"For locals and visitors alike, these sketches and stories highlight both the historic monuments and everyday moments that make Victoria shine. You never know quite what you'll come across in British Columbia's capital city. With its unmissable landmarks that attract people from around the world, Victoria is also rich in forested beauty, charming houses, and curious people, and is steeped in local history. Following the charm of her previous book, Hand Drawn Vancouver, in this memorable book, Emma FitzGerald captures the coastal city of Victoria and its surrounding communities in over 100 sketches of: iconic landmarks: It wouldn't be a visit to Victoria without stopping by the Empress, Munro's, or Butchart Gardens ; local favourites: the longstanding Beacon Drive In and James Bay's Birdcage Confectionary are some beloved spots honoured within these pages ; beautiful architecture: journey back in time by admiring historic buildings, like Queen Anne-style homes and the spiraling Belfry Theatre ; stunning west coast landscape: explore natural wonders, from culturally significant fields of camas flowers to Mystic Beach's stunning shoreline ; overheard conversations: what really makes a city are the people who live there--Emma documents snippets of passersby's conversations as she sketches. Structured by neighbourhood, Hand Drawn Victoria is a beautiful keepsake for both locals and visitors, and a lovely way to celebrate the city--its buildings, its people, and its essence"--Amazon.com

151 pages : color illustrations ; 21 cm

"Celebrated historian Barry Gough brings a defining era of Pacific Northwest history into focus in this biography of Richard Blanshard, the first governor of Vancouver Island--illuminating with intriguing detail the genesis and early days of Canada’s westernmost province. Early one wintry day in March 1850, after seven weary weeks out of sight of land, a well-dressed Londoner, a bachelor aged thirty-two, stood at the ship’s rail taking in the immensity of the unfolding scene. From Her Britannic Majesty’s paddlewheel sloop-of-war Driver, steadily thumping forth on Imperial purpose, all that Richard Blanshard could make out to port, in reflected purple light upon the northern side, was a forested, rock-clad island rising to considerable height. Vancouver’s Island they called it in those far-off days. This was his destination. Richard Blanshard was governor of the young colony for three short, unhappy years--only one and a half of which were spent in the colony itself. From the very beginning he was at odds with the vastly influential Hudson’s Bay Company, run by its Chief Factor James Douglas, who succeeded Blanshard as governor of the colony of Vancouver Island and later became the first governor of the colony of British Columbia. While James Douglas is remembered, for better or worse, as a founding father of British Columbia, Richard Blanshard’s name is now largely forgotten, despite his vitally important role in warning London of American cross-border aggressions, including a planned takeover of Haida Gwaii. However, his failures highlight the fascinating struggles of the time--the supreme influence of commerce, the disparity between expectations and reality, and the bewildering collision of European and Pacific Northwest culture."-- Provided by publisher

368 p.

"A fascinating and in-depth look at Victoria's largely unknown professional hockey players in the early twentieth century, and the historical context in which they played. For most hockey fans hailing from Canada's westernmost province, the sport's most coveted prize, the Stanley Cup, has remained frustratingly elusive for nearly a century. But what many people do not know is that the west coast, and in particular the city of Victoria, was once a hockey mecca, where superstars flourished, Hall of Famers were made, and big victories--yes, even the Stanley Cup of 1925--were won. Capitals, Aristocrats, and Cougars is a deep dive into the world of professional hockey in Victoria from 1911 to 1925, an era that saw forty-nine men take their turns in one of the city's newly minted teams. It was also an era of unprecedented social, economic, and political change, a period that spanned the First World War and redefined Canada's national identity. With meticulous research and encyclopedic knowledge,author, historian, and consummate hockey fan Alan Livingstone MacLeod chronicles the key players, coaches, arena builders, and team visionaries who contributed to this long-forgotten chapter of hockey history, and puts them all in the context of what was going on in the world at the time. This in-depth account is sure to delight history buffs and hockey fans alike."-- Provided by publisher

279 pages : (some) black and white illustrations; 23 cm.

"From the establishment of Fort Victoria, BC's capital city has had a long history of prostitution. But little has been written on the lives of the women themselves--some of the most enterprising women in Victoria's past. Instead, these women's stories have been relegated to judgmental newspaper headlines. Now historian Linda J. Eversole takes a deeper look at their lives, from the mid-nineteenth century to the First World War and the Moral Reform movement. Story by story, from the fur trade, through confederation, waves of immigration, and attempts at reform and legislation, Eversole uncovers the histories of the women who made a living, and in some cases a fortune, from the world's oldest profession. With accompanying maps and historical photos, new research, and the support of the descendants of some of her subjects, Eversole presents a nuanced, human series of portraits that enhances our understanding of this important strand of the city's history."-- Provided by publisher

210 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm

Revealing a little-known chapter in the history of Victoria, British Columbia, The Birdcages, the province's first legislative buildings, were built 1859-1864, the formative, tumultuous time of the Gold Rushes. Constructed on the site of the present Legislature, they were built amid controversy and derided for their style. The brainchild of Governor James Douglas, they resembled, according to journalist/politician Amor de Cosmos, "something between a Dutch toy and a Chinese pagoda." Readers will discover how civil servants and politicians felt about them as a workplace and what the general public thought about them as civic architecture. The career of their designer, the mysterious Hermann Otto Tiedemann, one of Victoria's vivid early "characters," is recounted as are the contributions of local contractors and tradesmen. The site of events of national importance until their demise in 1898, the Birdcages reflected the history, character, and heritage of Victoria and played an important role in the developing political traditions of the province and the young Dominion of Canada. A place for political demonstrations and community celebrations, the House of Assembly was where the MLAs debated joining Confederation, granting the vote to women, and excluding Asian immigrants. Based on personal memoirs and letters, government documents, photographs and plans, this book will interest both students and adults, history buffs and professional historians

Lauded as a most interesting story of Victoria, this popular history introduces you to the intriguing tales of an amazing city nestled in the splendor of the Pacific Northwest. Victoria, A HarbourTown History will introduce you to the Lukwungen who were there before Victoria was Victoria and the powerful Hudson's Bay Company who came to dominate their area. You will also get to know the settlers, gold seekers, merchants, and visionaries who followed. Together, they created today's Victoria, one of the world's favorite destinations as well as a wonderful place to live.From bustling boom town to an almost abandoned settlement, Victoria's early years were marked by trial and triumph. Emerging as the centre of power and wealth in British Columbia, Victoria's leaders battled unsuccessfully retain its dominance over Vancouver. Eventually becoming a delightful English-like city surrounded by stunning scenery, this story will show you the Victoria hidden beneath its glamourous image. Enriched by the tales of the leaders who loved and transformed it and the stories of most memorable buildings, this concise, comprehensive history will introduce you to one of the world's favorite destinations.Designed for those who love Victoria, those who enjoy history, and those who simply enjoy a good read, this new popular history is sure to please.

141 pages : illustrations, map ; 22 cm

Published in 2014 by heritage researcher and photographer Nick Russell, Victoria Then & Now: Postcards from the Past pairs vintage turn-of-the-century postcards with contemporary photographs to document the physical transformation of British Columbia’s capital city. The volume features side-by-side visual comparisons of prominent local landmarks alongside meticulous historical research detailing the changing streetscapes, businesses, and architecture of early Victoria. Beyond architectural changes, Russell digs into the personal micro-histories of the original senders and recipients inscribed on the cards, transforming a standard visual history into an intimate narrative of everyday human connection. A keen insight drawn from the text is how early postcards functioned as the social media and tourism marketing engines of their day; by intentionally packaging sanitized, picturesque views of colonial progress for cheap postal circulation, these historical artifacts actively manufactured a romanticized civic identity for an expanding Pacific Northwest

80 pages : colour illustrations, 1 colour map ; 14 x 22 cm

To travel back in time to the Colony of Vancouver Island, read the story of the Hudson's Bay years as told through recollections of a colonial childhood by the fictional Kate Murray and the letters of the real Mary Yates. The letters are inventions, but the real Mary lived through the events of the early years. Their stories combine to give an authentic glimpse of the extraordinary life inside the palisades of Fort Victoria, the world of children at Chaplain Staines's school, the settlers who rebelled against the HBC's autocratic rule, and the growing sophistication of colonial social life before and after BC's gold rush of 1858.

viii, 156 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 24 cm

Wonderfully written history of the ever-troubled Victoria and Sidney Railway in British Columbia. Packed with black and white photos, the book brings the railway and the people who ran it (and the long-suffering passegers) to life while providing a fascinating look at life in rural Canada at the turn of the century. With maps, equipment rosters, chronology and numerous appendices that flesh out the history of the Saanich Peninsula. 236 pages.

236 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 28 cm

Published by the Association historique francophone de Victoria and authored by John Greene, French Presence in Victoria, B.C., 1843–1991 chronicles nearly a century and a half of Francophone contributions to the cultural, economic, and religious fabric of Vancouver Island. The book traces the arrival of French-Canadian fur traders, Catholic missionaries, and European immigrants who helped establish and shape the early colonial capital long before Confederation. Through archival records, church registers, and personal accounts, the text illuminates how a distinct Francophone community maintained its linguistic and cultural identity despite the overwhelming dominance of British institutions. A keen insight drawn from the work is how multiculturalism in early Western Canadian cities existed beneath a veneer of British imperial hegemony; by uncovering the vital, behind-the-scenes roles played by French speakers in commerce and governance, the study reveals that the foundational history of British Columbia was far more pluralistic than its overtly Anglo-Saxon administrative facade suggested.

v, 200 pages, [17] pages of plates (1 folded) : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

vi, 148 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 26 cm.

175 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 25 x 31 cm

95 p. : ill., maps ; 22 x 28 cm.

In 1864 Governor James Douglas handed over his office to Arthur Edward Kennedy, closing an era in Vancouver Island's history and ushering in a period of growth and development. The optimism felt by its people was to a large extent justified; the ensuing years were to bring stability, prosperity and many changes. In Summer of Promise, a sequel to Victoria: The Fort, the author chronicles the years from 1864 to the outbreak of World War One in 1914, seeing them through the eyes of the inhabitants of the city which was the capital of the colony and later of the province. Despite its geographical isolation, its population remained well aware of world events: the Boer War, the death of Queen Victoria, the ascension of Edward VII to the throne and the rising threat of the German navy were as much talked about as the waning of many traditional religious beliefs and the enfranchisement of women. Nearer home, these were important years for Victoria as the colony voted to join the Dominion of Canada, the railroad connected the new province with the rest of the country, and the "All Red Route" linked it by steamship to Australia and the Orient. Motorcars, aeroplanes, telephones, the telegraph and electricity brought British Columbia into the twentieth century. From the momentous to the mundane, and sometimes even to the ridiculous, Derek Pethick documents an era in Victoria's history. Summer of Promise is enlightening, fascinating and enjoyable reading.

191 pages, 8 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations ; 23 cm

Letters of James Douglas, Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company Pacific headquarters at Fort Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

xcix, 277, xvii pages, 3 unnumbered leaves of plates (2 folded) : maps ; 24 cm.

77 pages : illustrations, portraits, map ; 27 cm

"Victoria as a trading post, gold rush town, despondent backwater, thriving industrial center, pleasant residential resort and busy university city... these are some of the developments entertainingly described..." Dust jacket

ix, 246 pages illustrations, maps 24 cm

287 pages illustrations, portraits 24 cm

120 pages illustrations, map, portraits 23 cm

168 pages illustrations, maps, portraits 24 cm

38 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

In this provocative and illuminating book, Marianna Torgovnick explores the psychology of our profound attraction to cultures we call "primitive." Whether located in Africa, the South Pacific, or the American Southwest, the primitive has become synonymous in the Western imagination with a range of emotions and experiences thought to be lost in modern life: reverence for the land and for nature; strong communal bonds; sexual plentitude; and, perhaps most intriguing, and ecstatic sense of connection to the universe and the life force. Torgovnick investigates the numerous ways we have turned toward the primitive out of spiritual hunger for such deeply human experiences - a hunger that could once be satisfied within the West's own mystical traditions but that often no longer can be. Brilliantly encompassing religion, art, psychology, literature, and other aspects of our culture, Primitive Passions offers new insight into our ideas of spirituality and gender, and, ultimately, into the hidden but vital parts of ourselves

312 pages frontispiece (map), illustrations (including portraits, facsimiles) 22 cm

Originally published in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Alfred Emberson’s All About Victoria, British Columbia serves as a comprehensive travel guide and promotional handbook for the rapidly modernizing provincial capital. The book meticulously catalogs the city’s geography, local customs, transportation networks, and burgeoning hospitality industry, effectively marketing Victoria to tourists and potential investors as a sophisticated enclave of British gentility on the edge of the Pacific wilderness. A keen insight drawn from the work is how the early travel guide actively commodified a highly sanitized version of colonial settlement; by charting hotels and scenic attractions while completely omitting the ongoing displacement of the region's Coast Salish peoples, the guidebook sold Victoria not as a contested frontier, but as an exclusive, fully conquered playground designed solely for Anglo-American leisure.

104 pages illustrations 16 cm

Authored by early pioneer Edgar Fawcett, Some Reminiscences of Old Victoria offers a deeply personal, nostalgic chronicle of British Columbia's capital city during its chaotic transition from a quiet Hudson's Bay Company outpost to a booming gold rush epicenter. Drawing upon his own arrival in 1859 and decades of civic observation, Fawcett meticulously reconstructs the social fabric of the 19th-century port, detailing early dirt streetscapes, the sudden influx of transient miners, local eccentricities, and the establishment of colonial institutions. Through conversational anecdotes and vivid recollections, the text serves as a vibrant, street-level time capsule of a frontier society rapidly attempting to replicate British gentility on the edge of the Pacific wilderness. A keen insight drawn from the work is how pioneer nostalgia inherently sanitizes the disruption of colonial expansion; by fondly mythologizing the eccentricities and genteel aspirations of Victoria's early British settlers, Fawcett’s memoir illustrates how the pioneer elite actively constructed an insulated, aristocratic social hierarchy to maintain cultural dominance amidst the overwhelming demographic shifts of the gold rush era.

4 unnumbered pages, [5]-294 pages : plates, portraits ; 20 cm

Published in 1894, Alexander Begg's comprehensive volume chronicles the political and economic evolution of British Columbia, tracing its trajectory from early maritime exploration and the fur trade era to its eventual confederation with Canada. A keen insight drawn from the text is how Begg’s narrative functions simultaneously as a historical record and a piece of deliberate economic boosterism, actively framing the region's transition from a guarded Hudson's Bay Company monopoly into a civilized province as a triumph of British imperial progress designed to attract settlers and investment. The author meticulously details the transformative impacts of the Fraser River and Cariboo gold rushes, the administrative leadership of James Douglas, and the critical unifying role of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Ultimately, the book stands as an exhaustive, albeit heavily pro-colonial, late 19th-century archive documenting the foundational events that integrated a rugged frontier into the Canadian dominion.

xvii, [7]-568 pages : illustrations, folded map, portraits ; 23 cm

Published in 1887 as the thirty-second volume of his colossal western history series, Hubert Howe Bancroft’s History of British Columbia meticulously traces the region's development from late 18th-century maritime explorations through its 1871 integration into the Canadian Confederation. The narrative provides an exhaustive account of the Hudson's Bay Company's autocratic rule under Chief Factor James Douglas, the disruptive influx of American prospectors during the Fraser River Gold Rush, and the subsequent political unification of the mainland and Vancouver Island. A keen insight drawn from the volume is how Bancroft—an American historian steeped in the ideology of Manifest Destiny—inherently filters the Canadian colonial experience through a distinctly U.S. nationalist lens. By frequently contrasting the paternalistic, corporate monopoly of the British administration with the chaotic, democratic individualism of American miners, the text inadvertently functions as a fascinating comparative study of two competing imperial philosophies vying for economic and cultural dominance across the 19th-century Pacific Northwest.

xxxi, 792 pages : maps