The City of Victoria is hosting its 150th birthday party tomorrow (Aug. 2) in Centennial Square by offering a window into its diverse history.

The celebration, happening from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., includes a public ceremony kicked off by Mayor Dean Fortin, historical exhibits, music, refreshments, and period-dressed performers, who will transport visitors back to 1862.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a very significant day,B次元官网网址� said Victoria 150 co-ordinator Alice Bacon. B次元官网网址淚t provides people with the opportunity to reflect on how far weB次元官网网址檝e come and where weB次元官网网址檙e headed.B次元官网网址�

Back in 1862, the cityB次元官网网址檚 downtown was still a work in progress and Vancouver Island remained a British colony.

The grounds of Centennial Square have their own story. They housed dozens of Chinese market gardens 150 years ago, when entrepreneurial gardeners grew their own vegetables and went door-to-door selling their goods.

B次元官网网址淎 vegetable peddler with a bamboo pole was a very common sight in those days,B次元官网网址� said John Adams, who hosts several historical walking tours of downtown Victoria.

At the time of incorporation, the land that is now Centennial Square was owned by Kwong Lee & Co., a Chinese merchant house that rivaled the HudsonB次元官网网址檚 Bay Company as far north in British Columbia as Barkerville.

B次元官网网址淐entennial Square itself would have been mostly Chinese,B次元官网网址� Adams said, adding the sparse wooden buildings would have made a much more quaint cityscape.

VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 first mayor, Thomas Harris, was elected soon after incorporation by a show of hands.

The 300-pound butcher, who remained mayor until 1865, built a house at the corner of Government Street and Bastion Square, where the Irish Times pub currently stands.

In addition to ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 celebration, organizers are hoping the B.C. Day holiday will bring out the crowds.

On Monday (Aug. 6) from noon until 9 p.m., enjoy an eclectic mix of live music and hands-on activities for children at St. AnnB次元官网网址檚 Academy and the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 something for everyone at both of these events,B次元官网网址� Bacon said. B次元官网网址淏ut the ideas are rooted in the importance of community living.B次元官网网址�

For more information, visit victoria.ca and click on B次元官网网址淰ictoria 150B次元官网网址� or head down to Centennial Square on Thursday.

dpalmer@vicnews.com