Emily Carr, born in 1871 in Victoria, British Columbia, was a pioneering Canadian artist and writer whose deep connection to her hometown shaped much of her life and work. Raised in a strict English household on Government Street, she grew up exploring the nearby forests and seashores—early influences that would later define her art.
After studying in San Francisco, England, and France, Carr returned to Victoria where she struggled for recognition, living for many years at the “House of All Sorts,” a boarding house she ran to support herself. Though she often felt stifled by the conservative culture of Victoria, it remained her lifelong base and the emotional core of her identity. From this coastal city, she launched painting trips into Indigenous villages and remote landscapes, returning with canvases that challenged artistic norms. In her final years, Victoria embraced her legacy, and it is here she died in 1945, now celebrated as a Canadian icon.
The Forest Through the Eyes of Emily Carr
Emily Carr Chronicles Guided Walk
Saturday, June 27 | 10 to Noon
Explore Emily Carr’s world on a two-hour guided walk through historic James Bay, Victoria. Visit 12 fascinating locations and uncover the stories behind her life, art, and enduring legacy.
Emily Carr Chronicles Guided Walk
Saturday, July 4
Explore Emily Carr’s world on a two-hour guided walk through historic James Bay, Victoria. Visit 12 fascinating locations and uncover the stories behind her life, art, and enduring legacy.
Emily Carr Chronicles Guided Walk
Sunday, July 5
Explore Emily Carr’s world on a two-hour guided walk through historic James Bay, Victoria. Visit 12 fascinating locations and uncover the stories behind her life, art, and enduring legacy.
Emily Carr Chronicles Guided Walk
Wednesday, July 8
Explore Emily Carr’s world on a two-hour guided walk through historic James Bay, Victoria. Visit 12 fascinating locations and uncover the stories behind her life, art, and enduring legacy.
latest blog post
Mon, Jul 06, 2026
her circle
In the story of Emily Carr’s artistic development, much attention has been given to her relationship with members of the Group of Seven, particularly Lawren Harris. Yet other friendships—ones that began just across the border in Seattle—were equally important in helping Carr find confidence in her mature artistic voice. That friendship was with Seattle artists, Ambrose and Viola Patterson and in particular Mark Tobey.
Read more: Emily Carr and Mark Tobey: A Friendship That Crossed Borders ...newsletter archives
May 2026
Still to come
June 2026
still to come
March 2026
April 2026
January 2026
February 2026
hosted, designed & maintained by Marilyn Jones for the Emily Carr courses, presentations, talks & walks she offers in person and online from Victoria, BC.
