The decline of Victoria as the metropolitan centre of British Columbia, 1885-1901
Date
1973
Authors
Ruzicka, Stanley Edward
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Abstract
In 1885 Victoria was the undisputed metropolis of British Columbia dominating the transportation, industrial and commercial facilities of the province. Seventeen years later she had lost her premier position to a new city, Vancouver. This thesis, using the metropolitan concepts formulated by N. S. B. Gras, endeavours to explain why Victoria lost her status and the effects of this loss on the attitudes or her residents to their city. Most of Victoria's problems were linked with the changing nature of transportation in the province which was shifting its focus to the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Although the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed to Vancouver in 1887, Victoria's relative position in the province was not immediately affected. Her residents felt uncertain bout the future competition with Vancouver but, in 1892, Victoria reached the height of her prosperity.
Between 1893 and 1902 Victoria was forced to compete for the business of the province with her rival, Vancouver. In this competition Vancouver constantly advanced while Victoria stagnated or experienced minimum gains at best. By 1900 Victoria began to accept the idea that her rival was equal to, i£ not more powerful than, herself. At the close of 1901 Victoria admitted that Vancouver was the metropolis or British Columbia although Victoria still claimed to be one of the most prosperous cities of British Columbia.
Victoria had had doubts about its future as early as 1886 when she blamed the loss of terminal status on the Canadian government and on the ambitious Canadian Pacific Railway Company. These doubts were magnified over the next fifteen years by the constant pressure of the energetic Vancouver. Victoria, never blaming herself for the decline in status, believed that Vancouver and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company were working to destroy her influence and business in the province. The attitudes expressed by Victorians about their role in provincial affairs coupled with the growing influence of Vancouver resulted in the acceptance of Vancouver as the first city in the province. The rise of a new city as the terminus of the railway led to the downfall of Victoria as the centre of trade and commerce in British Columbia.