Celebrate Victoria’s 150th birthday

She’s 150 this year and more beautiful and vibrant than ever. Some have even called her sexy.

Residents and visitors alike are celebrating Victoria, capital city of British Columbia and tea-drinking capital of Canada — at least we like to think so!

Event organizers have been working hard to make sure we remember her with fun activities throughout 2012.

Annual events like the Victoria Day parade (May 21) will be bigger and better than ever. There’ll be marching bands from all over the Pacific Northwest, clowns and lots of floats. Bring a chair for three hours of non-stop entertainment.

On Aug. 2 there’s a public ceremony with speeches by dignitaries — sounds like a chance to wear your fascinator, gals — followed by an outdoor party for everyone, with music, performances, activities for the kids, and a big, big birthday cake.

And this year at Symphony Splash (Aug. 5) — the not-to-be-missed outdoor concert where everyone gathers around the Inner Harbour — the Victoria Symphony will include music and instruments from our past.

But the event I’m most looking forward to is the fort-building contest in old Bastion Square (date to be announced). This is where — and how — Victoria started, as Fort Victoria, a Hudson’s Bay Company outpost named for the queen of the day.

Who would have guessed a fort would grow into one of Canada’s most picturesque and cosmopolitan cities?

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission.