About Victoria's Victoria, Bc Inner Harbour

Our 85 year old Blue Bridge is causing heated discussion! At least it goes up and it goes down, which is more than most bridges do these days!

It's a dilemma and one that should only be resolved by a referendum. For more information see the following website:

http://johnsonstreetbridge.org/?tag=referendum

and Benjamin Madison's great photos show some wonderful views of the Blue Bridge:

http://victoriadailyphoto.blogspot.com/search?q=blue+bridge

This Labour Day weekend celebrates the 32nd Victoria Classic Boat Festival in our beautiful Inner Harbour. Bordering the harbour are the BC Legislative Buildings, the Royal BC Museum and the ivy-covered Fairmont Empress Hotel.

For over 150 years many sail and power vessels have gathered here and this weekend will see over 100 historic vessels positioned in the heart of Victoria.

During this summer we have enjoyed many events in Victoria. This August long weekend is the much anticipated Symphony Splash, held on Sunday, August 2nd. The weather promises to be beautiful and this free event is not to be missed.

Victoria's Inner Harbour is transformed to a beautiful concert venue. The orchestra and guest performers are set up on a barge directly in front of the Legislative Buildings. Powerful speakers carry the sound to the thousands (40,000 expected this year) who come to the harbour to listen.

The event starts at 4 p.m. and concludes at 10 p.m. with Fireworks and the 1812 Overture.

The aerial photographs below are of the Victoria Symphony Splash at the inner harbour. These photographs are all credited to the Victoria Symphony which plays from the barge in the harbour.

The 19th Annual Lighted Ship Parade will take place on Saturday Dec. 6, 2008 at 7 p.m. The ships can be seen in the Inner Harbour, and complimentary hot chocolate, coffee and candy canes will be served at Ship Point as the ships sail past.

Donations will go to The Victoria Cool Aid Society which runs various programs and an emergency shelter for the homeless.

An evening Market, at Ship Point Pier, with entertainment, carol singers, Christmas ware and local artisans, will run from 5 - 9 pm. Santa should even be there too!

In Victoria, BC, starting November 5th and until November 11th, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm the Royal British Columbia Museum, in downtown Victoria, is hosting a week of Remembrance. Featured are community displays and Veterans' talks. There will be a special Remembrance Carillon recital on Tuesday, Nov. 11th at 12 noon.

The significance of the Poppies that are worn during this week dates back to the worst battlefields of Flanders during World War 1, and to Canadian military physician, poet and author John McCrae's poem "In Flanders Fields".

I found a copy online:

by: John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

According to my parents, and although I can't find a reference to it at the moment, the poppy is supposed to be worn on the left hand side of a lapel, i.e. closest to the heart.

David