An icon of Victoria, this imposing hotel bristling with turrets and covered in Virginia creeper has reigned over the town for many years. Envisioning a rush of tourists to the Pacific Coast at the turn of the 20C, real estate developers struck a deal with the Canadian Pacific Railroad to establish a fast ferry service from the mainland to Victoria and embarked on the building of a series of luxury hotels. The 116-room hotel opened to much fanfare in 1908.