First cruise ship docks in Victoria

By Trudy Chiswell

It was a glorious Victoria morning at 8am, April 22 when the first passengers were welcomed from the Grand Princess (Princess Cruise Lines). Bob Alexander, the Town Crier, was there to call out the welcome as mayor Lisa Helps greeted the first passengers and presented the captain with a Welcome to Victoria book as the first arriving cruise ship of the year. The ladies of the Vic AM Association, dressed in period costumes, have been in attendance to greet the first cruise ship and pin a corsage on its first passengers for the past 31 years. Later, a First Nation guide gave an interesting guided walk along the adjacent breakwater and Unity Wall. Then Marg Gardner took Mayor Helps and those interested, on a walk back to the Inner Harbour via the partially completed David Foster Harbour Pathway. Victoria weather cooperated, making it a good start to a wonderful day.