Connell gives a colorful and vivid account of his visit to Swan Lake. From the Times Colonist, October 13/20, 1928- The “yellow bus” dropped me at its Lake Hill terminus. Saturday afternoon in the fore part sees Saanich folk traveling city-wards so there were few passengers, and by the time the bus prepared to turnContinue reading “On the Edge of Urban Saanich”
Category Archives: geography
Telegraph Road to Cowichan Head
From the Victoria Daily Colonist, April 28th, 1940- Across the highway from Keating Hall a road runs downhill to the east and an elderly signboard still bears the inscription: “Telegraph Road”. This is the way to the seashore at Island View Park. It drops rather steeply from the long gravelly ridge followed by the highwayContinue reading “Telegraph Road to Cowichan Head”
Cordova’s Wooded Cliffs
Originally called “Tseleethch” by the Indigenous inhabitants, in this article Connell visits Cordova Bay’s stunning coastline and muses upon some of its geographic, as well as more recent, histories. From the Victoria Times Colonist, April 2, 1932- Cordova Bay is one of the few places in the vicinity of Victoria with a Spanish name. Yet,Continue reading “Cordova’s Wooded Cliffs”
Esquimalt’s Natural Park
Connell takes a ramble across some undeveloped parts of Esquimalt and to the top of High Rock Park. From the Victoria Times Colonist, March 28, 1931- Everyone knows the charm of Esquimalt’s waterfront. Fortunately the golf-links have preserved a large portion of it to which the public has access. With but the narrow harbor entranceContinue reading “Esquimalt’s Natural Park”
January by the Sea
Connell visits the rocks below the Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point on two separate occasions, once in winter and once in summer. In the winter visit he focuses on bird life and geology and in the summer he befriends two young fishermen and teaches them about marine plant life. From the Victoria Daily Colonist, JanuaryContinue reading “January by the Sea”
Along the Happy Valley Road
Connell heads for the hills once again, this time to visit the picturesque Happy Valley in Colwood and Metchosin. He investigates the geography and the place names of the area and considers a peculiar local legend. From the Victoria Colonist, December 1st, 1940 – The road to Metchosin after skirting the broad gravelly plains ofContinue reading “Along the Happy Valley Road”
Ravages of A Winter Storm
Connell visits and inspects the beleaguered Ross Bay sea-wall in the wake of a winter storm. He considers the geography of the coastline in this location, the structure and suspected weaknesses of the wall, and proposes a natural (of course!) solution. From the Victoria Daily Times, December 31st, 1932- It will be some years beforeContinue reading “Ravages of A Winter Storm”
On Colwood Plain
Connell heads out to the West Shore to explore the landscape of late Fall. Focusing on fungus, he also takes in some of the recent human history of the region along the way and considers the curious landforms known as “kettles”. From the Victoria Daily Colonist, November 28, 1937- It is the eve of ourContinue reading “On Colwood Plain”