Full Moon over Parliament Buildings -Victoria BC - Summer 1988

The BC Parliament Buildings in Victoria were constructed in 1893 by a young 25 year old creative architect, imagine that - just 25, by the name of Francis Rattenbury in honor of celebrating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Arguments arose of course, but soon the controversy was put aside and the Parliament Buildings were finally completed in 1915 with great anticipation. The Province of British Columbia now had an official residence for the B.C. Parliament and a home for the Provincial Legislation to assemble and discuss ways of boosting the lagging local economy at the time.

Francis Rattenbury and his crew focused the construction of the BC Parliament Buildings using, as much as possible, local materials, resources and expertise - supporting the local businesses was very important then and it is still now. Granite rock foundations were brought in from nearby Nelson Island, the site facades locally imported from Haddington Island and much of the local brick, lime and Douglas Fir were from Vancouver Island.

Even back then, Victoria BC dealt with construction over runs and controversy as the construction costs ballooned to just under 1 Million Dollars opposed to the $600,000 budgeted for the project. Big bucks back then, I'd say.

The BC Parliament Buildings, today, run visitor tours regularly during the summer months. Usually the tours run every half hour, from 9 AM to 12 Noon - 1 to 5 PM between May long weekend and Labour Day long weekend in September with the last tour at 4:30 PM.