Victoria

Population: City of  Victoria: 78.659

Greater Victoria: 337.411

Culture of the city

The city of Victoria is located in the province of British Columbia on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It is the second largest of British Columbia’s cities and is the Capital.

Victoria is a major tourism destination seeing more than 3.65 million visitors a year who inject more than one billion dollars into the local economy. Victoria has the mildest climate of any Canadian city and as a result it is world renown for its beautiful year round gardens.

The city itself has a wide mix of people many of whom work in the tourism industry and live a quite life on the Island.  Victoria is one of the safest cities in Canada with a population that is accustomed to receiving foreigners.  

Languages

The primary language spoken in Victoria is English however as the city is made up of many cultures it is not uncommon to hear languages from all over the world.  Many of Victoria’s residents are bilingual and some even trilingual.

Climate / Weather

Victoria’s climate is the mildest of  all of Canadian cities.  The city of Victoria rarely gets snow during the winter months and is often green year round.

Summer - Pack light clothing, a sweater, light jacket and an umbrella if you're staying within the city. If you're going to be in the mountains, pack good hiking shoes or boots and warm clothing that can be layered.

Spring and fall winter - Weather during these in-between seasons can be unpredictable. Pack a warm jacket and clothing that can be layered.

What to wear:
SPRING (March to May) – is a favourite time of the year in Victoria. Mild weather, more sunshine filled days and the explosion of the city's cherry trees saturate the streets in bright pink! This time of year can see some south-westerly gusts of wind that mark spring. Temperatures range from 11° to 15°C, and layered clothing is still good for March and April.

SUMMER (June to August) - Summers are usually comfortable, with city temperatures ranging from 20° to 27°C. For a few days (almost always in July) it can get pretty hot, reaching up to 30 to 32°C with no breeze. Good idea to still bring something with long sleeves if you are going out at night, as the air off the Pacific can substantially cool down Victoria summer evenings.

FALL (September to November) - Expect a warm, sunny September (about 16° to 18°C) with fall arriving late in the month. It's the best time of the year for a walk through the leaves at Beacon Hill Park, Victoria's best urban green space! October is very mild, and November sees temperatures falling around the 8° to 10°C.

WINTER (December to February) - The heaviest months of rain for Victoria are December through January, with temperatures averaging around 6°C. The city rarely sees snow. Spring can arrive as early as late February, but it's still chilly and we recommend wearing warm clothing - a wool sweater or fleece under a jacket. Don't forget the umbrella!

Average Daily High Temperatures

Month	Celsius	Fahrenheit
January	6.5	44
February	8.4	47
March	10.2	50
April	12.9	55
May	16.3	61
June	19.3	67
July	21.8	71
August	21.8	71
September	19.1	67
October	14.1	57
November	9.4	49
December	6.8	44

Currency

The primary currency used in the city of Calgary is Canadian dollars, however many restaurants and retail stores accept American dollars and the daily exchange rate..

Holidays

There are 10 statutory holidays and one civic holiday celebrated annually in Alberta. Generally, banks and some businesses remain closed. Theatres, restaurants, and corner grocery stores remain open for business as usual. In some centres most shops remain open.

HOLIDAYS	2008	2009	2010
New Year´s Day	January 1	January 1	January 1
Good Friday	March 21	April 10	April 2
Easter Monday	March 24	April 13	April 15
Victoria Day	May 19	May 18	May 24
Canada Day	July 1	July 1	July 1
Civic Holiday	August 4	August 2	August 2
Labour Day	September 1	September 7	September 6
Thanksgiving Day	October 8	October 12	October 11
Remembrance Day	November 11	November 11	November 11
Christmas Day	December 25	December 25	December 25
Boxing Day	December 26	December 26	December 26

Tourism office information

Address: Visitor Centre
812 Wharf Street
Victoria, BC
Canada V8W 1T3
 
Visitor Centre Hours
June to August
8:30am to 8:30pm
September to May
9:00am to 5:00pm

Call Centre: 1-800-663-3883 / 250-953-2033

Fax: 250-382-6539

Types of Accommodations

Victoria has a wide variety of accommodations for every type of traveler.  For most of our students schools provide the safe environment of a home stay family which can be organized through one of our Education Consultants

• Bed and Breakfasts / Inns
• Campgrounds
• Guest farms
• Hostels
• Hotels / motels / resorts
• Vacation Cottages / homes / suites
• Vacation home registries / time shares

Victoria Airport

www.victoriaairport.com

Victoria International Airport (Airport Code: YYJ) is located on the Saanich Peninsula, 22 km north of Victoria, the Capital of British Columbia, on beautiful Vancouver Island.

Ground transportation from Victoria International Airport is available for all arriving travelers. Travelers may choose to rent a car, take a bus or Taxi to the city of Victoria

Things to do

Royal British Columbia Museum Is one of the most popular attractions in the city of Victoria. It was founded in 1894and is both and educational and research based institution that focuses on preserving the natural and human heritage of British Columbia

Butchart Garden: is a spectacular group of gardens in Victoria, on Vancouver Island British Columbia, Canada, . It is an internationally-known tourist attraction which receives more than a million visitors each year. High class food service and entertainment complement the meticulously maintained gardens.

Whale Watching: Thousands of tourists each year participate in one of the most spectacular experiences available in Victoria. Whale watching is a great thing to do while visiting Victoria. You can take a guided tour around the island and take photos of the local whale population.

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria  The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria which specializes in Canadian and Japanese art and is a must see.

Transit

FARE PAYMENT

Conventional fares effective April 1 2008

CASH
Adult	$2.25
College	$2.25
Senior	$1.40
Youth	$1.40
Child under age six: no charge

10 TICKETS
Adult	$20.25
College	$20.25
Senior	$12.60
Youth	$12.60

DAY PASS
Adult	$7
College	$7
Senior	$5
Youth	$5

MONTHLY PASS
Adult	$73.25
College	$65.25
Senior	$42
Youth	$42