OLD CEMETERIES SOCIETY
Walking Tours 1994
Tours are at different locations each week as noted, with tours at
RBC (Ross Bay Cemetery) always on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the
month. RBC tours assemble at Bagga Pasta in Fairfield Plaza,
opposite the cemetery at 1516 Fairfield Rd. For detailed
directions to the other cemeteries, call 598-8870.
Admission to tours is $5.00 for non-members and $2.00 for members.
All proceeds help the research, preservation and teaching
activities of the Old Cemeteries Society. All tour guides are
volunteers.
May 15 RBC. Murder Most Foul, Part II (RBC). The 2nd part of
this thriller series will shock those who think Victoria has
a staid past. Some new murders to add to the old favorites
from past years. Extra guides for this popular tour.
May 22 Murder Most Foul, Part III (Veterans Cemetery). Some of
our early soldiers and sailors met brutal endings, but not on
the battlefield. A different look at one of Victoria's most
picturesque cemeteries, in the middle of Gorge Vale Golf
Course, access off Colville Rd., Esquimalt.
May 29 RBC. Point Ellice Bridge Disaster. Glenn Perlstrom
talks about some of the 55 victims who died May 1986, in North
America's worst public transit accident.
June 5 RBC. Metis Wives of Fort Victoria. Dr. Sylvia Van Kirk,
author of Many Tender Ties, will visit the graves of Lady
Douglas and many other women of mixed blood.
June 12 Jewish Cemetery. Learn about Jewish burial customs and
the history of BC's oldest operating cemetery. Fernwood and
Cedar Hill Rd.
June 19 RBC. City Fathers. Mayor Bob Cross will conduct this
6th annual Fathers Day tour to graves of some of Victoria's
former mayors. Always a favourite.
June 26 Chinese Cemetery. At this beautiful seaside setting
see one of Canada's largest mass graves and learn about
Chinese funerary customs from Charlayne Thornton-Joe.
July 3 to Sept. 4 Gossip in the Graveyard. Three
tours a week at Ross Bay Cemetery. Tuesdays and Thursdays at
7 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Excellent entertainment for
visitors and residents alike. Meet at Bagga Pasta.
Sept. 11 St. Stephens Churchyard. The fall schedule of Sunday
afternoon tours begins at this rural enclave, a true gem of
history and charm beside BC's oldest operating church. At the
end of St. Stephens Rd., off Mt. Newton Cross Rd.
Sept. 18 RBC. The Blushing Bride. Elaborate society weddings
of the Victorian era will be the theme, described in vivid
detail by Sheila Daly.
Sept. 24-25 Field Trip to Roslyn, Washington. A two day
excursion by bus to the town where TV's "Northern Exposure" is
filmed, also the site of many of the Pacific Northwest's most
amazing cemeteries. See reservation sheet for details.
Oct. 2 RBC. Capital Characters. Well-known author and
historian. T. W. Paterson delves into his files to spin
tales of the colourful flotsam and jetsam of Victoria's
society.
Oct. 9 Women's History, Part I (Royal Oak Burial Park). The
first of a three part series to mark Women's History Month
will visit the graves of Nellie McClung and many other women.
Meet at the main gate, 4673 Falaise Dr.
Oct. 16 RBC. Women's History, Part II (RBC). Agnes Deans
Cameron, Hannah Maynard and Margaret Jenkins are some of those
whose graves will be visited by Yvonne Van Ruskenveld.
Oct. 23 Women's History, Part III (Pioneer Square). Discover
some of the interesting details about the lives of women in
colonial Victoria. Meet at the corner of Quadra St. and
Rockland Ave. beside Christ Church Cathedral.
Oct. 30 RBC. Annual Ghost Walk. Always our most popular tour
(350 attended last year!) so we will have five guides at two
separate times to keep groups small: 1 pm and 3 pm, leaving
from Bagga Pasta. Halloween attire not required.
Nov. 6 RBC. Victoria's Aristocrats. Valerie Green has just
finished her book by this name and will lead a tour to the
graves of the cream of Victoria's society.
Nov. 13 Chinese Cemetery. At this beautiful seaside setting
see one of Canada's largest mass burials & learn about Chinese
funerary customs from Charlayne Thornton-Joe.
Nov. 20 RBC. From Hayward's Funeral Files. Len Gallo, Manager
of BC's oldest operating funeral company, discusses funeral
customs and stories about many former clients.
Nov. 27 Christ Church Cathedral Crypt. Tour the cathedral, then
descend beneath the nave into the columbarium, led by its
Curator, Barbara Frame. Meet inside the left main door.
Dec. 4 RBC. Kaboom! Tales of the "Exploding Fisherman" and
other deaths caused by dynamite, cannons, guns and other
explosions, narrated by Glenn Perlstrom. Today is the feast
of St. Barbara, the patron saint of gunners.
Dec. 11 RBC. Annual Christmas Tour. Humorous, sad and happy
true stories from old-time Christmas in Victoria in the words
of many pioneers, recounted by John Adams.
The tour program will resume at RBC on Sunday February 19, 1995.
Schedules are sent to all OCS members, or call 384-0045 for
information.
JOIN US ON ONE OF OUR EXCITING & INFORMATIVE FIELD TRIPS
Roslyn, Washington Weekend, September 24-25
Roslyn is a picturesque, historic coal mining town on the east side
of Snoqualmie Pass, now "Cicily" for TV's "Northern Exposure"
series. We will leave by charter coach on Saturday morning Sept.
24 and return Sunday evening. The Roslyn cemeteries are the most
interesting in the Pacific Northwest and are the main object of the
excursion, but there will be free time to explore Roslyn and we
will make a few brief rest stops at interesting places en route.
OCS members $120; non-members $140 (double occupancy). Deadline:
Sept. 5.
(Note: tour costs do not include meals)
ABOUT THE OLD CEMETERIES SOCIETY
For information about OCS walking tours, special tours,
school or other group tours, other OCS programs or
information about the society leave a message on our office
telephone at 598-8870 or write to us at: Old Cemeteries
Society, Box 40115, Victoria, B.C., V8W 3N3
Members of the society receive discounts on tours, may
attend monthly meeting, participate in committees, and
receive a semi-annual newsletter, STORIES IN STONE.
Membership is $15.00 for one year, $10.00 for seniors and
students. We welcome your support.