Canada Day, Eh!

Jun 30, 2014 at 02:06 pm

Ok so as Hotel “Zed” we just have to say a few words about Canada Day. It’s our heritage and it’s part of our name. What do we mean by that.  It’s why we are called Hotel “Zed” and not hotel “Zee”. Zed is the Canadian/British equivalent of the American letter Zee in the alphabet. We're proud of our Zeds and our Eh?'s ... and as the last letter in the alphabet, it's always been a bit of a rebel.

As for the heritage, well we are located in stunningly beautiful Victoria BC, Canada. Our city was named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (England) and Victoria is one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest first settled in 1843. The city's Chinatown is the second oldest in North America after San Francisco's.

Originally built as a Hudson's Bay Company trading post in 1843 as Fort Victoria, in an area previously called Camosun (native word), the named was changed in 1846, in honour of Queen Victoria.  The Chief Factor of the fort, James Douglas, was made the second governor of the Vancouver Island Colony. Hotel Zed now sits on the historically named Douglas Street.

When Gold was discovered in British Columbia back in 1858, Victoria became the port and supply center for miners on their way to the gold fields. Victoria was incorporated as a city in 1862, and shortly after became home to the Royal Navy. Canada’s maritime command is still based at Esquimalt in Victoria BC.

Politics came to Vancouver Island in 1866 and Victoria was designated the capital of the new united colony, instead of New Westminster. Not seen as a popular move by mainlanders. Looks like we were “rebels” against the ordinary even then!  1871 saw Victoria become the provincial capital when British Columbia joined the Canadian Confederation.

As you can see our Hotel Zed located on Douglas Street in Victoria BC has historical connections that show we are the place to stay when you re-supply for your journey, have been and always will be rebellious by nature and as much as we love our friends in America…. our roots says it’s pronounced “Zed”.

Happy Canada Day Everyone.