Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is a public art museum dedicated to the celebration of art. With vision, leadership and scholarship, the Gallery aims to engage and inspire diverse audiences through exhibition, interpretation and stewardship of the collection.

Royal BC Museum

The Royal BC Museum is one of Canada’s greatest cultural treasures. The museum was founded in 1886 and the Archives, in 1894; in 2003, these two organizations joined. They collect artifacts, documents and specimens of British Columbia’s natural and human history, protecting them for the future, and sharing them with the world. Through research, the museum strives to broaden understanding about the province and inspire curiosity and wonder.

Ten Thousand Villages

Ten Thousand Villages is the oldest fair trade organization in North America and a non-profit program. You can find a variety of handcrafted and produced textiles, jewelry, coffee, pottery, apparel and many environmentally friendly products from around the world. They always have coffee to sample and have dedicated volunteers to help inform the customer with information and question answering. "Travel the world with each visit to Ten Thousand Villages and discover the remarkable difference that Fair Trade makes."

Arbutus Park

Arbutus Park, located on the Gorge Waterway, is a leash-optional area in the City of Victoria. Click here for a map of all off-leash parks in the City of Victoria.

Central GVPL

The Central Branch is the main resource centre for the Library system and has many specialized collections and services, as well as an excellent general collection.

Old Burying Ground (Pioneer Square)

The Old Burying Ground, also known as Pioneer Square or Quadra Street Cemetery, includes interments from 1855 to 1873. Since its beginnings, many people have objected to its placement and upkeep, arguing it was too close to residential homes and often the memorial sites were not properly maintained and left to vandals. After being transformed into a park in 1908, only a few monuments remained on-site, and critics of the park's cleanup were upset with the desecration of the burial grounds.

Jewish Cemetery

Consecrated in 1860, the Jewish Cemetery of Victoria is gated by the term "Bays Ha Chayim," or House of the Living. It is the oldest Jewish cemetery in western Canada, and houses the first Jewish judge in Canada. a Holocaust memorial at the entrance to the cemetery honours the martyrs who died between 1933 and 1945. More information on the various aspects of Victoria’s history from a Jewish perspective can be found at Jewish Victoria.

Ross Bay Cemetery

Overlooking the water in Ross Bay, the Ross Bay Cemetery has watched endless tides lap the shores of Victoria since its beginnings in 1872. The site was named for Isabella Ross, the first female registered land owner in BC. A plaque at her gravesite honours her memory. Prominent people buried on-site include Sir James Douglas, the first governor of BC, and Emily Carr, a well-known BC painter. The presence of many species of mature trees and a beautiful view of Ross Bay encompass the site's natural beauty and serenity.

Beacon Hill, Camas Meadow

Beacon Hill was once one of the most productive camas territories on Vancouver Island. However, British settlers saw the open fields as a perfect place to develop, assuming the fields were "natural" and unused. The Lekwungen people actually managed and harvested the camas for food and trade. Janis Ringuette's Camas Country provides a wonderful history of camas on Beacon Hill.

Photo: rpaterso

FAN-TA-SEA ISLE by Rich Rico

FAN-TA-SEA ISLE, a colourful collection of painted wood along the Westsong Walkway in Victoria's Inner Harbour, creates a place for community members to connect and enjoy the beauty of Victoria. Constructed by Rich Rico, a local man suffering of Graves' disease, FAN-TA-SEA ISLE was a form of therapy for him as he took daily walks along the Westsong Walkway. An intriguing collection of painted wood and shore debris, the structure's many painted faces include native west coast animals like orcas and whales.

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