Each month, residents in participating affiliated communities will learn about a different city or country through fun activities, interesting facts, and tasty cuisine through the Port of Call program. During September, the Port of Call theme is Victoria, British Columbia!

About Victoria

Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia. located at the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island and across the border from Washington State. The Juan de Fuca and Haro Straits sit alongside Victoria’s eastern shores.¹

Before Victoria was established as a city, the area was known as Camosack, meaning “rush of water,” by the Kwakiutl and Nootka tribes, who settled on the land for 12,000 years. Then, in 1868, Victoria became a city and was named after the British Queen Victoria, who was reigning during that time.²

Today, over 90,000 people live in Victoria. The majority of Victorians speak English as their main language, but many citizens can speak French.³ Victoria has a cool climate, with temperature highs ranging from 62 to 66 degrees in the summer, and 45 to 49 degrees in the winter.⁴

Attractions in Victoria

One of Victoria’s top attractions is Inner Harbour. You can take a walk along the harbour and admire the historic architecture, grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants, or hop on a ferry for whale-watching or harbour tours. The harbour also has fun festivals and live music during the summer months.⁵

If you love history, then you could visit the Royal BC Museum. This museum has over 7 million artifacts for visitors to view across nine collections, such as the Indigenous Collection and Paleontology Collection. Additionally, the museum has special exhibitions and events that can add to your experience.⁶

Another attraction you could visit is the Parliament Buildings, which is where elected members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia meet to pass laws. You can take a free self-guided tour or reserve a time slot for a free guided tour. After the tour, you could get lunch at the Parliamentary Dining Room, observe proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, and visit the gift shop.⁷

Another historical attraction you could visit is the Craigdarroch Castle. It was built in the late 1800s for a wealthy family, the Dunsmuir’s. While at the Castle, you can take a self-guided tour of the four floors and 37 rooms, and take in the gorgeous architecture, woodwork, stained glass windows, and Victorian-era furnishings. Throughout the Castle, there are staff members who are there to answer questions.⁸

Victoria Cuisine

Victorian cuisine is influenced by its indigenous history and its location along the Juan de Fuca and Haro Straits.⁹ Here are some of Victoria’s most popular dishes:

Pacific Salmon. Pacific salmon is a must in Victoria. You can get it grilled or smoked for lunch or dinner, served alongside chips, fries, or vegetables.¹⁰

Spot Prawns. Spot prawns are a type of shrimp that is native to the Pacific Ocean. They are often served alongside salads or vegetables.¹¹

Butter Chicken Poutine. Butter chicken poutine is a classic Canadian dish that consists of fries, cheese curds, and a butter chicken sauce.

Nanaimo Bar. A Nanaimo bar is a 3-layer no-bake dessert made up of chocolate, custard-flavored butter icing, and a graham cracker base.¹²