Series consists of ledgers of accounts payable by the City.
Victoria (B.C.). Finance DepartmentSeries consists of correspondence, advertisement rates, and news clippings of advertisements purchased by the City from local newspapers. Advertisements deal with job vacancies, tenders, public notices, and bylaw announcements.
Victoria (B.C.). Purchasing DepartmentSeries consists of photographs of advertising billboards and other signage in the downtown area, James Bay, and Vic West.
The photographs were, in all probability, taken as supporting evidence for proposed amendments to the 1963 sign bylaw (no. 5335). The amendments contained in bylaw no. 6418, which would purge Victoria of all commercial billboards over a 3-year period as well as restrict the number, size and content, was passed by Council 10 August 1972. All photographs were taken between 8 May and 11 May 1972.
Each image has a general view in Polaroid format and a close up view in standard 35 mm format.
Victoria (B.C.). Engineering DepartmentThe Advisory Design Panel advises Council on the design merits of plans for various development projects such as rezoning and development permit applications.
Victoria (B.C.). Advisory Design PanelSeries consists of an index to Study Case Files (or "policy files") concerning planning-related issues.
Victoria (B.C.). Planning DepartmentSeries consists of an APC case study of C-1S Limited Commercial Service Station District: abandoned service stations.
Victoria (B.C.). Planning DepartmentSeries includes correspondence relating to applications, minutes, correspondence, draft zoning bylaws, notes and reports related to the creation of zoning bylaws.
Victoria (B.C.). Planning DepartmentSeries consists of minutes and agendas of this agency, which was created to oversee planning and zoning issues in the City.
This agency was created in 1958, under bylaw 4653, as the successor to the Town Planning Commission, records of which can be found in CR-0031.
Victoria (B.C.). Planning DepartmentSeries consists of agendas and minutes of this City Council committee.
Victoria (B.C.). Aged Men's Home and Social Welfare CommitteeSeries consists of original agreements, leases, contracts and other legal documents which pertain to a variety of matters including land purchases, land sales, large building projects, water supply, employment, paving, operations of concessions, Wartime Housing, and union agreements.
Victoria (B.C.). City CouncilSeries consists of a description of agreements for sale and quit claims between various parties that were used to amend the assessment roll by keeping property ownership information up to date.
Although the cover of the volume indicates that it contains items 47755G to 88818G, the records themselves range from 48646G to 88818G.
Victoria (B.C.). Assessor's OfficeSeries consists of an alphabetical and a numerical index to agreements, the alphabetical list ranging from 1892-1992 and the numerical from 1978-1992.
Victoria (B.C.). City CouncilSeries consists of a list of agreements of sale between the City and various parties for properties reverted to the City for default of taxes.
Includes tax roll number, date, name, legal description, and purchase price.
Part of single volume including CR-0256, 0257, and 0258; located at pp. 120-121.
Victoria (B.C.). Finance DepartmentSeries consists of the minutes of this City Council committee.
Victoria (B.C.). Airport CommitteeSeries consists of correspondence, minutes, and press releases pertaining to local efforts to raise funds for disaster relief resulting from tidal wave destruction in the Alberni Inlet.
Victoria (B.C.). Alberni Valley and West Coast Disaster Fund CommitteeSeries consists of plumbing and sewer connection applications pertaining to buildings that no longer exist in their original location, having been demolished, moved, or burned (applications pertaining to existing buildings are in the custody of Permits and Inspection).
There are six different kinds of records in this series, all of them used (and filed) together in administering plumbing and sewerage connection applications: Application to connect with sewer; Application to construct plumbing; Application to connect with public surface drains; Application to connect with public surface drains or septic tank; Application to connect with holding tank; and Application to connect house sewers temporarily to public surface water drains. Each application consists of a form and a basic plan of the structure (on linen). The plans show the location of the bathroom(s) and kitchen and indicate where the house plumbing connects to the main sewer. Some applications contain more detailed plans showing elevations, alterations, and additions, as well as correspondence.
The first application to connect to the sewer was made on 1 December 1892.
The design of the forms and the information collected changed over time. Sample data elements for several periods are provided below.
Sample Data Elements:
December 1892 - April 1893
Location of property
Legal description
Date
Owners name
Owners address*
Architect name*
Architect address
Plumber name
Plumber address
Builder name
Builder address
Purpose of building
No. of houses connected
Signature of owner
Owner at the time that the application was made. This is not necessarily the original owner.
**Not necessarily the architect of the building. Since many of the buildings had already been built when indoor plumbing became available, an architect was often hired to incorporate the plumbing into the existing structure.
April 1893 - October 1895
Location of property
Legal description
Owners name
Owners address
Architect name
Architect address
Pipe layer name
Pipe layer address
Builder name
Builder address
Purpose of building
How many buildings
The street on which main sewer is located
Signature of owner
Date
Signature of Agent for owner
Report and recommendation of Inspector
Signature of inspector
Date
Owner at the time that the application was made. This is not necessarily the original owner. Not necessarily the architect of the building. Since many of the buildings had already been built when indoor plumbing became available, an architect was often hired to incorporate the plumbing into the existing structure. Agents signing for owner include: spouse, contractor, architect, plumber and others.
October 1895 - December 1911
Location of property
Legal description
Owners name*
Owners address
Pipe layer name
Pipe layer address
Plumber name
Plumber address
Purpose of building
How many buildings
The street on which main sewer is located
Signature of owner
Date
Signature of Agent for owner**
Report and recommendation of Inspector
Signature of inspector
Date
*Owner at the time that the application was made. This is not necessarily the original owner.
**Agents signing for owner include: spouse, contractor, architect, plumber and others.
January 1912 - 1950s
Location of property
Legal description
Owners name*
Owners address
Pipe layer name
Pipe layer address
Plumber name
Plumber address
Purpose of building
How many buildings
The street on which main sewer is located
A schedule setting out the class and position of plumbing fixtures
Signature of owner
Date
Signature of Agent for owner**
Report and recommendation of Inspector
Signature of inspector
Date
A receipt for a sum as required by the application
*Owner at the time that the application was made. This is not necessarily the original owner.
**Agents signing for owner include: spouse, contractor, architect, plumber and others
Series consists of books containing applications to connect with the city water supply.
Each application consists of a form filled out by the property owner requesting permission to obtain water from the city water supply and promising to abide by the requisite conditions and pay the necessary fees.
The form captures the following data elements: lot number, block, street, type of structure, number of bricks, barrels of lime, cost of water rent, cost of service and owner’s signature. The applications were sometimes signed by an agent for the owner, commonly the architect, builder, contractor or land agent. Some applications have letters attached or notes written on them regarding addresses or installation. Notes on the inside cover of some books pertain to water rates and cost of services. The design of the forms and the information collected changed somewhat over time.
The Water Commissioner changed from E.A. Wilmot to R.L. Raymur in September 1894 and the water application forms were subsequently changed. The department also started numbering the applications at 1 again.
The first application to connect to with water was made on 7 January 1892.
Victoria (B.C.). Water CommissionerSeries includes correspondence, reports, clippings, personnel files, and requisitions.
Victoria (B.C.). City Manager's OfficeSeries consists of the following project files: centennial decorations, Centennial Square, centennial projects, downtown beautification (includes display panels with black and white photographic panoramas, by downtown block, recording the current state of buildings), Fire Hall, floats, Humber Green, parks, and special projects. Records dating from 1943 to late 1963 were created in the Engineering or Building Inspector's Departments. They were merged with the rest of the files in 1963 as a result of the division head's continuing responsibilities despite his change of position.
Victoria (B.C.). City Manager's OfficeSeries consists of records created by the City of Victoria Archives. Includes correspondence, memoranda, reports, and guest registers.
Victoria (B.C.). Archives DivisionSeries consists of property tax assessment notices and related correspondence, mainly concerning persons and corporate bodies with multiple properties.
Victoria (B.C.). Assessor's OfficeSeries consists of assessments on real property and improvements compiled for the purpose of determining taxes.
Information on the creation, structure, and composition of the Collector's roll is provided below in three sections: context of creation, structure, and data elements.
Context of Creation
The Colony of Vancouver Island was responsible for the assessment and collection of property taxes in Victoria from 1862 until 1866. From 1867 until the establishment of the British Columbia Assessment Authority in 1974, these functions were the responsibility of the City. Under the City's administration, the general procedure was as follows. Each year the Assessor drew up the assessment roll, sent out notices of assessment to relevant taxpayers, and then forwarded the roll to the City Clerk on behalf of Council. City Council, sitting as the Court of Revision, determined whether revisions to the returned assessment roll were required, made them if necessary, confirmed them, and authenticated the roll. Council then enacted a bylaw for setting yearly tax rates. Following this, the Clerk made out the Collector's roll and forwarded it to the Collector who gathered the taxes, returning his roll to the Clerk when finished, and forwarding the money collected to the Treasurer.
Structure
The assessment rolls provide information on what is to be assessed, how much it is assessed at, when the assessment is made, and to whom the assessment is to be charged. However, based on differences in format, titling, size, arrangement of entries, or status of the roll they can be divided into three chronological groups:
(1) 1864-1871
(2) 1872-1891
(3) 1892-1916
With regard to content, there are some differences within each of these groups. These differences relate to such things as omission of previously used data elements, inclusion of new data elements, alterations in the arrangement of the same data elements, and spelling of the same data elements. Each group provides summary information at end of the last volume within it concerning City of Victoria land holdings. What follows in an overall description of the three main groups listed above.
(1) 1864-1871 Lists assessments alphabetically by name of the assessee, rather than numerically by roll number. Some volumes are not titled, data elements are handwritten, and data elements are often located only on the first pages of each volume.
(2) 1872-1891 Titled "City of Victoria real estate assessment roll." (The single volume for 1872 and 1873 is transitional between the first group and this one, the numerical arrangement of entries placing it most logically in this group; but note that these assessments have no element for Court of Revision alterations; the title is "Real estate.")
(3) 1892-1916 Titled "City of Victoria land and improvement assessment roll." Bylaw 155 of 1892 resulted in the change of title, although both land and improvements were assessed from 1864.
Sample Data Elements:
Group 1: 1864-18711864-1865
Name of Owner
Place of Residence
No. of Lot
No. of Block
Street
Admeasurement
Assessed Value of
Land
Improvements
Revised Value
Land
Improvements
Total Value
Tax 1%
Additional 5%
Total Tax Payable
1867
Owner' Name
Residence
No. Lot
No. Block
Measure
Street
Assessed Value Land
Improvements
Total
Tax One per Cent
Tax on Rate 1/4 of One Per Cent
Group 2: 1872-1891
1872-1873
Lot
Block
Admeasurement
Street
Name
Assessed value land
[Assessed value] improvements
Total value
Rate
No.
No.
Amount paid
No.
Fire rate
1874-1891
Lot
Block
Admeasurement
Streets
Names
Per foot frontage or by acre [1891 only]
Land assessments
Improved assessments
Alterations by Court of Revision
Total
Arrears
Tax
Receipts
Amount paid
Arrears [1890-1891 only]
Remarks [handwritten: "notices sent"]
Group 3: 1892-1916 (overview)
Map no. [1915-1916 only]
Sub-lot [1912-1916 only; "Subdivision" for 1897-1911]
Lot
Block
Measurement
Street
Name
Address [for 1892, between "Amount paid" and "Notices sent"]
Price per foot frontage or acre
Assessment on land
Assessments on improvements
Total
Alteration by Court of Revision
Land [1897-1916 only]
Improvements [1897-1916 only]
Arrears of taxes [1893-1896 only]
Notices sent
Remarks
1892
Lot
Block
Measurement
Street
Name
Price per foot frontage or acre
Assessment on land
Assessments on improvements
Alteration by Court of Revision
Total
Arrears of taxes
Amount paid
Address
Notices sent
Remarks
1893-1896
Lot
Block
Measurement
Street
Name
Address
Price per foot frontage or acre
Assessment on land
Assessments on improvements
Alteration by Court of Revision
Total
Arrears of taxes
Notices sent
Remarks
1897-1911
Subdivision
Lot
Block
Measurement
Street
Name
Address
Price per foot frontage or acre
Assessment on land
Assessments on improvements
Total
Alteration by Court of Revision
Land
Improvements
Notices sent
Remarks
1912-1914
Sub-lot
Lot
Block
Measurement
Street
Name
Address
Price per foot frontage or acre
Assessment on land
Assessments on improvements
Total
Alteration by Court of Revision
Land
Improvements
Notices sent
Remarks
1915-1916
Map no.
Sub-lot
Lot
Block
Measurement
Street
Name
Address
Price per foot frontage or acre
Assessment on land
Assessments on improvements
Total
Alteration by Court of Revision
Land
Improvements
Notices sent
Remarks
Victoria (B.C.). Finance Department
Series consists of a volume of tax assessment information that provides comparisons for the years 1892, 1894, 1897, 1900, and 1905.
Includes only the following information: lot and block number, measurement, street, name, assessment on land, and assessment on improvements.
Victoria (B.C.). Assessor's OfficeSeries consists of a typewritten copy of the assessment roll indexed alphabetically by street.
Victoria (B.C.). Assessor's OfficeSeries consists of a set of tax rolls that were created as working documents used in compiling the assessment portion of the Assessor's and Collector's rolls.
The volumes are divided into several chronological groups: 1916-1918, 1919-1921, 1922-1925, 1926-1929, and 1930-1934. All of these groups are titled "City of Victoria," and the volumes within each group are followed by an alphabetical or numerical subtitle: A, B, or C for volumes in the 1916-1918, 1922-1929, and 1930-1934 groups, and 1-6 for the 1919-1921 group.
Victoria (B.C.). Assessor's OfficeSeries consists of project documents related to reorganizing and renumbering the Assessors and Collectors rolls, including a conversion list of old and new roll numbers, correspondence, and plans showing the location of blocks within sub-districts.
Victoria (B.C.). Finance DepartmentSeries consists of a combination of assessment rolls and Collector's rolls, providing information on property values and taxation rates compiled for the purpose of assessing and collecting taxes on property and improvements.
Information on the creation, structure, and composition of the Collector's roll is provided below in three sections: context of creation, structure, and data elements.
Context of Creation
Until the establishment of the B.C. Assessment Authority in 1974, assessment and collection of property taxes were the responsibility of the City. Each year the Assessor drew up the assessment roll, sent out notices of assessment to relevant taxpayers, and then forwarded the roll to the City Clerk on behalf of Council. City Council, sitting as the Court of Revision, determined whether revisions to the returned assessment roll were required, made them if necessary, confirmed them, and authenticated the roll. Council then enacted a bylaw for setting yearly tax rates. Following this, the Clerk made out the Collector's roll and forwarded it to the Collector who gathered the taxes, returning his roll to the Clerk when finished, and forwarding the money collected to the Treasurer.
Structure
Records are arranged numerically by roll number. The numerical sequence reflects an ordering of lots into various sections throughout the City such as City Lots, Five Acre Lots, Beckley Farm, and Fairfield, like earlier assessment rolls. The following list from the 1921-1927 roll provides a general indication of the relation between the geographical location of a lot and its roll number (larger groupings of sections, indicated in the rolls by breaks in the numerical sequence, are separated by a dashed line):
City Lots 1-2677
Fort Property 2678-2793
Section VI 2794-2850
Lot Z 2851
Christ Church Trust 2852-2968
Five Acre Lots 2969-3702
-----------------------------------
Beckley Farm 3799-4910
-----------------------------------
Fairfield 5001-7083
-----------------------------------
Sections 19 & 68 7500-8490
Sections 68 & 74 8491-9044
Spring Ridge 9045-9638
Finlayson Estate 9639-10140
----------------------------------- Fernwood 10600-12438
Section 48 12439-13340
Section 8A 13341-13600
-----------------------------------
Sec. 4 (Hillside) 14100-17028
Section 5 (Gorge) 17029-17427
Section 7A (Gorge) 17428-17460
-----------------------------------
Section 25 18000-18238
Oakland 18239-19365
Sections 10 & 11 19366-19658
Victoria West 19659-20775
Water Lots 20776-20807
-----------------------------------
Sec. 119 (Songhees) 20900-21066
Data Elements: 1917 and 1921-1927 rolls.
1917 roll
Title: Assessor's and Collector's roll of the Corporation of the City of Victoria, B.C., for the year 1917
Elements (sub-elements are indicated by indentation):
- Roll No.
- Remarks
- Name of person assessed
- Address
- Description of property
Street
Map No.
Block
Lot
Sub-lot
Measurement
Price per foot frontage or acre
Assessed value of land
Assessed value of improvements
Total - Date notices sent
- Taxes on assessed value of land
General, Board of Health and Hospital
Mills, gross [ ... ]
Net if paid by [ ... ] 1917
Interest, sinking fund and school purposes
Mills, net [ ... ] - Special taxes
Water frontage tax net
Boulevard upkeep tax net
Cluster lighting maintenance, net
Sewer rental net
Sewer construction tax net - Net total of all preceding rates and taxes of 1917 if paid by [ ... ] 1917
- Arrears
Amount [for years 1913-1916] - Payments
Amount
Receipt - Balancing
Rebate added
Excess payments - Arrears
Amount [for years 1914-1917] - Payment on arrears
Amount
Receipt - Local improvements
-
Roll No.
1921-1927 roll
Title: Assessor's and Collector's roll for the years as shown hereunder
Elements (sub-elements are indicated by indentation):
An asterisk (*) indicates that the data element is not found in the 1928-1934 assessment roll.
- Roll No.
- Section
- Map No.
-
- Sub Lot
- Lot
-
- Lots subdivided
- Block
- Street
-
- Measurement
- Year [1921-1927]
-
- Price per foot front or acre
- Assessed value land
-
- Assessed value improvements
- Total
- Registered owner in fee simple, or tenant for life
- Registered owner of last agreement for sale
-
- Holder of last agreement to purchase not registered,
but filing document
- Holder of last agreement to purchase not registered,
-
- Date notice sent
- Year [1921-1927]
- General rate
-
- Interest and sinking fund rate
-
- School purposes rate
-
- Total
- Water frontage tax
-
- Boulevard upkeep tax
- Cluster lighting tax
- Sewer rental
- Sewer construction tax
- Total of all preceding rates and taxes
-
- [Prepaid tax memo /or/ local improvement 1]
-
- Discounts
-
- Net current taxes
- Arrears
Year
Amount - Payments
Amount
Receipt - Percentage additions
-
- Excess payments
- Arrears forward
Series consists of a journal of salaries and other expenses pertaining to the office of the City Assessor.
In a volume originally from the office of W.W. Northcott.
Victoria (B.C.). Assessor's OfficeSeries consists of yearly audited financial statements for the City.
Victoria (B.C.). Finance DepartmentSeries consists of the minutes of this City Council committee.
Victoria (B.C.). B.C. Electric Franchise CommitteeSeries consists of a journal documenting the Municipality's administration of the Better Housing Act (S.B.C. 1919, c. 8).
This Act was passed by the Provincial Government to aid in the promotion of better housing. Series documents loans by the City to individuals. Data elements include date, total of money paid, principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and administration. Monthly totals are calculated and carried forward to the beginning of each month.
Victoria (B.C.). Finance DepartmentSeries consists of a special journal documenting the bills payable of the City.
Series deals primarily with accounts held by banks, most likely with debenture accounts. From 1911-1919, accounts are drawn up with the Bank of British North America and from 1919-1960 with the Bank of Montreal.
Victoria (B.C.). Finance DepartmentSeries consists of letters sent outward from the Board of Health.
Victoria (B.C.). Board of HealthSeries consists of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Licensing Commissioners pertaining to liquor licencing in the City.
Victoria (B.C.). Board of Licensing CommissionersSeries consists of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Police Commissioners.
Victoria (B.C.). Police CourtSeries consists of the minutes of the Board of Supervisors, which was constituted under bylaw 1301 (Building Bylaw, 1912), section 2, to hear appeals of decisions by building inspectors against proposed buildings.
Victoria (B.C.). Board of SupervisorsSeries consists of minutes of meetings of this Board, comprised of City Councillors, which deliberated on issues pertaining to public works such as streets, buildings, land, and water.
Victoria (B.C.). Board of WorksSeries consists of a ledger documenting boulevard maintenance taxes.
These taxes were collected in accordance to By-law No. 956 which states that 'for the purpose of providing annually the required sum to defray the cost of maintenance and upkeep of the boulevards on all streets in the City now and hereafter to be boulevarded there is hereby assessed upon the real property and portions of real property fronting upon any boulevard now or hereafter constructed, and there shall be levied and collected in each year an annual rate of four-fifths of a cent. per square foot of the area included in such boulevards.' Ledger consists of a calculation of street frontage, legal description of the property, and rates by year.
Victoria (B.C.). Finance DepartmentSeries consists of bylaws pertaining to estimated revenue and expenditures. Includes bylaws regarding taxes and rates on land and property, boulevards, street lighting, and other matters, as well as votes of funds for departmental and other expenditures.
Victoria (B.C.). Comptroller's OfficeSeries consists of records created in the process of estimating annual revenue and expenditures, as published in the bylaws comprising CR-0243 (budget estimates). Includes correspondence, memoranda, reports, notes, and spreadsheets.
There is a gap in this series for 1950.
Series consists of records pertaining to the demolition of condemned buildings, the repair of buildings reverted to the City, and the maintenance and repair of public buildings or properties.
The following types of records are found in the series: tenders or bids to erect and to demolish buildings; notifications of condemned houses; specification and conditions for erecting and demolishing buildings; receipts; memoranda; tenders for painting and repairing buildings or wiring; agreements; bills for work completed; contracts; claims; correspondence; and plans.
Public buildings or properties covered by the records include: Auto Tourist Camp (Curtis Point); Beacon Hill Park; City Market; Foul Bay Beach; Isolation Hospital; Old Men’s Home; Police Station; Pumping Station; Royal Athletic Park; Smith Hill Reservoir; Stadium (Douglas Street).
Victoria (B.C.). Building Inspector's DepartmentSeries consists primarily of photographs of various homes and buildings around the City, including 1144 Queens with various running and non-running automobiles in the yard.
Victoria (B.C.). Building Inspector's DepartmentSeries consists of a log of building permits issued by the City.
Includes information on the date and number of the permit, owner of the property, its legal description, and the street on which it is located. Also includes information on how many buildings are included in the permit, building material, number of storeys, number of rooms, purpose of the building, estimate of cost, and amount of fee paid.
This series was started in 1907. Although the City likely had a regular method of recording building permits before this time, the best existing source for annual lists of building permits issued from the early 1860s to 1907 is the local newspapers, copies of which are available in the Archives' reference room.
Series consists of one sheet containing minutes 51-17 to 51-20 from the meeting of 15 August 1951.
For an alphabetical index to the minutes of the Building Committee, see CR-0140.
Victoria (B.C.). Buildings CommitteeSeries consists of an index to the Buildings Committee minutes (CR-0038).
Victoria (B.C.). Buildings CommitteeSeries consists of the minutes of this City Council committee.
Victoria (B.C.). Business and Trade Development CommitteeSeries consists of an index to City bylaws.
Victoria (B.C.). City CouncilSeries consists of local laws and regulations passed by City Council to control, regulate, and administer affairs within its jurisdiction.
The original bylaws are not generally available for access, though bound duplicates of most of them are located in the Archives. While some of the originals are missing, many of those that are can be found among the bound versions. Only those bylaws located in the Archives are included in the file list.
Registered bylaws are those that have been signed and sealed as certified copies of the originals.
Victoria (B.C.). City CouncilSeries consists of records created as a result of the City of Victoria's participation in the Capital Region Planning Board.
This board was constituted in 1951 under Provincial legislation and served as an advisory board for regional planning until its functions were taken over by the Capital Regional District in the late 1960s.
The records include correspondence, memoranda, and reports pertaining to City planning, historical buildings, transportation, statistics, urban renewal, subdivisions and urban sprawl, street numbers and names, and parks.
Capital Region Planning Board of British ColumbiaSeries consists of minutes and papers of this committee of Council.
The committee was originally designed to deal with the Capital Region sewerage issue. The title and probably the responsibilities of this committee have changed. This committee has also been known as Engineers Technical Advisory Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, and Regional District Technical Committee.
Victoria (B.C.). Capital Regional District Committee