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

Downtown Victoria Timeline 1843 - 2012
1843 - 1920
1858 – Cariboo gold rush hit, population boom from 300 to 5000.
1843 – Settled by Hudson Bay
Company as trading post.
1862 – Incorporated as a City.
1868 – Becomes the capital of
British Columbia.
1865 – Chosen as the Pacific Naval
base for the Royal Navy. Still serves as
Canada’s west coast naval base.
1871 – BC joins Confederation, Victoria remains capital of province.
1886 – Industrial and shipping investment moves to Vancouver.
Victoria no longer center of investment in BC.
1890 – Craigdarroch Castle completed.
1896 – Consolidated Railway Company manages 3 streetcar lines.
1904 – Butchart Gardens completed. Victoria
gains nickname as the ‘Garden City.”
1908 – Empress hotel constructed by Canadian Pacific Railway.
1920 – CPR stops shipping grain to
Victoria. Fishing becomes major
component of Victoria’s economy.
1939 - 2012
1940 – Floathomes supported by large
rafts were constructed as a response
to the need for affordable housing.
1959-62 – Centennial Square is
redeveloped incorporating the
renovation of the historic City Hall and
police station.
1966 – Capital Region District formed to coordinate regional
issues and local government in the Greater Victoria Region.
1974 –Market Square opened after creative revitalization of more
than half a block of historic buildings and development of a
vibrant central courtyard.
1975 – Fishing wharves demolished to make way for Coast
Guard marine base.
1990 – The Bay Centre opens in the Old
Town area occupying two city blocks.
2011 – Downtown Core Area Plan adopted.
1939 – 1945 - Ship yards active and produce
25 warships for the Royal Canadian Navy.
1948 – Victoria’s streetcar system
dismantled in favour of new buses.
Government rebuilds dock yards to
accommodate growing fishing industry.
1963 – University of Victoria opens.
1965 – Bastion Square upgrade with
agreement between City and federal
government.
1980’s – Chinatown revitalization at a
cost of $1.5 million. Now designated a
National Historic District.
1986 – Clipper Navigation Inc. begins
high speed ferry service between Seattle
and Victoria.
2007 – Mayor appoints new task force to
reduce and prevent homelessness.
First stage of Dockside Green completed,
targeted to be to be 1st LEED Platinum
sustainable community in North America
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