Victoria in Capital, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

Get Your Bearings / S'Orienter

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 22, 2014

1. Get Your Bearings / S'Orienter Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Imagine the expanse of water between Fisgard Lighthouse and Albert Head (to your right) filled with ships at anchor. Named “Royal Roads” in colonial times, this was a safe anchorage, a place to wait for daylight, calm seas or perhaps the right wind before entering Esquimalt or Victoria Harbour.

Beyond Albert Head, look for Race Rocks Lighthouse. For over 150 years ships have watched for this landmark while making their way to Victoria, Vancouver or Seattle along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, one of the world’s busiest trade waterways.

Imaginez l’étendue d’eau entre le phare de Fisgard et le cap Albert (à votre droite) remplie de bateaux à l’ancre. Cet endroit, appelé « Royal Roads » à l’époque coloniale, était une aire de mouillage sécuritaire d’où on attendait que le jour se léve, que la mer se calme ou, peut-étre, que le vent souffle dans la bonne direction avant d’entrer dans le port d’Esquimalt ou de Victoria.

Cherchez le phare de Race Rocks, au-delà du cap Albert. Pendant plus de 150 ans, les capitaines surveillaient ce point de repère alors que leurs navires se dirigeaient vers

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Victoria, Vancouver ou Seattle, en remontant le détroit de Juan de Fuca, l’une des voies navigables les plus fréquentées du globe.

Erected by Parks Canada.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list.

Location. 48° 25.885′ N, 123° 26.935′ W. Marker is in Victoria, British Columbia, in Capital. It can be reached from Fort Rodd Hill Road. Marker is on the grounds of Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites of Canada. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 603 Fort Rodd Hill Road, Victoria BC V9C 2W8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fisgard Lighthouse / Phare de Fisgard (within shouting distance of this marker); Wisdom on the Water / Prudence en Mer (within shouting distance of this marker); Harbour Mouth Defences / Défense de l'entrée du port (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Lightkeeper's Boat / L'embarcation du gardien de phare (about 120 meters away); Team Work / Travail d'equipe (about 150 meters away); Underground Magazine / Magasin souterrain (about

Map Detail on Get Your Bearings / S'Orienter Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 22, 2014

2. Map Detail on Get Your Bearings / S'Orienter Marker

150 meters away); Repository / Manoeuvre du "repository" (about 150 meters away); Lower Battery / Batterie inférieure (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.

Also see . . . Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites of Canada. Parks Canada website entry (Submitted on October 27, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 22, 2014

3. Get Your Bearings / S'Orienter Marker

Looking south across the Strait of Juan de Fuca toward Washington State

Credits. This page was last revised on May 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 380 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 27, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.