VICTORIA’S PARLIAMENT BUILDING

             An Outstanding Parliament Building

In Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, we were so glad we had taken a docent to tour the Parliament building, as there was so much to learn. The rotunda has a lovely mosaic floor and tasteful paintings on the dome ceiling. The paintings on the wall around the rotunda depict the history of the area. The first one represents 1792, the next the advent of the Hudson Bay Company in 1842, and Fort Victoria, 1843, is in the next mural. All the murals were painted in the 1930s, the last mural represents the hanging judge who was there in 1863.

            Francis Rattenbury was the architect who won over 67 other architects, and he was only 25 years old at the time. He had signed his drawings B C Architect. Apparently the committee thought he was a local boy, but he was from Yorkshire, England. When asked to show some of his other works he showed many---but they had been completed before he was even born! Besides designing the Empress hotel, he designed over 100 buildings in British Columbia.

The building cost $920,000, including the overruns. However, between 1972-84 the renovation cost a hundred million dollars. At night 3333 lights illuminate the building. The lights were installed in 1897 and were not replaced until 1976.

The gold on the second floor was added during the renovation. During the Pueblo Gold Rush 20,000 men a year came through the area. The Provincial government has one house. There is no senate like in the US.

The original stain glass window showing the coat of arms was made in Yorkshire, England and was shipped in molasses. It was removed in 1911 to make an entryway into the new library wing of the building. That window was lost in the basement for 62 years until found in 1974. It now is installed in the foyer.

A lion lies on top of the crown, and 16 years ago a dogwood collar was added to the lion. Dogwood is the provincial flower. Originally the sun was under the flag which was interpreted as the Empire was fading, so it was changed so the sun is now on top of the flag. The brass helmet was added to the corner of the flag 16 years ago.

The blue represents the ocean, and the white represents the snow on the mountains. The red in the flag represents the patriots, the white in the flag represents the French. The splendor sine occasu translates: beauty without ceasing. The new stain glass window was unveiled for the Queen’s golden jubilee.

The legislature table is U shaped and the sides, or legs, of the U are exactly 2 ½ sword lengths apart, allowing for a ½ sword length if each side should take up arms. The legislature is never in session without this mace (medieval spiked club) being in place. It’s a lot bigger than a gavel and is strictly ceremonial, but a custom still in use.

Jade is the Provincial stone. Queen Victoria named Victoria in 1858. The second floor of the rotunda is a memorial to past legislators. Italian craftsmen laid the mosaic floor using inch square stones.

Rattenbury met a sad death, as he was bludgeoned to death in England by his second wife and her young chauffeur/lover. After a big trial at the Old Bailey she was acquitted, but three days later committed suicide by walking into a river and stabbing herself six times. The chauffeur was sentenced to death, but later his sentence was commuted to life in prison. However, he was released during WW II. He survived the war and lived in isolation in England.