PROS YYJ : CANADA
Victoria, BC is near and dear to our hearts, it was on this magical lək̓ʷəŋən traditional territory that PROS.NEWS, PROS.BUZZ, PROS.WIKI was born from the understanding that we are stronger as a COMMUNITY. Vancouver Island is home to some of the best DO IT items you could ever imagine. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the magnificent backdrop of the Olympic Mountains, if you enjoy amazing natural beauty, this is the place to fall in lust.
Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada’s Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. Victoria is the 7th most densely populated city in Canada with 4,405.8 inhabitants per square kilometer. Victoria is the southernmost major city in Western Canada and is about 100 km (62 mi) southwest of British Columbia’s largest city of Vancouver on the mainland. The city is about 100 km (62 mi) from Seattle by airplane, seaplane, ferry, or the Victoria Clipper passenger-only ferry, and 40 km (25 mi) from Port Angeles, Washington, by ferry Coho across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Known as “the Garden City”, Victoria is an attractive city and a popular tourism destination with a regional technology sector that has risen to be its largest revenue-generating private industry. Victoria is in the top twenty of world cities for quality of life, according to Numbeo. The city has several schools including Victoria College of Art, a Justice Institute of British Columbia campus, and high school programs run by the Greater Victoria School District.
PROS IN THE YYJ
PROS in Victoria British Columbia are a valued and important demographic to local businesses and the community. Local nonprofit organization Peers is their lifeline and support system, providing resources ranging from housing to jobs for current and former sex workers. Organizers of fundraising events to support the mental and physical health, and basic human rights of the most marginalized in our community,
FUN FACTS:
- Victoria has the second oldest Chinatown in North America, only behind San Francisco. It is in Chinatown that you can find the narrowest alleyway in all of Canada.
- Victoria has the second-highest number of restaurants per capita in North America. Once again, only behind San Francisco.
- Victoria is considered the bicycle capital of Canada because of its extensive bike path system, along with a high percentage of regular cyclists.
- National Geographic designated Victoria as one of the best cold-water diving destinations for its marine diversity and water clarity. In fact, the renowned Jacques Cousteau Society considers it the second-best region, only behind the Red Sea.
- Victoria’s waters are home to 3 separate species of Orca Whales, totaling over 80 mammals.
PUT IT IN MY…YYJ
PUT IT IN MY EARS
Hermann’s is an iconic jazz establishment with a 35 year history. With a fully licensed restaurant, jazz fans of all ages can have dinner while enjoying world class music.
Phillips Backyard Music Festival
In 2022, Phillips Backyard Music Festival returns with three separate, weekend-long events, featuring international musical headliners and emerging Canadian talent taking to the stage. Each festival weekend in the Phillips’ Backyard will offer a different mix of music genres, artists, foods and more. So there is sure to be something for everyone!
Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival
The annual Ska & Reggae Festival is back with regional, national and international artists for it’s 23rd year! For five straight days and nights, attendees will enjoy music, visual art and food at the Ship Point Inner Harbour and other venues to be announced throughout Victoria.
Rifflandia Music Festival is a four-day multi-venue music festival held at the Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, British Columbia. With no fixed date, the festival has occurred in the month-long span between the last weekend of August and the last weekend of September.
PUT IT IN MY MOUTH
Sult
Soupa Cafe
The Mint
5th St. Bar & Grill
Yates Street Taphouse
Artemis Whiskey Bar
DO IT YYJ
The Butchart Gardens is a 118-year-old internationally-renowned 55-acre display garden in Victoria. The gardens receive over a million visitors each year. The gardens have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
A vibrant jungle experience with surprises at every turn. At Victoria Butterfly Gardens, you’ll encounter thousands of tropical butterflies, poison dart frogs, tortoises, large iguanas, flamingos, tropical ducks, free flying tropical birds and more. You’ll also get to experience our Insectarium, featuring impressive insects & invertebrates from around the world.
Prince of Whales Whale Watching has been sharing premiere whale-watching & marine-wildlife experiences with guests from around the world for more than 25 years! With locations in Victoria, Vancouver, and Telegraph Cove, we offer a wide variety of marine wildlife experiences that range from three hours long to a half-day.
Our floating classrooms serve as a premium platform for provoking thought & educating guests who are naturally curious about killer whales & the other wild creatures that call the Salish Sea home. Our goal is to introduce you to as many marine species as possible on each tour and to leave you feeling inspired after every encounter!
Craigdarroch Castle is a National Historic Site built by wealthy coal baron, Robert Dunsmuir. Craigdarroch Castle is a stunning example of Victorian architecture, including exquisite stained-glass windows, woodwork and period antiques. Climb the 87 steps up the grand oak staircase to the Tower for the best views in Victoria. Operated by a nonprofit charity, proceeds from admission fund the ongoing restoration of the Castle.
Journey through the Ice Age, look into the future and discover how changing climates could shape the landscape and ecology in years to come, roam the forests of BC and plunge into the underwater world in the Ocean Station living lab.
Just around the corner from Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Fisherman’s Wharf is a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. This unique marine destination offers food kiosks, unique shops and eco-tour adventures in a working harbour setting. Wander down the to the docks with your lunch, buy seafood fresh off the boat, check out the unique array of commercial, pleasure vessel and float home moorage, watch the commercial fishing vessels unload their wares, become a pirate, view wild seals and so much more!
Malahat SkyWalk is an accessible 600 m TreeWalk through a beautiful arbutus forest leading to a spectacular gentle spiral ramp that takes you up 32m to a sightseeing lookout offering views of Finlayson Arm, Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker and the distant Coast Mountains.