Jeanie Goode

Victoria is sometimes called the ‘Mediterranean’ capital of British Columbia or the ‘Garden City’.  One of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, Victoria flowers bloom year round. Victoria has a population of 350,000, is the capital of British Columbia and is known for its old-world charm, with narrow streets lined with 19th-century stone buildings. Victoria has always had a history as a stronghold of British traditions. Victoria is Western Canada's oldest city. The City began in 1843 as a Hudson Bay Company trading post, named in honor of Queen Victoria.

Weather
  Victoria and the Gulf Islands boast the mildest climate in Canada. Summertime is reliably warm and sunny, with frequent ocean breezes. Temperatures reach average highs in the mid 20's Celsius (70 to 80 Fahrenheit). In winter, Victoria is the most temperate of all British Columbia (and Canada), with temperatures that rarely dip below 0 Celsius (32 Fahrenheit). It's an odd sight to ever see snow.  Victoria is in the "rain shadow" of the U.S. Olympic mountains and receives 1/2 the annual rainfall of Vancouver.


Activities
Victoria has earned a reputation as a mecca for adventurers drawn by the limitless outdoor activities available in the city and throughout the Islands. Because of the temperate climate, outdoor activities take place year round, and many people sail, kayak, fish or play golf in January. Beaches are open to the public and even residential areas have corridors allowing public access. Because Vancouver Island's topography is so varied, you can actually choose your climate. In four hours you can enjoy skiing in the Mount Washington region or you can make a weekend trip to the world-renowned Whistler ski resort.  For those interested in the bright lights/night life of a big city (and professional sporting events), Vancouver (population over 2 million) and Seattle (in the United States) are both a ferry-ride away.  


The Arts
The performing arts are well represented in Victoria and on Vancouver Island. Professional and amateur theatre and dance companies, including the acclaimed Pacific Opera Victoria, perform in historical playhouses, modern arts centres and small, quaint community theatres.
Victoria and Vancouver Island are home to numerous art galleries, exhibits and studios. Salt Spring Island and the Gulf Islands are also world-renowned as creative centres. You can walk from gallery to gallery in Victoria’s downtown core or drive the country roads to visit artisans’ studios. Paintings, prints, sculpture, glass, wood and pottery can all be found and the traditional art of the First Nations peoples is also prevalent throughout the Island.
Music for all tastes fills local concert halls, cathedrals, nightclubs and pubs. The Victoria Symphony entertains audiences all year long, but the highlight of its season, and a Victoria tradition, is Symphony Splash: a free concert performed from a barge in the Inner Harbour to over 40,000 people.
Music and arts festivals throughout the summer and throughout the Island celebrate jazz, blues, R&B, folk, independent film, Shakespeare and fringe theatre. Buskers and street performers add colour to Victoria’s streets and Inner Harbour. During the summer, bring a lawn chair and a blanket and enjoy classic movies at the harbour boardwalk. A number of modern cinemas deliver Hollywood blockbusters to residents and visitors, and the National Geographic IMAX Theatre brings images to life on a screen over six storeys tall.


University
The University of Victoria, one of Canada's leading universities, is a rich and supportive learning community for students and faculty alike. Widely recognized for leadership in research, inspired teaching and community engagement, UVic provides innovative programs and real-life learning experiences in a diverse and welcoming West Coast environment. UVic ranks consistently among the top comprehensive universities in Canada.

Geography
The city of Victoria spans a modest area of approximately 23.36sq/km (City of Victoria, Engineering Dept. May 2000). The Greater Victoria area includes the cities of Victoria and Colwood, the district municipalities of Oak Bay, Langford, Esquimalt, Saanich, Central Saanich, North Saanich, Metchosin, and the townships of Sidney, View Royal and Sooke. Victoria also has the neighbourhoods of Downtown, Chinatown, Fairfield, James Bay, Rockland, and Cordova Bay.


Oak Bay
East of downtown, Oak Bay is a separate municipality and considered to be one of Victoria's most "exclusive" neighbourhoods. A large marina is close at hand, with lovely beaches, good fishing, and picturesque Garry oak trees. Residents know it as being behind the "Tweed Curtain". The Uplands is located in Oak Bay and is the choice residential area. Many tour buses will take you along the scenic route through the "gated" community to view ocean front homes that range from $600,000 to the multi-millions.


Fairfield
Fairfield is located on the east side of Beacon Hill Park. This quaint, established neighbourhood has a large collection of historic sites to see including the Ross Bay cemetery and Cattle Point. The infamous Cook Street (named for the explorer and navigator of 1778, Captain James Cook), Village is located on the north side of Beacon Hill Park where many residents enjoy coffee and lattes in open air covered cafes and enjoy many trendy pubs, wine shops, video stores and 1 block from Dallas Road.


Saanich
Saanich is one of the oldest agricultural settlements in British Columbia and an area rich in local history. Saanich is abundant with lush green parks such as Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary and Mt. Douglas Park. The countryside is brimming with farms and cottages that offer vegetables, flowers, and fruits for sale from roadside stalls. While in Saanich, make sure to visit historic Craigflower Schoolhouse, the Horticulture Center, and the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. Elk Lake and Beaver Park are a great place for watersports, walking, and fishing.