Wet and rainy Victoria ...

Misty marina

Sunday dawned wet and rainy in Victoria, so it was the perfect day to go for a drive with the locals, C.'s parents.  We began by driving to Pearson College - United World College of the Pacific, a unique school that caters for 200 students in Year 11 and 12.  The school is unique in many ways.  Firstly, it caters for students from all around the world and those students live together on the stunning waterfront campus in Victoria.  Secondly, students enter the school on a full scholarship, therefore students are chosen based on their academics and who they are as a person, as opposed to whether or not they have the cash to pay.  The school's values, promoting peace and a sustainable future, are:

• International and intercultural understanding.
• Celebration of difference.
• Personal responsibility and integrity.
• Mutual responsibility and respect.
• Compassion and service.
• Respect for the environment.
• A sense of idealism.
• Personal challenge.
• Action and personal example.

The school follows the International Baccalaureate and students are encouraged to make connections with the local community.  The campus is open for visitors to wander around and the students are more than happy to stop and chat about their life.  It seems like an amazing opportunity for such a diverse group of young adults to come together to learn and prepare themselves for a life outside of school.  My only disappointment in the school was that it doesn't cater for primary age students - I would love to work there!

Looking towards the opening of the inlet

A glimpse of another misty marina

Our second stop on the rainy day driving tour was the Royal Roads University, home to another unique learning environment.  The main building on the campus, Hatley Castle, was built in 1908 to house a Canadian military college.  The grounds served this purpose until, in 1995, it became Royal Roads University.  Although the university has many on-campus courses, it specialises in providing online learning to students all around Canada and further afield.  Hatley Castle is a stunning building and the gardens are equally as beautiful.

Deer roaming the campus

Student created prayer flags

Third on our agenda was the Royal British Columbia Museum.  The rest of the tourists in Victoria, as well as the locals, had the same idea as us, so we decided on only one gallery to visit.  We chose the First Peoples exhibit, a permanent collection of artifacts and artwork from Canadian's first national people.  The displays were fascinating and I could see many similarities between the Canadian and Australian Aboriginal people.  After leaving the museum, we headed to a waterfront pub for fish and chips with beer before an early night.  The next morning, I was up bright and early to catch the 7 am ferry back to Salt Spring Island.  I knew I was back in hippy land, when I boarded the bus to Ganges and was greeted with a wave of marijuana smoke.  Another great weekend exploring this wonderful country.

Close up of a student's prayer flag

The school's recreation centre overlooking the water

Hatley Castle at Royal Roads university

Pretty pond

The front entrance of the castle

Fancy drain pipes