BC Day 2010

The Monday of the August First long weekend here is called BC Day. Its main reason for existence is to provide another long weekend during summer. However, it also celebrates British Columbia so it was fitting that the event I attended was held on the grounds of the historic St. Ann's Academy, which opened in 1858. The couple enjoying a peaceful picnic above are on the grounds just to the right of where a large crowd was enjoying the music of some truly stellar performers, including Zinnia (left) with the band Momentum. There were food and information booths and activities for the kids including face-painting (right).

Below, some young girls dance to the music of Ed Peekeekoot, Alan Moberg and Ms. Peekeekoot. This trio really reminded me that we have some great musicians in Canada writing and performing genuinely Canadian music.

Red Berries

While walking across the grounds of St. Ann's Academy I found myself suddenly treading on all these glorious ruby-like berries scattered profusely over the path. Anyone know the name of the tree these berries come from? It has needles like an evergreen but instead of cones it has these red berries. Thanks to Lori who suggested in a comment that these berries are the fruit of some species of the Yew tree. I suspect she is correct.

St. Joseph's

When St. Ann's was in use as a boarding school it had an operating orchard on the grounds, to provide fruit for the resident schoolchildren and nuns. Remnants of this orchard, a pear tree and some apples, can be seen in this photo. On the left in the distance on the other side of Humboldt Street, the imposing structure was formerly St. Joseph's Hospital, Victoria's first hospital, erected in 1876. It has now been converted in apartments.

St. Ann's Academy Chapel

At the heart of St. Ann's Academy is the chapel pictured here. It's the oldest part of the building and was erected in 1858 as St. Andrew's Church. It is Victoria's oldest religious building. In 1886 it was moved across Humboldt Street to its current location and integrated into the academy. It has since been fully restored and is a lovely little chapel. The two ladies visible at the bottom of the photo are engaged in ongoing maintenance and restoration.

St. Ann's Academy

This is the entrance to St. Ann's Academy, a heritage building in downtown Victoria. I posted some information about this building in an earlier post and tomorrow we'll take a look inside the chapel.

St. Ann's Academy

St. Ann's Academy was the first school in Victoria. It opened its doors When the BC gold rush was just beginning in 1858. The red roofed neo-classical section was added in 1886 to the older mansard-roofed section on the right. A few trees remain from the orchard intended to provide boarders at the school with fruit. The buildings are no longer used as a school. Much of it is now occupied by government offices and areas of historical significance are open to the public.

St. Ann's Academy is located in downtown Victoria on Humboldt Street. This street is one of the oldest in Victoria and was first called Kanaka Street because many of the residents were from the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). I suspect the name was changed to honour the explorer and scientist, Alexander von Humboldt, who was very highly regarded in the nineteenth century.