Upcoming Club Activities

Details:

History details copied from Wikipedia:

From 1856 to 1860 the Legislature of the Colony of Vancouver Island met at Bachelor's Hall at Fort Victoria.^[1] From 1860 to 1898 it was housed in the first permanent building at Legislative Hall or Legislative Council Court, a two-storey wooden building along with four other buildings (Land Office, Colonial Office, Supreme Court, and Treasury) known colloquially as "The Birdcages" because of their shape (burned 1957).^[2][3]

 

The main block of the Parliament Buildings combines Baroque details with Romanesque Revival rustication

 

The legislative chamber inside the Parliament Building

Construction of a new Parliament Building was first authorized by an act of the provincial legislature in 1893, the Parliament Buildings Construction Act. The province, anxious to commemorate its growing economic, social and political status, was engaged in an architectural competition to build a new legislative building in Victoria, after outgrowing "The Birdcages", which were notoriously drafty and leaked in wet weather.^[4] Francis Rattenbury, a recent English immigrant, 25 years old, entered the contest and signed his drawings with the pseudonym "A B.C. Architect". He progressed to the second round, signing his drawing "For Queen and Province" and eventually won the competition.

Despite many problems, including exceeding budget—the original budget was $500,000; the final amount was $923,000—the British Columbia Parliament Buildings began operation officially during 1898.^[5] The grand scale of its 500-foot (150 m) long andesite façade,^[6]central dome and two end pavilions, the richness of its white marble, and combination of Baroque rigorous symmetry, use of domes and sculptural massing with the rusticated surfaces of the currently popular Romanesque Revival style contributed to its being an innovative and impressive monument for the young province.

 

The buildings illuminated at dusk.

Its success garnered Rattenbury many more commissions in Victoria and other parts of the province, including the Legislative Library (constructed between 1913-1915 and the cornerstone of which was laid by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught),^[7] the design of the Empress Hotel, the Crystal Gardens indoor swimming pool nearby, and the Vancouver Court House (now the Vancouver Art Gallery). The andesite of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings is from Haddington Island in the Alert Bay Volcanic Belt.^[8] The granite used to build the buildings came from Nelson Island, at the mouth of Jervis Inlet, on the Sunshine Coast.

Besides the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly, two organizations have been granted the privilege of using the Legislative Chambers during the legislature's December recess: the British Columbia Youth Parliament (since 1924, except during its sessions of the late 1940s and early 1950s) and the British Columbia Universities' Model Parliament.

 

Statue of Chief Maquinna by Charles Marega

During the 1994 Commonwealth Games, free music concerts were held on the front lawns of the buildings, attracting as many as 40,000 people. Similar-sized crowds have gathered on the front lawn over the years, ranging from political protests and rallies, such as during the Solidarity Crisis of 1983, to celebrations of various kinds, including the BC 150 ceremonies

Logistics:

Located at 501 Belleville Street, The BC Parliament building hours are 9am-5pm.  Public tours are done hourly and take about 45 minutes to complete.  The tour is free of charge.  I have requested the 11:30 tour spot and have received confirmation.  

There is no limit on cameras or equipment, but they ask that all tripods have rubber bases so that they do not damage the floor.  All visitors must pass through a security screening process involving a metal detector to enter the building.  They have also asked for us to keep up with the tour, so we can't stray away too long taking photos.  I am trying to get a seperate tour guide to take us through the buiilding so we have more time to take photos.  Once I receive the tour confirmation, I should know more information and can pass it along.

Located at 603 Fort Rodd Hill Road, Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic sites are open from 10am-530pm. Admission fees are $3.90 for adults and $3.40 for seniors.

Transit Users:  Sorry, but infortunately there aren't sufficient transit options to do the Fort Rodd Hill stop while using transit.  Anyone wishing to attend, please talk to some of the other attending members to carpool and share the costs of the ferry.  My car fills up fast, so please don't wait until the last minute trying to get a ride. 

Details:

Towering old growth trees, a historic water intake tower, the dam and breathtaking views of our largest reservoir are sure to inspire awe on this tour of the Coquitlam Watershed. After a visit to 4-5 locations, you’ll have a whole new appreciation for these protected lands and the source of your tap water. Through short presentations, you’ll learn about the history of the region’s water supply, water quality, treatment, how it gets to your home and the role of a healthy ecosystem in maintaining exceptional water quality.

Please be aware that this tour includes a significant amount of driving on gravel roads and some short walks on uneven ground.  

Logistics:

The meeting spot is located at 3045 Lincoln Avenue. 

Anyone parking at the parking lot, be advised that the parking fees are $0.75  per hour.

Transit Users: Board an eastbound "Expo Line to Production Way-University" train by no later than 0745am.  The train departs NWS at 0750am.  Exit the train at Lougheed Town Centre Station (Platform 2) and transfer to a Millenium Line train (Platform 1) towards LaFarge Lake-Douglas.  Exit the train at Lincoln Station and walk south to the corner of Pinetree Way and Lincoln.  Cross the street walking east and assemble in the parking lot at Lincoln Avenue and Westwood Street (behind Henderson Place Mall).  A map is attached under the "Attachments" tab for more information.

Please meet by the bus at least 10 minutes before the tour's start time (0845 to be safe).  There is no washroom at the meeting spot.  Dress for mountain weather and bring extra water (in a refillable container).

Links:

Attachments:

• 2018_Coquitlam_Watershed_Meeting_Location.pdf