Series consists of letters sent from the Engineering Department to other City agencies.
Victoria (B.C.). Engineering DepartmentSeries consists of letters sent from the Engineering Department to City Council and its Committees.
Victoria (B.C.). Engineering DepartmentSeries consists of internal Engineering Department memoranda.
Victoria (B.C.). Engineering DepartmentSeries consists of letters received by the Engineering Department from other City agencies and departments, other governments, and the private sector.
Victoria (B.C.). Engineering DepartmentSeries consists of files, photographs, architectural material, and graphic material deriving from the Neighbourhood Improvement Program.
This program was developed in 1973 by the federal government to encourage and support the efforts of municipalities in concert with neighbourhood residents toward the improvement of the physical environment in neighbourhoods needing improvements.
Victoria (B.C.). Planning DepartmentSeries consists of the main departmental records of the Parks Department.
Victoria (B.C.). Parks and Recreation DepartmentSeries consists of a small section of the minutes of the Parks Committee.
Victoria (B.C.). Parks CommitteeSeries consists of the annual reports of the Superintendent of Parks, which for some of these years can be found in an edited version in the annual reports of the City (CR-0016).
Victoria (B.C.). Parks and Recreation DepartmentSeries consists mainly of photographs of various Victoria parks. There are also photographs of other parks in Canada and the United States.
Photographs are divided into files based on photographer, type of photograph, or subject matter. The dates listed are only those noted on some photographs and do not cover all the material in each file. The subject matter is varied covering: aerial photos, Beacon Hill Park, boulevard trees, children and playgrounds, parks, Parks Department projects and personnel, Ross Bay Cemetery, scenic views, storm damage scenes, waterfowl, zoo animals.
In addition, there are a few newclippings, postcards, and pamphlets relating to the Parks Department
Victoria (B.C.). Parks and Recreation DepartmentSeries consists the date books and a few note books of the Park Superintendent, W.H. Warren.
Victoria (B.C.). Parks and Recreation DepartmentSeries consists of a single volume containing a description of the exhibits used in each particular case that came before the Police Court, the name and the date of the case, and when and how the material was disposed of.
Victoria (B.C.). Police CourtSeries consists of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Police Commissioners.
Victoria (B.C.). Police CourtSeries consists of bound volumes containing lists of individuals paying fines, the amount of the fine and the date paid.
Victoria (B.C.). Police CourtSeries consists of bound volumes containing the names of individuals charged with an offence, the nature and date of the offence and what action was taken. The action taken could range from a jail sentence, a fine or a remand date.
Victoria (B.C.). Police CourtSeries consists of bound index volumes containing the names of individuals charged with an offence and the page of the charge book to which it refers.
There is a gap in these records from 1894-1902.
Victoria (B.C.). Police CourtSeries consists of bound volumes containing the names of individuals charged with an offence, the nature and date of the offence and what action was taken. The action taken could range from a jail sentence, a fine or a remand date.
Victoria (B.C.). Police CourtSeries consists of bound index volumes containing the names of individuals charged with an offence and the page of the record book (CR-0116) to which it refers.
Victoria (B.C.). Police CourtSeries 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 files created by the City Solicitor from the first appointment to permanent staff of the City in 1910 to the contracting out of the work in 1956. Some files predate the appointment of a staff solicitor when the City's legal work was contracted out to various legal firms.
Victoria (B.C.). City Solicitor's OfficeThe indexes give access only to CR-0119, the City Solicitor's operational files.
Victoria (B.C.). City Solicitor's OfficeSeries consists of several groups of files with no discernible relationship amongst themselves except that they were created by the City Solicitor at various times.
Most date from the period when the City Solicitor was a member of City Hall permanent staff. The series covers a full range of typical Solicitor activities including the preparation of bylaws and legislation, negotiation of agreements and contracts for local improvements, sale of lands, and supply of services to the City, general counsel in litigation, and drafting of legal opinions.
A substantial group of files concerned with the building of Johnson St. Bridge (1911-1923) is comprised of records created by the City Engineer. These may have been brought together to handle potential litigation, given the City of Victoria's sensitivity to liability arising from the Point Ellice Bridge streetcar disaster of 1896.
Victoria (B.C.). City Solicitor's OfficeSeries consists of copies of outward letters.
Victoria (B.C.). City Solicitor's OfficeSeries consists of files from the office of City Solicitor Terence O'Grady (1956-1972).
They include bylaws and correspondence on local improvements, legislative regulations, agreements and other matters as well as minutes of various committees with which the Solicitor was concerned.
Victoria (B.C.). City Solicitor's OfficeSeries consists of records created by the City Manager under a filing system introduced in 1971. They pertain to virtually all areas of City activity.
Victoria (B.C.). City Manager's OfficeSeries consists of general office files created by the Mayor.
Victoria (B.C.). Mayor's OfficeSeries consists of bound letters sent by the Mayor's Office.
Victoria (B.C.). Mayor's OfficeSeries consists of signatures on City registers of official visitors to City Hall.
Victoria (B.C.). Mayor's OfficeSeries consists of one bound volume recording both inward and outward correspondence of the Mayor, indexed by name of correspondent.
Victoria (B.C.). Mayor's OfficeSeries records assessments made and taxes charged and collected on sewer connections in the City under bylaws enacted to raise funds for extending the sewer system. The rolls were compiled by the City Engineer and filed in the office of the Treasurer for collection of taxes levied. See bylaws 284, 341, 400, 402, 424, 456, 516, 557, 592, 616, and 728.
Victoria (B.C.). Treasurer's OfficeSeries consists of an index to the minutes of the Group 'B' Committee records (CR-0025).
Victoria (B.C.). City CouncilSeries consists of an index to the minutes of the Greater Victoria Intermunicipal Committee records (CR-0027).
Victoria (B.C.). Greater Victoria Intermunicipal CommitteeSeries consists of an index to the minutes or the Group 'A' Committee records (CR-0024).
Arranged chronologically by year, alphabetically within each year by first letter only, and numerically by minute number within each alphabetical section
Victoria (B.C.). City CouncilSeries consists of an index to the City Manager's operational files 3 (CR-0124).
Victoria (B.C.). City Manager's OfficeSeries consists of an index to the minutes in Series 26, Finance Committee (CR-0026) and the Finance, Lands, Housing, Market, Public Utilities and Intermunicipal Committee minutes (CR-0042).
Victoria (B.C.). Finance CommitteeSeries consists of an index to the Parks Committee minutes (CR-0107) and the Parks, Boulevards and Recreational Facilities Committee minutes (CR-0041).
Victoria (B.C.). Parks CommitteeSeries consists of an index to Policy Review Committee minutes, which are not in the custody of the City of Victoria Archives.
Victoria (B.C.). Policy Review CommitteeSeries consists of an index to the minutes of the Public Works Committee (CR-0028) and to the Public Works, Lighting, Water and Harbour Committee minutes (CR-0043).
Victoria (B.C.). Public Works CommitteeSeries consists of an index to the minutes of the Recreation and Community Services Committee (CR-0029).
Victoria (B.C.). Recreation and Community Services CommitteeMinutes for this committee of Council are not held by the City of Victoria Archives. Related records will be found in the Victoria and Saanich Beaches and Parks Committee records (CR-0034).
Victoria (B.C.). Victoria and Saanich Beaches and Parks CommitteeSeries consists of an index to the Buildings Committee minutes (CR-0038).
Victoria (B.C.). Buildings CommitteeMinutes for this committee of Council are not held by the City of Victoria Archives.
Victoria (B.C.). Executive CommitteeSeries consists of an index to the Manager's reports to Council for January-April 1954, which are missing from CR-0022, file 213, 21 A 5-4 (Manager's operational files 1).
Victoria (B.C.). City Manager's OfficeSeries consists of information on property values and taxation rates compiled for the purpose of collecting 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
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
The series can be divided into 3 categories distinguished by date range, title, and arrangement of entries within volumes: (A) 1889-1906 (68 volumes). City divided into three wards, with entries arranged alphabetically by name within wards; (B) 1907-1909 (12 volumes). Entries arranged alphabetically by name throughout the City; (C) 1910-1916 (38 volumes). City divided into neighbourhoods with entries arranged throughout City by roll number and lot number within neighbourhoods (such as City Lots, Five Acre Lots, Fairfield, like many assessment rolls). The ward system was established under the Victoria Incorporation Act (1862), and consisted of three wards called, respectively, the Johnson Street Ward, the Yates Street Ward, and the James Bay Ward. For information on the ward system from 1889-1891, see the Clippings Files under "Municipal Government - Ward System" and bylaw 84 (Wards Bylaw, 1890); for 1892-1906, see bylaw 163 (Wards Bylaw, 1892; map located at Maps B0051) and bylaw 336 (Wards Bylaw, 1901; repealed under bylaw 481).
Data Elements: 1889, 1904, and 1916 rolls
1889 roll
Title: Real estate assessment collector's roll
Elements:
- No. of lot
- Block
- Street
- Name
- Assessment land
- Assessment improvements
- Alteration by Court of Revision
- Total
- Arrears
- Tax
- No. of receipt
- Amount paid
- Arrears
- Date notice sent
-
Remarks
1904 roll
Title: Land and improvement assessment: Collector's roll, 1904
Elements:
- Name
- Street
- Subdivision
- Lot
- Block
- Section
- Assessment on land
- Assessment on improvements
- General rates
Tax on land
Tax on 50% assessed value of improvements - Board of Health special rate [9 mills]
- Educational purposes special rate [1 mill]
- Debt purposes special rate [2 mills]
- Total tax [12 mills]
- Tax if paid on or before 31 October 1904
- 1st January 1904 arrears general rates
- 1st January 1904 arrears Board of Health
- 1st January 1904 arrears educational purposes
- 1st January 1904 arrears debt
- Amount paid
- No. of receipt
- 1st January 1905 arrears general rates
- 1st January 1905 arrears Board of Health
- 1st January 1905 arrears educational purposes
- 1st January 1905 arrears debt
1916 roll, book 3
Title: Collector's roll [for the year xxxx] of taxes and other charges assessed and charged against real property (not including assessments for local improvement)
Elements (sub-elements are indicated by indentation):
- Roll #
- Registered owner
Name
Address
- Holder of agreement to purchase or last assignee thereof
Name
Address
- Street
- Dimensions
- Real property description
Subdivision lot
Lot
Block
Map #
- Assessed value of land
- Taxes on assessed value of land
General, Board of Health, and Hospital
Mills - Gross
Net if paid by [date]
Interest, sinking fund, and school purposes
Mills - Net
- Water frontage tax (net)
- Boulevard upkeep tax (net)
- Cluster lighting maintenance (net)
- Sewer rental (net)
- Sewer construction tax (net)
- Total of all preceding taxes and charges (net)
- Arrears from [year previous] roll
Year
Amount
- Payments
Amount
Receipt
- Balancing
Rebate added
Excess payments
- Arrears [1st January of year following]
Year Amount
- Payment on arrears
Amount
Receipt
- Local improvements
Victoria (B.C.). Finance Department
Series consists of files pertaining to residential and commercial buildings demolished in Victoria.
The files generally consist of architectural plans and supplementary textual records deposited with or created by the Engineering or Planning Departments as part of the building permit approval process.
Victoria (B.C.). Engineering 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 office files generated by the directors of the Greater Victoria Centennial Committee under their mandate to organize and coordinate celebrations in Greater Victoria of the 1958 centenary of the founding of British Columbia. The majority of records deal with cooperative ventures between the Committee and cultural groups of the City. The remainder of records deal with the general administration of the Committee.
Victoria (B.C.). Greater Victoria Centennial CommitteeSeries consists of minutes of meetings of the Greater Victoria Centennial Committee under its mandate to organize and coordinate celebrations in Greater Victoria of the 1958 centenary of the founding of the Colony of British Columbia.
Victoria (B.C.). Greater Victoria Centennial CommitteeSeries consists of an index to the Greater Victoria Centennial Committee minutes (CR-0147).
Victoria (B.C.). Greater Victoria Centennial CommitteeSeries consists of miscellaneous files produced by the Arena Commission, which oversaw the management and daily operation of Memorial Arena. Records include financial statements, reports on the Arena's structural integrity, minutes of meetings, and annual reports.
Victoria (B.C.). Civic Arena CommissionSeries 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