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Local: Victoria History - Pacific Trade Boom

From the turn of the 20th century, Victoria began to mature as a city. 1897 gave Victoria the new BC parliament buildings and a boost from the Yukon gold rush. A few years later, in 1908, the Empress Hotel was opened on the Inner Harbour. In 1928, Lansdowne Field is opened as BC’s first licensed airport.

The war brought a boom to Victoria’s naval station, in particular its drydocks which refitted the Queen Elizabeth as a troopship in 1942. After the war, BC’s population boomed from the new immigrants coming from war-torn Europe, and so did Victoria’s. In 1960 BC Ferry Service began ferry service to Vancouver Island (taking over a long privately-run service).

Victoria is on the lee (downwind) side of Vancouver Island, providing both wide deep harbors and a sheltered location, which led to its adoption as the chief Pacific base for the Canadian Navy (at Esquimalt).

Victoria has grown over the years, with heavy recent immigration from Asia and India, and the metro area has over 330,000 people. Many Canadians have moved here from other parts of the country because of its mild climate and lush, green vegetation. The year-round moderate climate attracts both the young recreation-minded and many of Canada's retired population.

The recent "Asian Flu" has reduced Asian economic prosperity, reducing its imports of BC’s goods and resources, the income levels of British Columbia's visitors, as well as reducing their ability to emigrate to BC.

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