BC PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, VICTORIA

The Victoria Government Parliament Buildings on Vancouver Island in the Province of British Columbia, Canada proudly fronts the Inner Harbour. The harbour is the main gathering place for activity in Victoria. The BC Government Parliament Buildings looks out over the yachts and sailboats moored in the marina and a two level waterfront walk-way.

Often the waterfront walkway circling the marina is busy with artists selling their talent and locals and visitors walking back and forth, from here to there exploring. Since everything is so close together around the Inner harbour, many are on foot visiting the other nearby attractions like the gardens in Beacon Hill Park, the west coast history on display at the BC Royal Museum or venture into the downtown core to the many shops and visit "Artist Alley".

During the night time hours the BC Parliament Buildings light up the skyline with over 3,300 light bulbs burning the midnight oil casting a magical spell over the community of Victoria, BC. The capital city of Victoria is where the BC Provincial Government assembles to make the laws and decisions of our province and it is also where the legislation assemblies are held.

The BC Parliament Buildings in Victoria were constructed in 1893 by a young 25 year old creative architect, imagine that - just 25, by the name of Francis Rattenbury in honor of celebrating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Arguments arose of course, but soon the controversy was put aside and the Parliament Buildings were finally completed in 1915 with great anticipation. The Province of British Columbia now had an official residence for the B.C. Parliament and a home for the Provincial Legislation to assemble and discuss ways of boosting the lagging local economy at the time.

Francis Rattenbury and his crew focused the construction of the BC Parliament Buildings using, as much as possible, local materials, resources and expertise - supporting the local businesses was very important then and it is still now. Granite rock foundations were brought in from nearby Nelson Island, the site facades locally imported from Haddington Island and much of the local brick, lime and Douglas Fir were from Vancouver Island.

Even back then, Victoria BC dealt with construction over runs and controversy as the construction costs ballooned to just under 1 Million Dollars opposed to the $600,000 budgeted for the project. Big bucks back then, I'd say.

The BC Parliament Buildings, today, run visitor tours daily during the summer months. Usually the tours run between May long weekend and Labour Day long weekend in September. All tour times should be confirmed as tour times can alter.

When visiting the capital city of Victoria, the BC Parliament Building tours can translate the Victoria tour into French, German, Mandarin and Cantonese.

BC Parliament Buildings
Belleville Street, Downtown Victoria, Inner Harbour (Telephone) 1-250-387-3046