Local historian John Adams, who runs Discover the Past Walking Tours, knows a thing or two about interesting places worth a second look in Victoria and there is a reason why heB次元官网网址檚 passionate about cemeteries.

B次元官网网址淲hen people think about heritage these days, they often think about heritage buildings or artifacts in a museum. Those are, of course, very important but cemeteries are a very important part of our heritage landscape,B次元官网网址� said Adams, who also volunteers for the Old Cemeteries Society (OCS).

Many of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 cemeteries are beautiful, located in prime sea-side spots where they double serve the public as parks. While some people may have a rather bleak outlook on cemeteries, their mind might be changed when they explore the beauty and hidden meaning within them B次元官网网址� through a historical lens of their creation in a time that truly embraced and celebrated their cultural significance.

B次元官网网址淧eople these days are sometimes a little bit leery about going to a cemetery B次元官网网址� But cemeteries were actually intended in the Victorian era (1837-1901) to inspire people and to serve as places to visit,B次元官网网址� said Adams. B次元官网网址淭hey would often be located in beautiful settings, they would be landscaped to take advantage of the views, the tombstones were intended to be almost teaching lessons so they would have sculptures, epitaphs, messages that were intended to tell something about the people who were dead, but also to inspire people.B次元官网网址�

Cemeteries are also used by historians as a form of microhistory, a methodology that looks for the answers to bigger questions in small places and in the average details of everyday life.

As you are soon to discover, Victorian cemeteries hold many fascinating discoveries.

CHINESE CEMETERY

Nestled in a grassy, flower-filled field at Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 Harling Point, stand the twin towers of the large, white ceremonial altar at the Chinese Cemetery. Ching Ming descendants of buried relatives burn incense and leave offerings here.

As one walks through, taking in the blue waters of the Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains on the horizon, theyB次元官网网址檒l find a scattering of tombstones with Chinese engravings.

At one time, these Chinese graves were located in Ross Bay Cemetery, segregated in an area so close to the ocean that they sometimes washed away, bones scattering on the shore. Some graves were marked as impersonal as B次元官网网址淐hinaman No. X.B次元官网网址�

To save the graves, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association bought the land at Harling Point in 1903 B次元官网网址� a site selected with ancient concepts of feng shui in mind B次元官网网址� and the graves were relocated.

The cemetery stands today as a National Historic Site and honours many of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first Chinese immigrants who came to build the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 1800s. The tombstones remain with significant meaning to visitors.

A deer rests among the tombstones in Ross Bay Cemetery. (Samantha Duerksen)

ROSS BAY CEMETERY

Celebrating its 150th anniversary in March of this year, the Ross Bay Cemetery has a well-earned spot on Tripadvisor as #22 of 156 things to do in Victoria. The 27.5 acres overlooking the ocean are kept in pristine condition, abundant with some of the areaB次元官网网址檚 oldest, most magnificent trees.

The fact that most of the trees are around 100 years old demonstrates the importance of cemeteries as horticultural repositories, said Adams. The parks department actually formerly used Ross Bay Cemetery as a warehouse of tree species and took clippings when they needed to plant new trees in other areas of the city.

As one walks the winding pathways through pines, ornamental cherries, plums, lilac and more, itB次元官网网址檚 easy to become enchanted.

B次元官网网址淭he trees were planted in a special way to be picturesque and filled with symbolism,B次元官网网址� said Adams. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 one of the reasons why evergreen trees are so popular in cemeteries: because they represent the idea of everlasting life.B次元官网网址�

Besides the trees, there are other interesting gems that make this cemetery so captivating. These include the graves of famous Canadians like Sir James Douglas and Emily Carr. ThereB次元官网网址檚 also the Bossi Angel statue; the grave of John Dean, B次元官网网址渢he disgruntled politician whose tombstone was erected many years before he diedB次元官网网址� according to the OCS; the rocket ship that is a pun on the Rockett family name; and the Cross of Sacrifice. Visitors can also check out the newly restored cemetery gates done in the original style.

JEWISH CEMETERY

Built just after the gold rush, which saw a huge influx of European settlers, the Jewish Cemetery is the oldest operating, non-Indigenous cemetery in B.C. that dates back to 1859. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a beautiful place with some very interesting headstones,B次元官网网址� said Adams.

Among the buried are Samuel Davies Schultz, an ace baseball player who pitched the first no-hitter in B.C. and was also CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first Jewish judge; and H.E. Levy, who started the first gourmet restaurant in the Pacific Northwest, LevyB次元官网网址檚 Arcade Oyster Saloon.

Visitors can also pay respect to those who died in the Holocaust at the Holocaust Memorial, which rests inside the gates.

MORE TO UNCOVER

Adams also recommends visiting country church yards, like St. Mary the Virgin in Metchosin. B次元官网网址淭he ideal time to visit is right around the end of March and early April when itB次元官网网址檚 an absolute carpet of wild Easter lilies [Fawn Lilies]. ItB次元官网网址檚 absolutely gorgeous.B次元官网网址�

Out on the Saanich Peninsula, St. StephenB次元官网网址檚 Anglican Church is a highlight. B次元官网网址淭he trees are actually dripping with moss. People who go there should have a camera because there are wonderful, very romantic scenes from every angle.B次元官网网址�

The Old Cemeteries Society was started informally in 1983 by a passionate bunch who wanted to preserve VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 historic cemeteries. Find out more about OCS, local cemeteries, and year-round tours at .

Do you have a story tip? Email: sam.duerksen@blackpress.ca.

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