Neighbourhood History tours in Victoria

Distinctive and memorable walking tours in Victoria, BC.
Chinatown, Rockland, Old Town, James Bay, Oak Bay and more!

Historic Victoria Walking Tours 2010
( Neighbourhood Discovery Walks)

Historic Victoria Walking Tours (Neighbourhood Discovery Walks) take place each Fall, Winter and Spring. They are 90-minute leisurely walks that focus on the diverse history of Victoria's heritage neighbourhoods, researched and conducted by local historian and author, John Adams. Topics are different each year and are usually offered twice, either on Saturday afternons at 2:00 pm or Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. Starting locations are different for each topic. The detailed schedule for the winter asnd spring of 2010 is below.

Private Historic Victoria Walking Tours are available throughout the year and are very popular with local organizations, conferences, conventions and many other clubs and groups which want to find out more about Victoria's history in an informative and entertaining way. Give John a call at 250.384.6698 to inquire about a tour for your group.

Chinese New Year theme tours . Meet at the Bright Pearl, in front of Starbucks Coffee, corner of Government and Fisgard streets.
Usher in the Year of the Tiger and find out why Chinese New Year is such an important event in the Chinese calendar. Learn about the origins of traditions and the meanings of many symbols used at Chinese New Year.
Sat. Feb. 13 at 10:30 am; Sun. Feb. 14 at 10:30 and 2:00 pm; Sat. Feb. 20 at 10:30 am; Sun. Feb. 21 at 10:30 am.

James Bay : Michigan Street. Meet at corner of Douglas and Michigan streets, beside South Park School.
Find out about the old family homes that stood where parks and high rise apartments are today and stories from Emily Carr’s childhood in the neighbourhood. Ends at Oswego Street.
Sat. Feb. 6 at 2:00 pm and Sun. March 21 at 10:30 am

Rockland : Upper St. Charles Street. Meet at corner of Fort St. and St. Charles St. in front of Amethyst Inn at Regent Park.
Explore the picturesque enclave of stately heritage homes along St. Charles St. and nearby streets such as Verrinder, Belmont, Maud, Laurel and Shasta Place. Ends at Shasta Place.
Sun. Feb. 7 at 10:30 am and Sat. March 20 at 2:00 pm

Rum Runners and Opium Smugglers . Meet at corner of Pandora Ave. and Broad St. (under the City Hall rear arcade.)
Learn about Prohibition and the illegal traffic in liquor that resulted. Find out where the opium factories were and how Victoria became North America’s biggest supplier of the narcotic until 1908. Ends near corner of Wharf and Fort streets.
Sat. Feb. 13 at 2:00 pm; Sat. Feb. 20 at 2:00 pm

Fairfield : Cook Street Village to Dallas Road. Meet in front of Starbucks Coffee, corner of Cook and Pendergast.
Find out about the former Fairfield Swamp, dairy farms, Chinese market gardens, a former garbage dump, heritage houses, an elegant brothel and Beacon Hill Park. Ends at Dallas Rd.
Sat. Feb. 27 at 2:00 pm; Sun. March 28 at 10:30 am

Fernwood: Pembroke Street . Meet at Gladstone Square, corner of Fernwood and Gladstone, in front of the Belfry Theatre.
Find out about the gravel pits, streetcar line, a heritage house of tragedy, the location of the natural springs, Icelandic heritage and the boyhood home of a former premier. Ends at Belmont Ave.
Sun. Feb. 28 at 10:30 am; Sat. March 27 at 2:00 pm

Gonzales Hill. Meet in the parking lot of the Gonzales Hill Observatory, top of Denison Place hill, off Fairfield Rd.
Explore the hilltop neighbourhood with heritage and modern houses. See the panoramic views and find out why the Observatory and World War II lookout were built.
Sat. March 13 at 2:00 pm; Sun. April 11 at 10:30 am.

Victoria West: Spinnakers to Wilson Street . Meet in front of Spinnakers Brew Pub, 308 Catherine Street.
Find out the history of Spinnakers, the former Songhees Indian Reserve, old lime kilns, a brewery, the round house, St. Saviour’s Church, the first station and many heritage houses. Ends back at Spinnakers.
Sun. March 14 at 10:30 am; Sat. April 10 at 2:00 pm

Tours take place rain or shine. Dress for the weather.

John Adams is researching
other Historic Victoria Walking Tours to add to the list on an ongoing basis. Please ask if you do not see the neighbourhood or topic you are looking for.

To the left: the second Government House (Cary Castle) from an old postcard.

To make a booking or inquiry, please contact John Adams at:
tel: 250.384.6698; fax 250. 384.2833
discoverthepast@telus.net