Building Victoria: Men, Myths, and Mortar

Ann Turner is the financial and budget manager of the University of
British Columbia Library.

In this successor volume to her trilogy on the origins of Victoria
street names, Danda Humphreys (“Victoria’s Favourite Street
Walker”) turns her attention to 30 of Victoria’s historic buildings.
She examines why, how, and by whom they were built and subsequently
renovated, and identifies their notable owners and tenants over the
years. The tenants themselves have intriguing stories to tell of their
origins and the part they played in the history of the city and
province. Each essay is illustrated with several historical photographs
of its subject drawn from the B.C. Provincial Archives and private
collections. Most of the buildings are in the present-day downtown area,
making this a fine guide for a walking tour and introduction to
Victoria’s history.