If I was a James Bay Tour Guide....

Pedi cabs, rickshaws, horse and carriage... there are ample ways to tour James Bay, and listen to commentary -- as well as, take a more conventional tour bus ride through the area. All are promoted as giving a balance of experience and education. 

Horse and carriage on Government Street.

When cruise ships are docked at Ogden Point, the pedi cabs and rickshaws start there.

Pedicabs at Ogden Point waiting for cruise ship passengers. The "Flower Mural Walk Way" beside the pedicabs was painted a few years ago by muralist Renée Audy.

"Experience melodic hoof beats as your eyes indulge in the natural ecosystem of Beacon Hill Park."

"Learn about the rich history of Western Canada's oldest neighborhood and its connection to the development of Victoria through the fur trade and the gold rushes that funded the construction of the beautiful homes still standing in the neighbourhood today."

"...Regale in stories of past and present while weaving through the historical streets of James Bay."

These foregoing descriptions are taken from the website of Victoria Carriage Tours. I've  heard guides talk about the houses of James Bay, the Olympic mountains across the strait of Juan de Fuca, the ferries that take passengers to the US. 

I think there are other stories, stories that could be told instead. These are some of the things I might focus upon, were I touring a group through James Bay and Beacon Hill Park.

Trees

I know I would talk about trees! Victoria is a city of trees, and has done a lot to protect them. 

Who cannot walk Victoria and not notice the wondrous trees... and the efforts that have been made to preserve them -- as here, where the tree has been pruned, but not removed, for hydro wires.

One more example of pruning, this time, a blooming horse chestnut.

The Giant Sequoias are an imposing presence in James Bay, and Beacon Hill Park. These two mark the entrance of Iriving Park. The park, which used to be part of the estate of the Irving family, has at least one other Giant Sequoia and a large Beech. And there is a popular Giant Sequoia in Beacon Hill park near the children's farm. It's the site of many photo opportunities with children sitting on a convenient horizontal branch.

The Giant Sequoia is non-native, imported from California. 

My tour would also pay homage to the native Garry Oak tree.

A beautiful Garry Oak along the Inner Harbour, north of the Huntington Hotel. 

Garry Oaks are host to multitudes of beneficial insects which depend upon them for sustenance. 

Garry Oak leaves late in the summer, showing how they've been chewed upon by a variety of insects.

On my tour, I'd show visitors the tree below in Beacon Hill Park, and point out how fallen trees are important for many forms of wildlife.

Sign on a downed tree at Beacon Hill Park

I would highlight how Victoria goes out of its way to protect trees during summer drought, giving many trees a good soaking with an ingenious portable water tank.

Portable water tank soaking the ground around a horse chestnut during the dry season.

The amazing native arbutus tree, renewing its bark. I love how it transforms from the bright green to copper. Depending on the time of the year, I'd find an arbutus tree to show visitors.

I'd also point out how trees are protected during construction.

Although I've not seen tours at the top of Beacon Hill, perhaps they do go there. I'd point out the historic importance of this hill to the Lekwungen peoples, as signified by these large rocks which had ceremonial significance. 

I'd also talk about the importance of the camas in the meadows as a food source for the Lekwungen who harvested the bulbs.

Blue Camas on the slopes of Beacon Hill

The final element of the "tree" part of my guided tour would be to  explore art that pays homage to trees. Here's one example, from along Dallas Road.

Painted onto the seawall steps, along Dallas Road. Mural by "Fua Collective".

Walkability

If I was a tour guide, I'd enjoy pointing out how there are always people walking the streets of James Bay. And I'd describe the ways Victoria is working to improve infrastructure for alternate modes of transport to automobiles -- making cycling and walking safer and more convenient. Many tourists come from areas where the "car is king" and may not have been introduced to other ways of thinking about walking and cycling. 

The cycle and pedestrian paths along Dallas Road are used so heavily that they could each have been double their width! Perhaps in the future, the lanes for vehicles will be reduced, and more space given over to self-propelled transportation.

Signage encourages cruise ship passengers to walk.

It's great to see the good signage for tourists who want to walk from the cruise ship terminal to downtown.

One of several instances where road access has been curtailed for vehicles, allowing only cyclists and pedestrians. This is at the end of St. Lawrence Street.

On my guided tour I would point to the many instances where public access by foot and bicycle have been prioritized. 

The pathway through Capital Park Development provides a great pedestrian shortcut for James Bay residents to access the downtown.

Speed bumps make the neighbourhood safer for walkers and cyclists.

I don't know how long ago Avalon Road was closed to access from Government Street.The end of Avalon Road is now a pleasant garden and sitting area, with a pedestrian pathway.

Another blocked-off road access converted to a sitting area and small garden. This is at the end of Montreal Street.

A pedestrian connection corridor. It's great to see these in Victoria; they show care and thoughtfulness for the experience of the pedestrian.

Diversity

I've posted before about the diversity of this area of Victoria -- including diversity of housing types and styles, diversity of land uses, diversity of demographics in the residents living here. James Bay is not a homogeneous suburb, and that makes it a rich experience for residents -- and one that should be of interest to visitors on a tour. I'd be sure to point out this diversity as I toured people around the neighbourhood.

High rises surrounding Irving Park

Attractive landscaping in front of a four story apartment building

Townhomes of Capital Park development

Mixed residential and commercial on Menzies Street

Some of the large houses in James Bay contain multiple units; the City calls them "house-plexes".

As well as a diversity of housing, there is a diversity of land uses in James Bay. It is never boring living here!

For Good Measure on Niagara Street sells bulk and specialty foods. I often see carriages and pedicabs rolling right by, on their way to Beacon Hill Park. I wonder if the tour guides point out how unusual it is to see a grocery store on its own in the middle of a residential area!

Another isolated small grocery store is Little Gems on Superior Street. The idea of a grocery store in the middle of a residential area might scare many people, yet not only do they work in James Bay, but they are an essential part of the community's livability.

A "corner" grocery store serving James Bay residents

Historically, Ogden Point was an industrial working site. Besides cruise ships, other craft moor at the point for various reasons, including repairs. If I was a tour guide, I'd point out both the benefits and the challenges to the community of this connection.

A busy day at Ogden Point -- three cruise ships and two pilot boats!

To conclude this post: yes, the Victorian-era houses of James Bay are beautiful and contribute to its ambience. And yes, the ocean and Beacon Hill Park are wonderful connections to nature available to all residents of the community. But there are some other unique aspects of the community that give it that ambience -- its trees, its walkability, and its diversity. In my dream tour, I'd make sure that visitors were given the opportunity to explore those other elements. They all contribute to sustainability, and in my dream tour, perhaps some visitors might take ideas back to their home communities.

As a final note, I use the word "community" advisedly. James Bay has several active neighbourhood groups. The James Bay Neighbourhood Association advocates on behalf of residents with regard to planning questions, and organizes services such as local recycling days and seed swaps. The James Bay Community Project provides services to support those in need, including things like a weekly lunch, and James Bay New Horizons offers a host of support and recreational services for seniors. And, the community has religious organizations, such as the very active United Church.

Kindness, justice, compassion ... yes!

Finishing my tour of James Bay on the side of kindness, justice and compassion seem appropriate themes to conclude with.

Around and About

My first post of 2025 pays homage to what can be discovered when walking. As readers know, I enjoy discovering my environment by foot, and the delights that can only be appreciated when I slow down, and take the time to feel the world with all my senses.

Along Dallas Road. Despite the ever-present wind off the ocean, I often see people occupying the chairs.

The photo below is of the Union Club, on Gordon Street.

The pink of the blossom was just emerging when I took this photo. I liked the restraint of the building finishes, and how the blossom complements the colours.

I've featured Capital Park in previous posts, and was intrigued by the complementary colours of the rust, and the blue tones, in the scene below.

This view makes the development look stark, but as the trees leaf out, and continue growing, the ambience softens. And the trees have grown in the few years they've been here! I explored the reddish Corten Steel in a previous post.

I often walk down Parry Street in James Bay, shown in the photo below. It offers a great pedestrian shortcut towards the downtown.

I've been enjoying these winter heathers for what seems like months now! The birch is one of two in front of the building. I hold my breath each spring, wondering how these delicate, water-hungry trees weathered the previous dry summer and fall.

The James Bay United Church is a hub for the community. It operates a thrift store, hosts a Tuesday night jazz concert with amazing artists, has regular sessions like QiGong, and offers other events, both musical and thought-provoking. This intention to connect with the community is reflected in their banner, below.

Banner at the James Bay United Church, with the metaphorical bridge illustrated by the stone bridge at Beacon Hill Park.

Followers of this blog will know that I enjoy the artistry of window displays. The Tuscan Kitchen near the Bay Centre never fails to delight.

Cheerful energy from the Tuscan Kitchen.

The next two scenes did not involve walking anywhere, but I was intrigued at how quickly the sky changes at sunset. 

Photo taken from our apartment at 6:00 pm March 2 (before the switch to DST).

In just a few minutes, the sky changed dramatically:

The sky a few minutes later. 

I'll be continuing my walking adventures, and more photos will soon appear on this site as the days lengthen.

Enjoy spring!

Seasonal Colours

This post was supposed to be dated Christmas Day. But Robbie Burns' phrase about the best-laid plans proved true for me. Somehow a technical glitch (tech-speak for operator error!) led to the loss of my draft post, and it had to be recreated. And then, on Boxing Day, a health issue prevented me from finishing and clicking "Publish". Finally, two days after Boxing Day... here it is!

The traditional colours for this time of year are red and green; Christmas decorations and wrapping paper remind us of this all the time. However, anyone who lives in snow country (which is most of Canada) knows that the colour of this season is white. Snow creates a world of white. When I lived in the interior, even the coniferous forests were often white, or a monochromatic grey-black dusted with white.

Snow is a rarity in Victoria, and red and green are indeed seasonal colours. Here are a few samples of what I've discovered on my ambles in my neighbourhood. 

Lichens and rose hips from the fall decorate an old fence along Dallas Road.

This scene is near the BC Parliament (the correct name for what many of us call the Legislature). The red of the bark and ochre of the brick complement the greens of the ferns, grass and conifers. As a relative newcomer to Victoria, I still am struck by how grass which is dessicated and brown by summer's end begins to green up with the fall rains, and how quickly this happens.

Reds and greens brighten the display of cut flowers outside of the Birdcage Confectionary on Government Street. The bicycle is part of the landscaping; there are flowers in its basket.

This fountain adds to the atmosphere of a block of private residences on the James Bay side of the Inner Harbour.

The Inn at Laurel Point is located near the residences in the previous photo. I like the curved lines of the entranceway, and the chartreuse green of the logo, which complements the ochre of the brick so well.

A closer look at the logo of the Inn at Laurel Point

I've previously featured this house in a post on this blog. It's received a fresh coat of paint, and almost shimmers when a pedestrian walks by.

Another James Bay house, with a nice choice of brick red and a sage green to complement. I didn't notice the dinosaur until my beta reader Ken pointed it out!

One more James Bay house. As well as the wonderful red of the gate, I love the attention to detail in its construction.

This is the window of a floral store in James Bay. I always enjoy the artistry of the window displays the designer creates.

One of the many trees at the Bay Centre's Festival of Trees. Unfortunately I didn't note the name of the business which sponsored this unusual, funky tree.

When I first saw this display on Niagara Street, I thought of the peace symbol when I saw the train's wheels, and thought "what a good wish for 2025". But it's a car logo, not the peace symbol.

Here is the peace symbol, for reference. It was developed in the early 1950's from the semaphore symbols for N and D, standing for Nuclear Disarmament. I learned about it as a child, with both of my parents' involvement in the peace movement. (Semaphore was a system of communication through holding flags in different angles, standing for letters.) 

A decorative snowflake at the Royal BC Museum, hanging in front of a unique wall with a motif of trees. The trees reminded me of the monochromatic tones I mentioned at the beginning of this post.

Another image from the Royal BC Museum. This stylized Garry Oak leaf is the logo for its Learning Centre.

The bright green of moss at this time of year.

Detail of this brilliant green

There are a number of huge reddish Giant Sequoias like this one tucked around the older parts of Victoria, waiting to be discovered by the passer-by. This one is on Beacon Avenue.

This time of year is also a time of lights, celebrating the beginning of the gradual return of light as days lengthen. I'll conclude the post with an image to celebrate the light.

A tree on the Inner Harbour, decorated with hundreds of LED lights

May 2025 be a year of light for us all -- and for the planet.