Monuments & Statues in Victoria
THE 5 BEST Victoria Monuments & Statues
Monuments & Statues in Victoria
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Monuments & Statues
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- RobertMJThompsonVictoria, Canada792 contributionsJudging by the constant stream of international tourists, stepping off tour buses, Terry Fox is a revered individual. The statue itself is modest, like the man himself. It sits on a pedestal in a triangular patch of lawn bordered by residential streets and Beacon Hill Park. Ideally, by closing the northeast street, the space could merge with the bigger park, parking could be added, trees, benches, an interpretive centre even. It is a spot waiting for a vision. Companion statues in St. John's (hard to find in an industrial harbour) and Thunder Bay (a blow by on a major highway) are not much better. Pity.Written October 10, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- CanucksonthelooseVictoria, Canada750 contributionsIt is not easy to pass by this local legend without stopping to take a good look: she is after all in a strategic location overlooking the Inner Harbour near the BC Museum, Parliament Buildings, and The Empress Hotel behind her. Because she is placed at eye-level by a busy intersection, people are welcome to examine and pose with the Emily Carr statue and her monkey and dog — it is a whimsical piece from a distance but when you get up close, she is larger than life and so a bit intimidating — which likely captures a part of her personality. I’m not a fan of the stylization but it does make you curious to come and see her up close and learn who she is, and that is an achievement in itself.Written August 23, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- PookyCakeVictoria, Canada14,605 contributionsNathan Scott’s “The Homecoming” is a poignant and powerful piece of public art along Victoria’s Wharf Street. Unveiled on 4 May 2010, the sculpture – which depicts a little girl and her dog running towards her father, after the latter’s absence due to a lengthy deployment – was created to celebrate the centennial of Canada’s Navy. The image is timeless and beautifully captures the emotion of a “homecoming.”
At a basic but important level, Scott’s statue highlights the joy we feel when a loved one returns home, especially when such a “homecoming” was never guaranteed. When our servicemen and women leave for duty, it is readily acknowledged that they might make the ultimate sacrifice – something the statue subtly acknowledges with the memorial bricks at its base. For those individuals, the homecoming depicted in Scott’s sculpture will remain a painful void and absence at the level of family and community; however, the statue respectfully acknowledges their sacrifice and honours their memory.
As I walked around The Homecoming statue, I couldn’t help but think of Veronica and Edwin Dam de Nogales’ 2014 sculpture in New Westminster, “Wait for Me Daddy.” Like Scott’s piece, “Wait for Me Daddy” depicts a powerful image – one that actually happened in 1940: A little boy running towards his father as the latter was marching with his Regiment to board a ship for duty. In many respects, one can view the two sculptures as companion pieces to one another: Scott’s depicts our joy at reunion; Veronica and Edwin Dam de Nogales’ depicts the sadness we might feel when families are separated when serving Crown and country.
From a touristy perspective, I would not make a special trip just to see and observe Nathan Scott’s sculpture; however, since it is installed along bustling Wharf Street – an attraction in itself – it’s quite easy to include visiting the sculpture as part of a larger itinerary involving Victoria’s beautiful inner harbour.Written December 21, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PookyCakeVictoria, Canada14,605 contributionsWhile en route to Café Mexico, I spied this rather curious statue of a man sitting on a marble bench. Wondering who this happy looking fellow was, I strolled over and observed the small information plaque on the bench: “Michael C. Williams / City Benefactor / 1930-2000.” Well, okay then!
In some respects, this statue reminded me of another Victoria “attraction” – the George Mason Heritage Home (see my earlier review on this site). I say that only because, like the aforementioned heritage building, I had to do a bit of research afterwards to learn more about this particular attraction. The small plaque on site doesn’t say much of anything, which is unfortunate because, as I found out, Michael Williams was a fairly significant figure in modern-day Victoria. Consider:
Williams arrived in Canada, from England, in 1950. He moved to Victoria in 1958 and started a dog kennel business before shifting gears into a field he’d become a local legend for: Development. Of note, he purchased the building at 506 Pandora Avenue from Buckerfields in the late 1980s and began building what became known as the Swans Hotel (opened in 1989). Around the same time, Williams gathered significant real-estate holdings – amounting to roughly three blocks of downtown Victoria’s Old Town (please see my earlier review) – and amassed an eclectic art collection. In 1990, the University of Victoria granted Williams an honorary degree in recognition of his efforts in preserving Old Town. Unfortunately, as with most greats, Williams’ major recognitions only seemed to arrive after he unexpectedly passed away during a flight to England in 2000.
Following Williams’ death, he donated his entire estate to the University of Victoria, creating the UVic Properties. What did this amount to? A considerable sum: $17 million worth of buildings and businesses, and a $3.5 million art collection. The total donation represents the single largest of its kind in UVic’s history. In recognition of this, UVic renamed its Administrative Services Building, in 2016, to the “Michael Williams Building” – a nice tribute to the legacy of Williams and all he did for UVic and, by extension, the City of Victoria.
As for the statue, it was erected in 2006 by the “Friends of Michael Williams” as a way to further ensure Williams’ legacy lived on. Given that Williams’ gift to UVic (and Victoria) continues to ripple across the community, there is no danger of his legacy being lost to the sands of time. Thus, why not sit with Michael and take a silly photo before enjoying a bite to eat, exploring bustling Old Town, or the nearby waterfront along Wharf Street? Enjoy, learn and have fun!Written October 10, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PookyCakeVictoria, Canada14,605 contributionsThis beautiful monument of Dr. John SEBASTIAN Helmcken was created by Armando Barbon (who also did the John Williams statue near Johnson Street Bridge) and erected in 2011. It is located at the back end of Thunderbird Park, just a few feet from Helmcken House (built 1852), which is the former home of Dr. Helmcken but now functions as a cute lil museum.
When this life-size bronze statue was unveiled twelve years ago, it actually garnered a bit of press. The Saanich News covered the unveiling, but so too did the Globe & Mail. The latter’s coverage was a bit surprising to me because these large news publications don’t tend to cover pieces of art unless they’re controversial in some way. But then, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised? After all, Dr. Helmcken was a pretty significant figure in the early days of Victoria and British Columbia.
At a practical and base level, Dr. Helmcken is important because he was Victoria’s first ever doctor. Trained as a surgeon and originally with the Hudson’s Bay Company, Dr. Helmcken made important and lasting impacts on those he worked with, enhancing the overall personal health in the city. Later, in the 1860s, the good doctor also entered politics and played a key and pivotal role in two important events. First, in 1866, he helped unify the colonies of Vancouver Island with BC. Second, he helped negotiate BC’s entry into Confederation in 1871. As part of the latter deal, Dr. Helmcken demonstrated his shrewd negotiating skills by getting a promise from the Feds to build a railroad to BC. Thus, it is little wonder we pay tribute to Dr. Helmcken. We can add this statue – mid-stride and en route to another house call – to the other such tributes: Helmcken Road, Helmcken Street, Helmcken Veterinary Clinic, and Helmcken Falls. And I’m sure there are others!
From a touristy standpoint, would I make a special trip just to visit this statue? Probably not, but it would be a great addition to any itinerary that might include the Royal BC Museum, Thunderbird Park, or the general waterfront area.Written October 18, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
