The Value of Investing in Canadian Downtowns - International ...

Context Map: Key Assets and Features in the Downtown
Chinatown (1)
Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada.
Chinatown offers an array of colorful shops,
restaurants, side walk stands and a museum. It is
also recognized for Fan Tan Alley, which has the
prestige of being the narrowest street in Canada.
Old Town Victoria (refer to legend)
This is the largest historic district in British
Columbia and one of the most well preserved
historic districts in North America. “Old Town” is
the umbrella term used to describe 3 historic
areas of Victoria which includes Chinatown, the
commercial district located on the Douglas/
Blanchard and Yates corridor, and the waterfront.
A plethora of shops, restaurants and activities are
found in Old Town, which creates a cultural hub
for the region.
Royal British Columbia Museum (Royal BC
Museum) (2)
The Royal BC Museum is one of the premier
repositories for cultural and natural specimens in
the world. The institution was established in 1886
and it began collecting artifacts of human and
natural history in British Columbia. The RBCM’s
collections contain more than 7.5 million objects.
British Columbia Legislature (3)
Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and the
neo-baroque buildings completed in 1896 serve
as the site of the province’s Legislative Assembly.
Maritime Museum of British Columbia (4)
This naval museum was established in 1955 and
houses maritime artifacts and historical
photographs, and has an internationally renowned
chart collection. This museum is located in one of
BC’s oldest provincial court buildings, sited on
Bastion Square. The building contains the oldest
operational birdcage elevator in North America.
Market Square (5)
The buildings comprising Market Square date
from Victoria’s unprecedented growth and
prosperity in the late 19th century. It is now the
site of a weekly farmers’ market, restaurants, and
a variety of local boutiques.
The Bay Centre (6)
This shopping mall provides visitors with more
than 90 interior and store front shops. The four
floors of the Centre cover 2 city blocks. The Bay
Centre has 410,264 square feet of retail space.
Johnson Street Bridge (13)
The iconic 86-year-old Johnson Street Bridge will be replaced by 2016. At an estimated
$77 million, the three-lane bridge with a dedicated sidewalk, multi-use path and bike
lanes, will be the city’s largest capital project.
Craigdarroch Castle (14)
This National Historic Site of Canada has 39 rooms and 20,000 square feet of space. It
was constructed by Robert Dunsmuir in 1887 and it is currently a museum that has
140,000 visitors annually.
Transit
The main transportation system is the B.C. Regional Transit System, which serves the
city of Victoria and its different communities as well as the Greater Victoria, Sidney and
Sooke. The main regional transit depot is located at the intersection of Douglas and
Belleville.
Inner Harbour (7)
Victoria’s Inner Harbour is an iconic landmark
and a vibrant centre of activity. Extending from
Laurel Point to the Johnson Street Bridge, the
Empress Hotel and the British Columbia
Legislature provide an exquisite backdrop to the
marina, and variety of restaurants, hotels, and
boutique shops. Street vendors and
entertainers also line the walkways. The Inner
Harbour is the departure point for whale
watching excursions, considered one of
Victoria’s top attractions.
Empress Hotel (8)
The Empress is the most iconic landmark in
Victoria’s Inner Harbour. The hotel, which is a
designated National Historic Site of Canada,
has 477 rooms and 4 restaurants. The Empress
is recognized for its Victorian afternoon tea,
which can attract 800 people per day during the
summer months.
Victoria Conference Centre (8)
This 73,000 square foot facility was built in
1989 and is connected to the Empress Hotel. In
2007, the Conference Centre expanded to
occupy the Empress’ Crystal Garden building,
which achieved international reverence as the
largest salt water swimming pool in the British
Empire when it opened in 1925.
Centennial Square (9)
Known as Victoria’s “Spirit Square” for the two
Spirit Poles known as the “Two Brothers” that
watch over the entrance to this space,
Centennial Square is the year-round location of
festivals and concerts.
Ferry Terminal (10)
Several companies provide transportation or
tourist activities using the harbor, such as the
Clipper that connects Victoria with Seattle and
the Coho which crosses the waters between
Port Angeles, Washington and Victoria.
Beacon Hill Park (11)
This beautifully landscaped 200-acre park is
located on the southern shore of Victoria. It is
the site of many activities and natural species.
One of the world’s largest totem poles was
constructed at Beacon Hill Park and is currently
in restoration.
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (12)
SOFMC, which opened in 2005, is a state-ofthe-art
indoor arena that hosts concerts, special
events, business and trade shows and sporting
events. The 7,000 seat facility is also the home
ice of the Victoria Royals.
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