Did you know that Victoria is the second oldest city in Western Canada? It was first home to three groups of First Nations known as the Songhees. The Songhees had named the area ‘Comosack’, which means ‘Rush of Water’. Captain James Cook arrived at Comosack in 1778 as the first non-aboriginal man.

In March of 1843 the area was founded by Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post and fort, they renamed the area Fort Albert. Shortly after that, in June of the same year, the name was changed to Fort Victoria after the queen. Fort Victoria was laid out as a town site in 1852 and the name was changed to Victoria. Victoria became the colonial capital of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, later becoming the Provincial capital when British Columbia joined the Canada Confederation in 1871.

Victoria was the main port of entry to BC in 1858 due to the Fraser Valley Gold Rush and for the majority of the 19^th century Victoria was the largest city in British Columbia. Eventually the Trans Continental Railway was constructed and Vancouver became a terminus making it the major west coast port.

 In the twentieth century Victoria became Canada’s western naval base and home to a major fishing fleet.  Information Technology was the largest industry in the city including marine, forestry and agricultural research centre. Today there are many heritage attractions to explore.

Check out our board to explore them and much more.

Explore Vancouver Island and the outlying islands by sail. Vancouver Island is ideal for sailing year round, but especially in the spring and fall months.  All levels will feel comfortable sailing here with the sheltered inland waterways of the east coast to the rough waters of the open ocean. Explore the partially hidden inlets, wild life (whales/seal/porpoises) and numerous islands. 

Sailing is a great way to meet your community, with a handful of fantastic sailing races and a few associations that offer many sailing courses. Also, there are multiple public docks and full service marinas to choose from. Many marinas offer facilities such as showers, laundry, stores and pubs. Check out the Harbour Authority Association of BC for an extensive list. 

      Keep your property looking neat throughout the winter months. A couple useful things to have to achieve this are a leaf blower and hedge trimmers. Clip back your dying plants to give the property a neat and maintained feel. Use your leaf blower to blow away debris especially from those winter windstorms.  Leaf blowers are also handy for getting those pesky needles and leaves out of your gravel driveway. Even though your property may not be green and flourishing it can still look attractive and keep those buyer’s interested. Also, don’t forget to clean your gutters! It may not be the most thrilling task, but you will certainly thank yourself later. Finally, make sure your roof is free of leaks or gaps. This is not just a chore to make your home aesthetically pleasing, but also to maintain the value of your property. Once the snow settles on your roof, you are looking at damp problems and/or rotting timbers.

We have many fantastic trade connections that can assist you with your maintenance. Feel free to contact us and we would be more than happy to refer you to someone.