Not even death can steal the love I feel for you – Unknown.
We figured that the distance from Vegas to Victoria was only around 1,200 miles, and we thought there was no need for us to rush to get there. Like Lynda said, nobody was waiting for us there. It was just an exploratory trip. The only time I was in British Columbia (BC) was when I had contracts which required me to conduct sessions and collect information for the projects that I was doing in Ottawa. Those visits were restricted to the offices in Vancouver, and I never had the time to explore the city. As far as Lynda was concerned, she had never been to BC. Our plan was to explore Vancouver Island.
Before we took off, I found out that the following were the most common regions on Vancouver Island:
- Capital Regional District (CRD): Victoria, Saanich, Langford, Sidney, Gulf Islands;
- Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD): Duncan, Cowichan Valley, Lake Cowichan;
- Nanaimo Regional District (RDN): Nanaimo, Parksville, Gabriola Island;
- Regional District of Mount Waddington: Port Hardy, Alert Bay, northern Island;
- Strathcona Regional District: Campbell River, Quadra & Cortes Islands;
- Comox Valley Regional District: Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland; and
- Alberni–Clayoquot Regional District: Port Alberni, Tofino, Ucluelet
These districts handle the following services:
- Regional planning;
- Emergency services;
- Water & waste management; and
- Electoral areas (Rural Governance)
The main purpose of our trip was to find out what kind of DND offices were in Victoria as Adam was expecting to win a contract to do work with those offices.
Consequently, we found out that:
- Key Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) offices in the Victoria, BC area are centered around CFB Esquimalt, the primary naval base for Maritime Forces Pacific. Other locations include the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Detachment Victoria at 541 Superior Street and a Defence Construction Canada regional office.
I wasn’t planning to meet with anybody in Victoria to discuss anything about our company as Adam had given me the impression that he was still going through the process of writing a proposal to meet their requirements which were identified in the offices located in Victoria. I had also realized that our trip to Victoria could very well be a waste, but Lynda and I decided to look around and enjoy our trip. We decided to take the drive through Oregano, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver then take a ferry to Victoria. We decided not to drive more than 8 hours a day to cover around 500 miles a day, which worked out just fine.
When we got to Victoria, Lynda had booked us into a nice hotel right in downtown Victoria which had a nice restaurant where we ate most of our meals when we stayed there. Our first impression of Victoria was that it was a relatively clean city. Victoria was established as a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post in 1843 and incorporated as a city in 1862. In contrast, Vancouver was incorporated later in 1886, making Victoria over four decades older and the oldest city in Western Canada. In 2002, the city of Victoria was a relatively small but vibrant provincial capital known for its natural beauty, tourism, and government-centered economy, with a population of about 75,000 within city limits (Around 300,000 in the Greater Victoria area). It maintained a reputation as one of Canada’s most livable cities, with a mild coastal climate compared to the rest of the country. The economy was heavily driven by the public sector, as the capital of British Columbia. Tourism was a major pillar, with visitors attracted to historic architecture, gardens, and waterfront views.
In 2002, the City of Victoria, British Columbia, was focusing on infrastructure, heritage preservation, and regional, environmental, and social planning. Key developments included the establishment of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority to manage port facilities and significant investment in heritage programs, along with addressing issues of homelessness. Key Developments and Events in 2002 included:
- Harbour Management: The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority was established, taking over the regulation of port facilities and amenities;
- Heritage Preservation: The City of Victoria continued to support its Heritage Program. This program was heavily supported by volunteers and organizations like the Victoria Heritage Foundation;
- Infrastructure & Planning: The city was working on a 2002-2006 five-year capital plan. Additionally, studies on office vacancies in the Capital Region and the city were finalized;
- Social Issues & Housing: The City of Victoria v. Adams case highlighted the struggles with homelessness during this period, with reports indicating a significant lack of shelter spaces for the estimated 1,000+ homeless individuals;
- Heritage Publications: Draft reports were produced for “This old house: Victoria’s heritage neighbourhoods”;
- Urban Landscape: A proposed demolition of the old Memorial Arena on New Year’s Eve 2002 for a movie, which did not happen, was a noted local event;
- Neighbourhood Changes: The downtown and James Bay neighbourhoods continued to be major focal points of the city.
Overall, 2002 was a year of routine development and the continued strengthening of Victoria’s role as a tourist and cultural destination.
Across from our hotel, there was a Fish & Chips take out, and we decided to give it a try. We were pleasantly surprised that they wrapped the fish in a Newspaper just like they do in London and when we tasted it, we were totally impressed. We walked around so much in the city that we used to get tired. We used to come to our hotel and nap in the afternoon.
We spoke to Adam more than once and he was glad that we liked the city. He told us that he had indicated in the proposal that we had an office right in Victoria with the senior staff to provide the needed support. Furthermore, he also told us that he had already submitted the proposal, but he didn’t expect to hear back soon. I wasn’t surprised with his statement as it has always been the attitude of the government departments – Hurry up and wait.
We had already been a week in Victoria, and we were looking into various communities not too far from downtown where we could find a reasonable place to rent. Lynda and I had discussed it and made up our minds that it doesn’t matter how nice Victoria is; we shouldn’t rush to sell our property in Vegas. We also talked to real estate folks about renting a two-bedroom condo/apartment close to the city. One of the real estate guys took us to show us around, which was very nice of him.
One day right after breakfast, we decided to take a cab and went to visit the Butchart Gardens, which was highly recommended. We learned that it was:
- Founded in the early 1900s by Jennie Butchart and her husband Robert Pim Butchart;
- Originally the site of a limestone quarry used for cement production;
- When the quarry was exhausted (around 1909–1912), Jennie transformed it into the iconic Sunken Garden, turning an industrial site into a lush landscape; and
- The gardens expanded over time and have remained family-owned for generations.
The Butchart Gardens is a floral display garden in Brentwood Bay, located near Victoria on Vancouver Island. We were told that the gardens receive over a million visitors each year and have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
There were a lot of folks lined up at the gate. We picked up a couple of flyers at the gate right after paying for the entrance and followed directions to walkthrough. We took our time and walked through the following gardens:
- Sunken Garden: The Butchart’s created a part of the garden where the quarry was dug and named it the “Sunken Garden”. When we see most pictures of Butchart Gardens, you see without a doubt, a picture of the Sunken Garden, as it’s the most memorable part about the place and is something one must experience for oneself;
- Rose Garden: With blooms from summer to early autumn, Rose Garden presented an impressive collection of 2,500 floribundas, ramblers, climbers and Hybrid Tea Roses in a variety of stunning colours; and
- Japanese Garden: A peaceful retreat emphasizing harmony, balance, and the sound of water. Winding paths, streams, ponds, and bridges. Japanese maples, mosses, and rhododendrons. As well as sloped terrain enhancing water flow and movement. Overall, a peaceful retreat emphasizing harmony, balance, and the sound of water.
There were two more gardens – Italian Garden and Mediterranean Garden, but we didn’t have any more energy to continue to walk around.
We decided to go to the restaurant for lunch. We picked the Blue Poppy Restaurant, which was a cafeteria–style restaurant in a bright, garden-like setting. The food was nice and we enjoyed every minute we spent there. It was almost 3:00 O’clock in the afternoon and we decided to mooch around in the gift shop. Everything was integrated into the garden experience, so dining and shopping feel like part of the visit rather than separate attractions. The gift shop emphasizes gardening, local craftsmanship, and unique items. We enjoyed watching local British Columbia artists and products including unique or “one-a kind” gifts rather than generic souvenirs. They also had an online store, and we used it to buy a couple of things for our friends in Vegas.
When we got to our hotel, we were totally pooped– completely, drained and extremely tired. We didn’t bother going down for supper. We watched TV for a little while before we went to bed. The next day we had an appointment for “Tea at the Empress”. a traditional English-style afternoon tea service held in the hotel’s elegant Lobby Lounge. It’s considered one of the most iconic tea experiences in Canada—and even globally. Just as a brief history, it started when the hotel opened in 1908 and has been running ever since. Rooted in British afternoon tea traditions dating back to the 1800s. The Empress has hosted royalty, celebrities, and dignitaries for more than a century. They claim they serve 80,000+ guests annually, with hundreds of daily peak season.
We selected the classic three-tiered tea service, which included:
- Freshly baked scones with house-made jam and cream;
- Finger sandwiches;
- Pastries and desserts; and
- A choice of 20+ premium loose-leaf teas
While it cost us a small fortune, we really enjoyed it:
- It was served in a grand, historic lounge with harbour views;
- It was accompanied by live classical piano music; and
- It used elegant China (including patterns tied to royal visits).
The dress code was “Smart Casual / Elegant”.
We knew that we had spent more days in Victoria than we had originally planned for, but we enjoyed every day. Victoria was entirely different from Vegas, but it had some charming features that we liked and enjoyed very much. Not knowing the fact that whether or not we would win the contract with DND, we thought at least we had seen Victoria, and it’s about time that we start thinking about getting back to Vegas.
We had an early breakfast around 8:00 AM in the hotel restaurant then I told the front desk that it will be our last day, and we will be leaving tomorrow. Lynda wanted to go for a walk on the harbour one more time as we were going to miss the harbour in Vegas the most.
In 2002, Victoria’s Inner Harbour was already a busy, multi-use working and recreational waterfront, combining tourism, transportation, and cultural events.
The harbour in Victoria functioned as a major regional hub for:
- Passenger ferries (to Washington State and nearby coastal communities);
- Commercial and private boats;
- Seaplanes and helicopters (frequent daily movements); and
- Industrial and service vessels.
Harbour tourism included:
- Whale-watching boats;
- Sightseeing vessels; and
- Waterfront promenades and attractions.
This contributed significantly to Victoria’s tourism economy.
We were told that the piers at Ogden Point were built in the early 20th century by the city of Victoria. Ogden Point continued to receive large cruise ships (a growing sector at the time). Lynda picked up some bits and pieces at the harbour for our friends in Vegas just to show off and finally she said let’s go back to our hotel and drive around to find a nice place to have lunch.
When we started driving, the only way I knew going north on highway 17th which we had followed when we had arrived by ferry at Swartz Ferry Terminal.
We were talking away and we must have not more than 20 kilometers when we saw a sign “Sidney by the Sea” and Lynda said how about stopping to see if they have any restaurant for lunch. I remember taking an exit at Beacon Avenue, which was a relatively small street with shops on both sides. I slowed down to make sure that Lynda had a good look at finding a restaurant. Only in a couple of minutes, we saw the ocean with sunshine. I almost stopped the car. We were overwhelmed as we didn’t even realize that Beacon Avenue ran through the heart of downtown Sidney and extended straight toward the waterfront, ending near the popular Sidney Pier. It’s the town’s central commercial street, lined with shops, cafés, and bookstores, and it naturally guides visitors down to the seaside. I found a parking space to park our car, the sun was shining, and we walked towards the ocean. It made us feel so good that it was hard to explain.
- It reminded me of the seaside that we used to go to when I was a little girl. Lynda continued, we used to close our shop on Thursdays, and my dad had a small Austin car to drive us to the seaside where we spent our afternoon eating Fish & Chips with our fingers and walking around.
I remember saying, I thought schools in England were closed on Sundays, not on Thursdays. She said my father always encouraged me and my sister to miss school on Thursdays to be with them. I said no wonder neither of you did any good in the school. She hit me on my shoulder and said, Let’s not go there now; She said, the fresh air always makes me hungry. Let’s find a restaurant.
We found a nice restaurant on Beacon Ave and had a nice lunch with Fish & Chips. She never stopped talking about how much Sidney reminds her of the Seaside. Finally, when we came out from the restaurant and wanted to walk a bit on Beacon Avenue to browse, Lynda noticed a sign across from where we were standing which said – Beacon Cafe.
She said WOW! I think I knew a cafeteria just like that in London where we used to go quite often to have tea and pastries. We walked across and thought we should check it out.
When we went in, we saw a man at the counter who approached us and asked if we need a table for two. I said not really. We were just visiting and my wife thought she had a cafe in London just like yours where she used to go with her parents. He looked at Lynda and said – you’re right. My granddad came here a long time ago and started this business duplicating what he had back in London. We offer a wide selection of specialty coffees and teas, made to order classic sandwiches, and delicious bake sweets and treats. We are known Sidney for it’s British-inspired feel with Victorian style brick and charming, cozy setting, making it a place to catch up with friends or take a break from the hustle and bustle.
I remember saying to him – In that case, please find a table for two and we will enjoy your afternoon tea and some pastries.
