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Emily Carr Chronicles Guided Walking Tour | June 20, 2026
June 20 I 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Step Into the World of Emily Carr: A Guided Walking Tour Through Her Life in James Bay
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 the life, art, and enduring legacy of one of Canada’s most beloved artists.
Step into Emily Carr’s Victoria and discover the people, places, and experiences that shaped her extraordinary life and artistic vision. This immersive walking tour takes you through James Bay and the neighbourhood where Carr was born, lived, worked, and ultimately spent her final days.
We’ll visit 12 historic sites, each offering a window into a different chapter of Carr’s extraordinary life — from her childhood home to the places she sketched, taught, built, and wrote about.
Whether you’re an art lover, history enthusiast, local resident, or visitor to Victoria, this unique experience offers an intimate look at the city that inspired one of Canada’s most celebrated cultural figures.
Few artists are as deeply connected to a place as Emily Carr is to Victoria. As we walk the streets she knew and explore the neighbourhoods that influenced her, you’ll gain fresh insight into the creativity, determination, and independent spirit that defined her life and work.
A Walk Through Emily Carr’s life and Victoria’s History
Our tour begins at 10:00 a.m. with a warm welcome and introductions at the covered outdoor patio of For Good Measure at 579 Niagara Street. From there, we’ll set off on a leisurely walk through Victoria’s oldest neighbourhood.
Our first stop is the Carr House, the beautifully preserved National Historic Site where Emily Carr was born in 1871. Here, we’ll explore her family roots and the Victorian world into which she arrived.
As we wander along James Bay’s tree-lined streets, past character-rich heritage homes and historic landmarks, you’ll discover the residences of Emily’s sisters and learn how their close and complex relationships profoundly influenced her emotional and creative life.
We’ll visit the site of the unique apartment house Emily designed and managed herself — a building that later inspired her bestselling memoir, The House of All Sorts. Here you’ll hear stories of tenants, eccentric characters, and Carr’s remarkable entrepreneurial spirit.
Enjoy a peaceful walk through Beacon Hill Park, one of Emily’s favourite sketching spots. Along the way, we’ll cross the stone footbridge dedicated in her honour, nestled among ponds, gardens, peacocks, frogs, ducks and towering trees.
From Beacon Hill Park we take a four block walk to the church she attended with her family on Sundays and learn about the special relationship between her family and the founding Bishop, Edward Cridge and his wife Mary also founders of numerous social services organizations in early Victoria, many of which are still in existence.
Next up, we’ll check out the grand Crystal Garden built in 1925 where Carr gave her famous 1930 “Fresh Seeing” speech (monkey sidekick Woo included!). You’ll hear tales of triumph, struggle, and artistic rebellion.
We’ll cross the street to check out the elegant Helmcken House, home to Victoria’s first surgeon and the Carr family’s doctor she often wrote about. One of the oldest homes in British Columbia still standing on its original site, it offers a glimpse into the Victoria Emily knew as a child.
After a brief rest and washroom break at the Museum Plaza, we’ll make our way to the “Our Emily” Statue in front of the iconic Empress Hotel.
There, you’ll learn the fascinating story behind the statue’s creation — and why this tribute captures more than just her likeness. And, you’ll hear why this statue is not the first Emily Carr Statue and about the famous sculptor from Saskatchewan that created the first
From the memorial statue, we’ll stroll three blocks to the site of her father’s store, a cornerstone of Emily’s childhood and early memories that she writes about and later becomes the site of Victoria’s first Emily Carr Gallery.
An Experience That Brings Emily Carr to Life
This tour blends art, local history, biography, and storytelling to create an experience that is both informative and deeply engaging. Whether you’re a lifelong admirer of Emily Carr or discovering her story for the first time, you’ll leave with a richer understanding of the artist, her city, and the remarkable legacy she left behind.
Limited to 10 participants — reserve your spot today!
Join us for a journey through the heart of Victoria — and the soul of a remarkable woman whose legacy still paints the West Coast with bold colour and spirit.
