weather and local forecasts.

Smoking
Victoria is totally nonsmoking indoors. Restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, hotels, public transportation, office buildings, etc. etc. No one is allowed to smoke anywhere inside any building. Outdoors is okay.

The Author
I grew up in Texas (friendly people), summered on the Gulf Coast and lived in several other states before moving to Canada. The Rockies and the Yukon were home for a while.

Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island is my permanent location, unless I win the lottery. Then I’ll be off to Britain, the land I love. My hobbies are history, historical architecture and reading.