339:
288:
31:
393:
496:
296:
608:
606:
284:. 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).
542:
government of the day, recommended that the murals be relocated to a museum where they could be given historical perspective. However, as the murals are painted on to the walls of the rotunda, the cost of removing them was estimated at $ 280,000. In April 2007, the legislature voted to remove murals,
311:. 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.
318:
Despite many problems, including exceeding budget – the original budget was $ 500,000; the final amount was $ 923,000 – the
British Columbia Parliament Buildings officially began operation in 1898. The grand scale of its 500-foot-long (150 m)
315:, 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.
411:, 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
991:
535:), suggesting the subjugation of natives to colonial law. However, Southwell's daughter claimed that her father depicted the chief as standing before another judge, one who championed Indigenous rights.
941:
Peter Seixas and Penney Clark, "Obsolete Icons and the
Teaching of History," New Possibilities for the Past: Shaping History Education in Canada, ed. Penney Clark (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2011), 284.
385:
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
889:
743:
1056:
346:
Its success garnered
Rattenbury many more commissions in Victoria and other parts of the province, including the Legislative Library (constructed between 1913 and 1915 and the
1086:
920:
96:
961:
983:
196:
709:
543:
with only 3 of the 71 members voting against the motion. Since that vote, the murals have been fully restored and hidden from public view behind false walls.
230:
1051:
351:
875:
798:
735:
628:
1020:
389:(since 1924, except during its sessions of the late 1940s and early 1950s) and the British Columbia Universities' Model Parliament.
1071:
1061:
204:
189:
1081:
652:
912:
765:
515:
from 1792 to 1843. The work was completed three years later. Decades later, controversy arose over the depiction of West Coast
951:
814:
679:
1076:
1066:
851:
539:
250:
234:
363:
253:
dead. In front of the Queen
Victoria statue is the 30-metre-tall Provincial Christmas Tree, an example of giant sequoia (
841:
386:
379:
713:
371:
332:
281:
815:"Natural Landscape Stones – Bedrock Granite Sales, Andesite, Basalt, Rhyolite, Sandstone – Vancouver, BC, Canada"
586:
464:
487:. Carrier produced twelve figures of women, all allegorical, three around each of the building's four domes.
427:
The sculpture on the buildings was designed by the provincial librarian, E.O.S. Scholefield and executed by
338:
516:
215:
89:
50:
512:
527:, portrays bare-breasted Indigenous women hauling timber while a white man watches. In another entitled
291:
The main block of the
Parliament Buildings combines Baroque details with Romanesque Revival rustication.
563:, the highest point in the Victoria area and a significant survey landmark used in mapping the region.
328:
277:
185:
74:
559:
gazes towards the city that bears his name. This particular alignment also points towards the peak of
287:
661:
480:
30:
431:
and his assistant
Bernard Carrier. For the exterior of the library Marega created 14 figures: Chief
456:
255:
790:
555:, symbolically aligning it with the City of Vancouver. Atop the dome of the building, a statue of
323:
façade, central dome, and two end pavilions, the richness of its white marble, and combination of
468:
448:
408:
367:
687:
666:
560:
532:
520:
508:
440:
625:
218:
buildings face north on
Belleville Street facing the Inner Harbour and diagonally across from
392:
359:
1013:
580:
261:
358:, the Crystal Gardens indoor swimming pool nearby, and the Vancouver Court House (now the
8:
355:
219:
53:
880:
312:
152:
56:
649:
847:
412:
769:
519:
in the murals, which in modern times is now regarded as degrading, and amounting to
495:
818:
556:
476:
436:
223:
200:
295:
802:
656:
632:
612:
573:
444:
428:
401:
1045:
460:
111:
98:
551:
The main axis of the BC Parliament
Buildings is oriented 12 degrees east of
375:
242:
472:
347:
238:
552:
484:
452:
246:
362:). The andesite of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings is from
303:
Construction of a new
Parliament building was first authorized by an
956:
531:, an Indigenous chief is shown standing before a judge (said to be
432:
397:
320:
885:
324:
304:
208:
327:
rigorous symmetry, use of domes and sculptural massing with the
846:. Vancouver: Associated Resource Consultants. pp. 66–67.
504:
416:
222:. Atop the central dome is a gold-covered statue of Captain
1014:"Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society Fall 2018 Newsletter"
503:
In 1932, artist George Southwell was commissioned to paint
791:"Chronology of Principal Royal Visits to British Columbia"
268:
Free guided tours of the facility are offered year-round.
415:
of 1983, to celebrations of various kinds, including the
165:
499:
The rotunda of the British Columbia Parliament Building
1057:
Buildings and structures in Victoria, British Columbia
299:
The legislative chamber inside the Parliament Building
1087:
Historic buildings and structures in British Columbia
370:. The granite used to build the buildings came from
988:
Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
16:Government buildings in Victoria, British Columbia
1043:
650:"Victoria B.C. -The Provincial Public Buildings"
876:"Murals of bare-breasted natives to come down"
736:"Building of The British Columbia Legislature"
211:include the Parliament Buildings and grounds.
422:
546:
307:of the provincial legislature in 1893, the
910:
843:The British Columbia Parliament Buildings
710:"Image of the Birdcages from BC Archives"
276:From 1856 to 1860 the Legislature of the
259:), misidentified as a "coastal redwood" (
494:
391:
337:
294:
286:
190:Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
923:from the original on September 29, 2022
1052:Government buildings completed in 1898
1044:
839:
203:are amongst those responsible for the
952:"B.C. legislature murals coming down"
911:Pendergast, Denton (March 14, 2016).
892:from the original on December 1, 2019
873:
309:Parliament Buildings Construction Act
235:British Columbia Legislature Cenotaph
233:stands on the front lawn as well the
182:British Columbia Parliament Buildings
24:British Columbia Parliament Buildings
626:"Vancouver Island First Legislature"
605:Photo image uploaded to Google Maps
490:
994:from the original on March 27, 2022
746:from the original on August 1, 2021
538:A 2001 report, commissioned by the
265:) on the granite marker before it.
13:
14:
1098:
1026:from the original on May 24, 2019
964:from the original on May 11, 2017
387:British Columbia Youth Parliament
342:The buildings illuminated at dusk
874:Matas, Robert (April 24, 2007).
352:Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught
29:
1072:Government buildings with domes
1062:Legislative buildings in Canada
1006:
976:
944:
935:
904:
867:
833:
587:Legislative buildings of Canada
1082:Parliament of British Columbia
913:"British Columbia Legislature"
807:
784:
758:
728:
702:
672:
642:
618:
599:
188:, Canada, and are home to the
1:
766:"Attractions in Victoria, BC"
648:Harberer, E. (8 April 1876).
592:
237:commemorating the province's
1077:Francis Rattenbury buildings
1067:Politics of British Columbia
984:"First Nations Negotiations"
840:Segger, Martin, ed. (1979).
669:. Accessed 1 September 2022.
639:. Accessed 1 September 2022.
7:
631:September 29, 2007, at the
566:
10:
1103:
801:February 28, 2009, at the
655:December 24, 2004, at the
615:Accessed 20 December 2023.
611:December 20, 2023, at the
423:Exterior sculpture program
280:met at Bachelor's Hall at
278:Colony of Vancouver Island
271:
186:Victoria, British Columbia
75:Victoria, British Columbia
795:British Columbia Archives
740:Hallmark Heritage Society
680:"About Victoria: History"
662:Canadian Illustrated News
547:Orientation and symbolism
163:
158:
148:
143:
135:
127:
88:
80:
70:
62:
46:
41:
37:
28:
23:
917:Victoria Harbour History
637:Vancouver Island History
513:British Columbia history
256:Sequoiadendron giganteum
231:statue of Queen Victoria
449:John Sebastian Helmcken
409:1994 Commonwealth Games
368:Alert Bay Volcanic Belt
144:Design and construction
667:University of Victoria
533:Matthew Baillie Begbie
523:. One mural, entitled
521:cultural appropriation
511:depicting scenes from
500:
441:Matthew Baillie Begbie
404:
343:
300:
292:
112:48.41944°N 123.37028°W
716:on September 23, 2015
498:
395:
360:Vancouver Art Gallery
354:), the design of the
350:of which was laid by
341:
298:
290:
66:501 Belleville Street
581:Knowledge Totem Pole
331:of the then-popular
262:Sequoia sempervirens
205:legislative precinct
128:Construction started
117:48.41944; -123.37028
821:on October 11, 2006
329:rusticated surfaces
108: /
54:Renaissance Revival
47:Architectural style
42:General information
960:. April 25, 2007.
881:The Globe and Mail
517:Indigenous peoples
501:
465:Alexander McKenzie
405:
374:, at the mouth of
344:
313:Francis Rattenbury
301:
293:
153:Francis Rattenbury
57:Romanesque Revival
853:978-0-9208-9401-9
690:on April 15, 2009
624:Duffus, Maureen.
557:Captain Vancouver
491:Mural controversy
413:Solidarity Crisis
364:Haddington Island
333:Renaissance style
220:The Empress Hotel
178:
177:
1094:
1036:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1025:
1018:
1010:
1004:
1003:
1001:
999:
980:
974:
973:
971:
969:
948:
942:
939:
933:
932:
930:
928:
908:
902:
901:
899:
897:
871:
865:
864:
862:
860:
837:
831:
830:
828:
826:
817:. Archived from
811:
805:
788:
782:
781:
779:
777:
768:. Archived from
762:
756:
755:
753:
751:
732:
726:
725:
723:
721:
712:. Archived from
706:
700:
699:
697:
695:
686:. Archived from
684:City of Victoria
676:
670:
646:
640:
622:
616:
603:
477:Anthony Musgrave
437:George Vancouver
396:Statue of Chief
224:George Vancouver
201:Sergeant-at-Arms
174:
171:
169:
167:
123:
122:
120:
119:
118:
113:
109:
106:
105:
104:
101:
33:
21:
20:
1102:
1101:
1097:
1096:
1095:
1093:
1092:
1091:
1042:
1041:
1040:
1039:
1029:
1027:
1023:
1016:
1012:
1011:
1007:
997:
995:
982:
981:
977:
967:
965:
950:
949:
945:
940:
936:
926:
924:
909:
905:
895:
893:
872:
868:
858:
856:
854:
838:
834:
824:
822:
813:
812:
808:
803:Wayback Machine
789:
785:
775:
773:
772:on May 23, 2007
764:
763:
759:
749:
747:
734:
733:
729:
719:
717:
708:
707:
703:
693:
691:
678:
677:
673:
657:Wayback Machine
647:
643:
633:Wayback Machine
623:
619:
613:Wayback Machine
604:
600:
595:
574:Douglas Obelisk
569:
549:
493:
445:John McLoughlin
425:
274:
251:Afghanistan War
164:
116:
114:
110:
107:
102:
99:
97:
95:
94:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1100:
1090:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1054:
1038:
1037:
1005:
975:
943:
934:
903:
866:
852:
832:
806:
783:
757:
727:
701:
671:
641:
617:
597:
596:
594:
591:
590:
589:
584:
577:
568:
565:
548:
545:
492:
489:
481:David Thompson
429:Charles Marega
424:
421:
402:Charles Marega
380:Sunshine Coast
273:
270:
176:
175:
161:
160:
156:
155:
150:
146:
145:
141:
140:
137:
133:
132:
129:
125:
124:
92:
86:
85:
82:
78:
77:
72:
68:
67:
64:
60:
59:
48:
44:
43:
39:
38:
35:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1099:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1022:
1015:
1009:
993:
989:
985:
979:
963:
959:
958:
953:
947:
938:
922:
918:
914:
907:
891:
887:
883:
882:
877:
870:
855:
849:
845:
844:
836:
820:
816:
810:
804:
800:
796:
792:
787:
771:
767:
761:
745:
741:
737:
731:
715:
711:
705:
689:
685:
681:
675:
668:
664:
663:
658:
654:
651:
645:
638:
634:
630:
627:
621:
614:
610:
607:
602:
598:
588:
585:
583:
582:
578:
576:
575:
571:
570:
564:
562:
561:Mount Douglas
558:
554:
544:
541:
536:
534:
530:
526:
522:
518:
514:
510:
506:
497:
488:
486:
482:
478:
474:
470:
466:
462:
461:Francis Drake
458:
457:James Douglas
454:
450:
446:
442:
438:
434:
430:
420:
418:
414:
410:
403:
399:
394:
390:
388:
383:
381:
377:
373:
372:Nelson Island
369:
365:
361:
357:
356:Empress Hotel
353:
349:
340:
336:
334:
330:
326:
322:
316:
314:
310:
306:
297:
289:
285:
283:
282:Fort Victoria
279:
269:
266:
264:
263:
258:
257:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
227:
225:
221:
217:
212:
210:
206:
202:
198:
193:
191:
187:
183:
173:
162:
157:
154:
151:
147:
142:
138:
134:
130:
126:
121:
93:
91:
87:
83:
79:
76:
73:
69:
65:
61:
58:
55:
52:
49:
45:
40:
36:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1030:September 9,
1028:. Retrieved
1008:
996:. Retrieved
987:
978:
966:. Retrieved
955:
946:
937:
925:. Retrieved
916:
906:
894:. Retrieved
879:
869:
859:September 1,
857:. Retrieved
842:
835:
823:. Retrieved
819:the original
809:
794:
786:
774:. Retrieved
770:the original
760:
748:. Retrieved
739:
730:
718:. Retrieved
714:the original
704:
694:September 1,
692:. Retrieved
688:the original
683:
674:
660:
644:
636:
620:
601:
579:
572:
550:
540:New Democrat
537:
528:
524:
502:
469:Simon Fraser
426:
419:ceremonies.
406:
384:
376:Jervis Inlet
345:
317:
308:
302:
275:
267:
260:
254:
243:World War II
228:
213:
194:
181:
179:
149:Architect(s)
71:Town or city
18:
483:, and Col.
473:Lord Lytton
407:During the
348:cornerstone
239:World War I
216:neo-Baroque
207:, which by
115: /
103:123°22′13″W
90:Coordinates
51:Neo-baroque
1046:Categories
593:References
553:true north
485:R.C. Moody
453:James Cook
451:, Captain
435:, Captain
247:Korean War
100:48°25′10″N
968:April 27,
896:April 27,
750:August 1,
378:, on the
136:Completed
1021:Archived
998:April 7,
992:Archived
962:Archived
957:CBC News
927:April 7,
921:Archived
890:Archived
825:April 7,
799:Archived
744:Archived
653:Archived
629:Archived
609:Archived
567:See also
433:Maquinna
398:Maquinna
321:andesite
199:and the
886:Toronto
776:May 31,
720:May 13,
529:Justice
509:rotunda
507:in the
447:, Hon.
366:in the
325:Baroque
272:History
209:statute
197:Speaker
184:are in
159:Website
81:Country
63:Address
850:
665:. via
525:Labour
505:murals
475:, Sir
463:, Sir
459:, Sir
455:, Sir
443:, Dr.
439:, Sir
249:, and
84:Canada
1024:(PDF)
1017:(PDF)
417:BC150
1032:2023
1000:2022
970:2008
929:2022
898:2008
861:2022
848:ISBN
827:2022
778:2007
752:2021
722:2009
696:2022
214:The
195:The
180:The
168:.leg
139:1897
131:1893
400:by
305:act
172:.ca
170:.bc
166:www
1048::
1019:.
990:.
986:.
954:.
919:.
915:.
888:.
884:.
878:.
797:.
793:.
742:.
738:.
682:.
659:.
635:.
479:,
471:,
467:,
382:.
335:.
245:,
241:,
229:A
226:.
192:.
1034:.
1002:.
972:.
931:.
900:.
863:.
829:.
780:.
754:.
724:.
698:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
