1966::The Three Towers of Victoria, British Columbia

The capital city's towers that were never built.

"1946::X Marks the Spot - A View From Fisherman's Wharf Towards Laurel Point"

Photo Clip: Victoria Daily Times (1946)

Victoria, British Columbia

In 1946, a small group of fish industry pioneers purchased a waterfront lot adjacent to Laurel Point in Victoria, British Columbia. Their fish-dealing empire began with the construction of a two-storey warehouse, an icehouse and a separate smokehouse on the property nearby. When their equipment was in place and their wharf completed, they started selling and shipping their high-quality fish. One year later, when their dream took an unexpected turn, they shut down their business for good, never to return. Nobody could have imagined that a space needle might someday take its place.

"1966::The Site of the First Proposed Skydeck Tower on Belleville Street in Victoria, British Columbia"

Clip: Papertown Station Story Map Google MyMaps (2024)

Twenty years later, with Canada's 100th birthday fast approaching, Victoria's city council began formulating ideas for restoring life to the Inner Harbour. The city had fallen silent over the years after newer and bigger ferries began shipping tourists to other ports. But now it was time to bring the tourists back. As the provincial capital, all eyes would be on Victoria to represent British Columbia in Canada's country-wide centennial celebration.

"1966::An All-Aluminum Skydeck Tower For Victoria's Inner Harbour"

Clip: Victoria Daily Times (1966)

Victoria, British Columbia

In March 1966, a company called Skydeck approached Victoria's city council with a wild idea. Their spokesman, Anthony Bristowe, proposed building the world's first all-aluminum observation tower on Victoria's Inner Harbour. It would stand 300 feet high from its proposed location on Belleville Street and soar to twice the height of the city's world-famous parliament buildings. A pond featuring seals and other marine life would greet tourists as they entered the tower's base, and at its centre, an enclosed elevator would transport them upward to two circular decks at the top of the structure. The lower deck would house souvenir shops and a small cafe for sipping hot tea or coffee while enjoying the view. The upper deck would be an open-air observation deck offering a 360° view across the city to the surrounding islands, Mount Baker, the Olympic Mountains and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. It was a promising, unique attraction that could bring tourists back to the city's doorstep and life back to the Inner Harbour.

"1966::A Proposed Skydeck Tower On the Grounds of Craigdarroch Castle"

Photo: BC Archives (I-67641)

The Skydeck Tower proponents made a good case for boosting local tourism, comparing its potential to the Eiffel Tower of Paris and the new Space Needle of Seattle. But while the city pondered the idea, a local citizen offered an idea of his own. He believed that the success of any observation tower depended on its location, and as a neighbour of Craigdarroch Castle, he could think of no better spot for a tower than right beside the castle. Victorians called his idea hair-brained, outrageous, tasteless, and nuts. Nonetheless, his idea was given some thought when the School Board, who had been long-term tenants of the castle, announced they would vacate the premises by the end of the year, leaving the historic structure empty and abandoned. Ultimately, however, the idea of placing a tower on the Craigdarroch Castle property was rejected by an overwhelming majority and was heard of no more.

"1966::A New Kind of Tower and a New Proposal for Victoria's Inner Harbour"

Photo Clip: Victoria Daily Times (1966)

Victoria, British Columbia

As the city council struggled to develop a solid revitalization plan, they took a moment to contemplate the tower idea. They all agreed on two things: that the tower should not be made of aluminum, and it should not be erected on Belleville Street's prime waterfront property. Skydeck heard their concerns and went about making some changes to their proposal. In the meantime, a new proposal came forward from local businessman Charlie White. White had recently opened his Undersea Gardens in Oak Bay and wanted to expand his horizons. He suggested that the city employ more passenger ferries and construct a new unloading dock closer to Laurel Point. The old buildings lining Belleville Street's waterfront should then be replaced with adequate parking for the new ferries, and the entire Inner Harbour should be transformed with a little bit of Olde England charm to attract tourists again. On the existing pier that extended into the centre of the harbour, White would build a 90-room Tudor-style hotel featuring a high-class restaurant, gift shops, and rooms with views of the Johnson Street bridge. He would erect a 100-foot clock tower next to the old Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) terminal and call it Parliament Tower. Here, tourists could enjoy a cocktail in its small lounge while taking in the view through the clear glass face of the clock itself. His proposal was a 2.5 million dollar project that instantly received an informal blessing from Victoria's mayor and council.

"1966::The Second Proposed Skydeck Tower and a New Location On Victoria's Harbour"

Clip: Papertown Station Story Map

Google MyMaps (2024)

With White's idea on the table, Skydeck returned with a new plan and design for a 325-foot steel and glass tower that they believed would vastly improve the look of the waterfront. However, its critics still felt that a space needle of any design would spoil the charm of the Inner Harbour and make it look like a fairground.

"1966::The Second Skydeck Tower On Montreal Street"

Photo Clip: Victoria Daily Times (1966)

Victoria, British Columbia

Even though observation towers were a big city trend thanks to the success of the Eifel Tower in France, the Stuttgart Tower in Germany, and now the brand-new Space Needle in Seattle, they didn't seem to fit Victoria's style. However, the city council liked Skydeck's new tower design and was surprised when they suddenly withdrew their proposal, sensing their latest plan would be rejected.

"1966::Three Proposed Lots for Three Different Towers"

Photo Clip: Victoria Daily Times (1959) Victoria, British Columbia

Skydeck searched the city for an alternative to the Belleville Street location and soon found the perfect spot on Montreal Street, next to Laurel Point. It was the site of the old fish factory, abandoned by the fish dealers in 1947 and occupied since 1956 by the successful Net Loft Seafood Restaurant. Skydeck and the restaurant's owners got together and devised a new plan. Skydeck would build its new tower right where the restaurant stood, and the restaurant would move into the tower to become part of the attraction.

"1966::Victoria's New Skydeck Tower on Montreal Street"

Photo Clip: Vancouver Sun (1966)

Vancouver, British Columbia

With a new location and Victoria's best seafood restaurant to attract visitors, Skydeck now had something to work with. They increased the tower's height to 350 feet, and although they didn't need the council's approval thanks to the property's light industrial zoning, they sought their blessing anyway. On June 24, 1966, Victoria's city council applauded Skydeck's new plan and approved their 5.5 million dollar project. Without further delay, Skydeck got busy, hoping to have their new tower ready by the following spring. Their plan was finally in motion, and Victoria was set to have their very own space needle. But nobody could have predicted the tragedies that would soon unfold and forever change the course of the project.

"1966::The Disappearing Towers"

Photo Clip: The Austin American (1966) Austin, Texas

Just weeks after Skydeck won the council's blessing to proceed, news headlines were reporting that a young man at the University of Texas had laid down a deadly hail of rifle bullets from its campus tower. The disturbed young man had strategically perched himself on the tower's Observation Deck and began firing at innocent people on the ground below. His 96-minute killing spree finally ended when brave law enforcement officers climbed the tower and took him out in a gunfight. When it was all over, 15 lay dead, and 31 injured. The gunman's wife and mother were found later that day, increasing the number of victims to 17 and making it the deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in U.S. history. When the news reached Victoria, no words were said, and the tower projects suddenly went quiet.

They had plans, approvals, funding, and blessings, but the towers in Victoria were never built, and an official explanation was never offered, at least not in the news. Not long after the tragedy of the Texas Tower massacre, Skydeck's spokesman Anthony Bristowe suffered a heart attack while fishing on the Cowichan River, and Victoria's Mayor died of a heart attack in his home. He had been mayor for less than a year. News of their deaths rocked the city for months. By the end of the year, the city's tower projects had quietly disappeared.