City history
Explore the rich temporal history of Victoria, British Columbia, from its Indigenous roots and colonial settlement to its modern role as a Pacific gateway.
Chapter one
Indigenous name
"Land of the Lekwungen people"
The city is situated on the traditional and unceded territories of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples, including the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Traditional lands
The area is the ancestral home of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Named after Queen Victoria
The settlement was established as the capital of the Colony of Vancouver Island.
Chapter two
The adoption of standard time across North America influenced how time was synchronized within the Pacific region and the Colony of Vancouver Island.
British Columbia implemented standardized daylight saving time practices to better align with neighboring jurisdictions and optimize energy use.
Chapter three
The Hudson's Bay Company established a significant trading post, which served as the foundation for the future settlement of Victoria.
The city was officially incorporated, establishing a formal municipal government and enhancing its status as a political and economic center.
The expansion of rail transport transformed the city, allowing for faster movement of goods and people across the growing province.
The opening of this grand hotel marked a new era of luxury and tourism, becoming a symbol of the city's prosperity.