Opening of the Victoria Scottish Cultural Centre

A note from the Mayor on the occasion of the Opening of the Victoria Scottish Cultural Centre

Hello Neighbours,

Last week I had the pleasure of emceeing the opening of the Victoria Scottish Cultural Centre. The Town of View Royal, the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada, commercial sponsors, individual donations and lots of volunteer hard work made this vision a reality.  I provided the following quote to media:

"This community centre is not just a building, it's a beacon of hope, a gathering place for our diverse community, a space where we come together to connect, grow and thrive. It is a symbol of our commitment to building a better future for all our residents. Let us all be proud of this new community centre and all that it represents."

I want to thank Jim Maxwell, his team and the families that have supported them on their remarkable journey that brought three levels of government together and invested in a project that will continue to bring our community together for years to come. I would like to thank Town Staff and the previous Mayor and Council for investing in this vision for the benefit of us all. I firmly believe that it is the vision, hard work and compassion of our neighbours that make View Royal the gem that it is.

Some facts about the facility:

  • the new centre is a 10,000 square foot building that can accommodate up to 300 people;
  • it features a 4500 square foot main hall, multi-purpose meeting rooms, administrative offices, and catering kitchen;
  • it is fully accessible with a barrier-free design that includes a ramped pathway at both entrances.

The cost of the $5.5 million building was supported by local, provincial and federal government funding. This included more than $484,000 from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund as well as a combined federal/provincial investment of more than $2.8 million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. This consisted of $1.09 million in provincial funding through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, and $1.74 million from the federal government. Additionally, $750,000 in provincial funding was provided through the Heritage branch in the Ministry of Tourism, Arts Culture and Sport. Over $100,000 dollars were provided by the Town of View Royal as a Grant in Aid. The remaining costs were supported through private donations, and Victoria Highland Games Association’s own contribution.

Craigflower Manor is a provincial heritage property and National Historic Site of Canada, located in View Royal. The Victoria Highland Games Association (VHGA) built the community centre with the purpose of providing a suitable venue that the public could rent for a range of events, including art exhibitions, musical performances, meetings and weddings. The anticipated revenue will go towards supporting the maintenance of Craigflower Manor, allowing it to become completely self-sufficient in its operations.

VHGA is a registered non-profit society established in 1937 and is the largest Scottish and Celtic cultural organization in Greater Victoria. VHGA has a renewable 30-year nominal rent tenure with the provincial government for its stewardship. 

Respectfully,

Sid Tobias
Mayor