Victoria

Victoria is the Capital city of British Columbia, and is located on the Southern tip of Vancouver Island. It is one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest and has several historic buildings including the Parliament Buildings (finished in 1897 and still housing the Legislative Assembly) and the Empress Hotel (opened in 1908). Victoria’s Chinatown is also the second oldest in North America, after San Francisco.

Victoria has many parks and beaches, including Beacon Hill Park and Macaulay Point Park.

Victoria offers many tours in its historical areas as well as on the ocean and is a popular destination for whale watchers. Here are a few of the many ocean tour companies in the area:

• Beasley’s Fishing Charters – 12 Erie Street
• Five Star Whale Watching – 651 Humbolt Street
• Ocean Explorations – 602 Broughton Street
• Prince of Whales Ocean Tours – 812 Wharf Street
• Seafun Safaris – 950 Wharf Street

There are plenty of children’s activities in the area as well including:

• Beacon Hill Children’s Farm – Beacon Hill Loop at Circle Drive
• The Victoria Bug Zoo – 631 Courtney Street

The locations in italics were recommended by a resident!

Transit

To reach Victoria from the mainland one must fly or take a BC Ferry. One can walk, drive or cycle on a BC Ferry.

Once on Vancouver Island the Victoria Regional Transit System provides public transit.

When traveling on the Victoria Regional Transit System there are several fare options.

• ProPASS – This option requires at minimum a one year commitment to public transit and deducts the cost of your pass from your payroll. Your hospital may have this option, check with them or call BC Transit at 250-99505682.
• Monthly passes – These provide unlimited travel for the month and offer a discount over purchasing daily fare.

* Resident Tip: Save your monthly passes, because you could be eligible for a federal tax credit

• DayPASS – This option provides unlimited travel on the day purchased.
• Tickets – These are a book of ten tickets that offer savings over buying single fares.
• Single Fares – Can be purchased on the bus (exact change only).

There is one option that is not available to you that you may hear about:

• U-Pass – UBC has a program for its students to provide transit savings, however as a resident you are classed as a learner so that you only pay registration fees not tuition. You are however entitled to some UBC perks such as a library card.

Transfers

Transfers are proof of payment that tells the transit operator you have paid your fare. When you pay your fare, ask your transit operator for a transfer if you need to use more than one bus to complete your trip and are using cash or tickets as fare payment.

• Transfers are issued only at time you pay your fare. This is your proof of payment, so keep it for your entire trip.
• Show your transfer clearly to the driver every time you get on board.
• Your transfer allows one-directional travel on any route for up to 60 minutes from the time of issue.
• Your transfer is not valid for a return trip.
• Your transfer will expire at the time torn on the front of the transfer.
• Transfers are not transferable to anyone other than the person who purchased the transfer.

Transit Fare Dealer Locations:

These locations sell monthly and daily passes as well as ticket booklets.

• Brentwood Rexall Drug Store – 7143 West Saanich
• Pharmasave – 7181 West Saanich
• 88 Mini Mart – 496 Owens Road
• Canex Express Mart – 177 Belmont
• Colwood Corners Dry Cleaners – 310 Goldstreem
• Corona Foods – 2155 Sooke
• Petro Canada Colwood – 1879 Island Highway
• Petro Canada – 1736 Island Highway
• London Drugs – 1907 Sooke Road
• Pharmasave – 230 Cook
• Macs Store – 324 Cook
• Victoria Food & Florist – 451 Cook
• Gorge Vale Esso – 955 Craigflower
• Gorge Vale Petro Can – 944 Craigflower
• Winks Convenience Store – 2950 Douglas

Hospitals

Royal Jubilee Hospital – 1952 Bay Street

Victoria General Hospital – 1 Hospital Way Victoria

Grocery Stores

• Charelli’s Cheese Shop Delicatessen – 2863 Foul Bay Road
• Fisgard Market – 579 Niagara Street
• For Good Measure – 3831 Cadboro Bay Road
• Planet Organic Market – 3995 Quadra Street
• Thrifty Foods – 1590 Fairfield Road

Restaurants

• The Blue Fox Café (Breakfast & Brunch) – 919 Fort Street
• Brasserie L’ecole (French) – 1715 Government Street
• Ferris’ Oyster Bar – 536A Yates Street
• Floyd’s Diner – 866 Yates Street
• Il Terrazzo (Italian) – 555 Johnson Street
• Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & Guesthouses – 308 Catherine Street

Shopping

• Mountain Equipment Co-op – 1450 Government Street
• The Patch (Used, Vintage & Consignment) – 719 Yates Street
• Rocky Mountain Soap – 3147 Douglas Street
• Russell Books – 734 Fort Street
• Smoking Lily (Clothing) – 569 Johnson Street

Dry Cleaners/Laundromats

• Classic Drycleaners – 3147 Douglas Street
• Elite Earth-Friendly Cleaners – 1019 Cook Street
• Leonard’s Cleaners – 2575 Cadboro Bay Road
• Maytag Homestyle Laundry – 1309 Cook Street
• Prestine Drycleaners & Laundromat – 255 Menzies Street
• Tumbles Laundry & Drycleaning – 890D Esquimalt Road

Gyms/Fitness Centres

• Ashtanga Yoga Victoria – 560 Johnson
• Bikram Hot Yoga Saanich – 1620 Garnet Road
• Island MMA Training Centre – 831 Fisgard Street
• Juan De Fuca Recreation Centre – 1767 Old Island Highway
• Vitality Group Training – 1057 Fort Street
• Zuma (Gym) – 1035 Alston Street

Childcare

• A Growing Place Early Childhood Centre – 720 Tiswilde Road (Weekdays) (30 months – 5 years)
• Doncaster After School Care – 1525 Rowan Street (Weekdays)(Preschool and School aged)
• Eagle View Out of School Care – 97 Talcott Road (Weekdays) (School aged)
• Fairfield Community Out of School Care – 1330 Fairfield Road (Weekdays) (Preschool and School aged)
• G.R. Pearkes Child Care Services – 3970 Haro Road (Weekdays) (30 months – 5 years/Preschool)

**Please use the childcare search available online to find the right care for your needs. PAR-BC has not preformed any checks on the above providers and is not endorsing them over their competitors; it is for informational purposes only.**

**This is a small sample of what is available in the area for information purposes. PAR-BC is not endorsing these companies over their competitors.**