Nestled on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is
rich in history and tradition. From the first peoples of the Island
and their beautiful customs to the Old English and Scottish influences,
Victoria is beautiful in the way it has balanced all of this precious
tradition and has let it flourish in its own right. With half
of the Greater Victoria area looking south at the Pacific Ocean
and the simply majestic Olympic Mountains, it truly is a city
that is awe inspiring with such a complex balance of modern luxury
and amenities and the simple and powerful majesty of nature. The
natural landscape has blessed all that live within its confines,
so much so that once you are here you may not want to leave. Undoubtedly,
Victoria is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
A Simple Story
On the news in late January you often hear stories of people in
Winnipeg, Edmonton or Halifax braving a horrendous cold snap and
fighting wind chills of -40. It's great to see people enduring
all that nature throws at them but when one lives in Victoria
one can't help but feel a little shameful. On these same days
that some wrath from above has struck Winnipeg, you will see joggers
or basketball players outside enjoying the sun and a nice mild
7 degrees.
Victoria's Two Seasons
Winter in Victoria
There is something to be said for the cold and how invigorating
it is, but when you come to Victoria you seem to forget what it
is. The winters here are mild and somewhat wet. Victoria rarely
gets any snow except for the odd night-time flurry that melts
away by noon. The fact you don't have any snow to shovel by mid-October
is a slight culture shock. And although we get more rain in the
winter than the summer, it certainly doesn't flood the city and
it is always common to see roller bladers and joggers in shorts
enjoying the fresh, clean air.
Summer in Victoria
Really there is not much that can be effectively said to convey
how beautiful a summer in Victoria is. If you can imagine how
wonderful the ocean air is, mixed in with mountains, warm sunny
days and a gorgeous city, you can imagine Victoria in the summer.
It is truly a tourist city and because of that it is beautiful
and has plenty of activity. Small with only about 350 000 people,
you still get a sense of community and quite often see people
you know downtown, either shopping or enjoying the sights.
Things to do in Victoria
There are many sights and attractions in the summer and as such
you don't often run out of things to do. There's always shopping
in a tourist city and Victoria is no different. Whether it's winter
or summer, the shops abound with a broad range of products all
beckoning for credit cards. Victoria is multi-cultural and has
all types of delicious restaurants and cuisine. From Thai to Greek
to Lebanese, all of the world's finest foods love to call Victoria
home.
Student Interests
If you think Victoria is only for the tourists then
we have mislead you. With the greatest enthusiasm we must convey the fact
that you won't run out of things to do. Victoria has plenty of gyms for
those who like to workout, hit the courts for a game of basketball or squash,
or just get involved to stay in shape. For those who seek it out anything
athletic is available, from hiking to swimming to rock climbing. The night-clubs
abound, places to play pool, some great pubs and an all round well-established
night-scene have found a home in Victoria. The night-life, while not that
of major urban centers, is alive, well and always buzzing with activity.
Inner Harbour
Always a tourist attraction in the summer, the inner harbour provides
the venue for many professional street entertainers. The setting
is truly splendid here with the backdrop of the Parliament Buildings
and The Empress Hotel.
Butchard Gardens
When strolling through these gardens one can almost feel like
some english noble of 250 years ago, but without all the pomp
and stuffiness. Planted with precision many years ago and handled
with relentless care, the garden and its landscaped walks are
world famous.
Victoria Film Festival
In 1998 this festival was chosen to premiere the first Canadian
film written and directed by First Nations people, Smoke Signals.
The film later went on to be an extraordinary success. However,
films that reach stardom are not a rare occurrence in this festival.
Quite often, the Victoria Film Festival sees the premieres of
many new films and directors before they become better known.
And with each coming year, the festival grows with people, visitors
and showings.
Royal British Columbia Museum
With the premiere Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit this past winter, the
museum has seen over 1 billion visitors in three months. Other
attractions include the IMAX theatre and regular exhibits exploring
the history of man. All these exhibits combine to make the museum
a major attraction to Victoria, BC, the rest of Canada and the
world.
Victoria Fringe Festival
Shown in the end of the summer, it's a
true fringe festival attracting undiscovered talents and some of
the oddest shows you will ever see. Always entertaining and downright
captivating, the Victoria Fringe Festival is a big draw.
Craigdarroch Castle
Like something out of 18th century Europe, the Scottish influence
in the castle is very evident. The castle has been the set of
many movies including Little Women. It continues to draw people
who are interested in its history and intriguing splendour.
Useful Links for detailed Victoria Information:
Global
Hotels Motels - travel directory providing easy access to
Victoria Tourism Info.
Victoria Motion Picture School Ltd. has partnered with myidealhome.com
to offer an Off-campus student housing solution for students and
property owners.
Try this handy link to find out exactly where an address is located
in Victoria (our address is 775 Topaz Avenue).The site will even
provide you with detailed directions so that you can get from
where you are, or where you are considering living, to where you
want to be! For your convenience, we've arranged it so that the
site opens in a separate browser window.
To Print Place Mouse in the center of thumbnail right-click and
select the print option from the drop-down. This will print out
a usuable map full page for you!
Victoria Motion Picture School Ltd.
751 Discovery Street
Victoria, BC., V8T 1H1, CA
ph: 250.381.3032 / Toll Free 1.888.522.FILM www.vicfilm.com /
vmps@vicfilm.com
