VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 153

Robert Bateman Centre
On either side of the main entrance stand statues of Sir James Douglas, who chose the
location of Victoria, and Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie, who was in charge of law and order
during the Gold Rush period. Atop the copper-covered dome stands a gilded statue of Cap-
tain George Vancouver, the first mariner to circumnavigate Vancouver Island. Walk through
the main entrance and into the memorial rotunda, look skyward for a dramatic view of
the central dome, and then continue upstairs to peer into the legislative chamber, the home
of the democratic government of British Columbia. Free guided tours are offered every
20 minutes, 9am-noon and 1pm-5pm daily in summer, less frequently (Mon.-Fri. only) in
winter. Tour times differ according to the goings-on inside; for current times, call the tour
office at 250/387-3046.