Royal Jubilee Hospital No. 10 Streetcar Shelter

The Victoria and District streetcar system began service in 1890 with four cars and two lines. Victoria was one of only three Canadian cities to have streetcars at the time. The original company, National Electric Tramway & Lighting Co, was taken over by BC Electric Railway Co.

The No.10 Mt Tolmie line opened in 1910 with just two trips a day. The main purpose of the No.10 line was to take boys to the University School (now St. Michael’s University School) at 3400 Richmond Rd in the morning and bring them back downtown in the afternoon. However, as the line ran from Douglas St along Fort St to Richmond, terminating at Mayfair Dr, it also served staff and patients to and from the hospital. More trips were added as the city and the streetcar system both grew. The system was in service until 1947-48 when buses replaced streetcars.

This is one of only two remaining original shelters – the other is beside Camosun College. This one was outside the Saanich end of Royal Jubilee Hospital, and was listed on Saanich’s Heritage Register in 1990. In 2001 the shelter was moved to the south side of RJH’s main access road on the Victoria side, and was registered as a City of Victoria heritage site. The shelter continued in use for bus passengers until 2009, when moved again for storage to Saanich property while the new facility is being built.

The shelter has a pyramidal hipped roof with cedar shingles. The roof is supported by posts and brackets. A double-sided bench is slung between the two central posts of the shelter.