Editing Victoria, British Columbia (section)

===Tourism===
[[File:Victoria, British Columbia Skyline at Twilight.jpg|thumb|[[Downtown Victoria]] at twilight. Downtown is the [[central business district]] for [[Greater Victoria]] and a major tourist destination.]]
Victoria is a major tourism destination with over 3.5&nbsp;million overnight visitors per year who add more than a billion dollars to the local economy.<ref name="TourismVictoria">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tourismvictoria.com/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828232905/http://www.tourismvictoria.com/Content/EN/1779.asp|title=Unlock the Beauty of Victoria, BC &#124; Tourism Victoria|archivedate=28 August 2008|website=Tourism Victoria -}}</ref> As well, over 500,000 daytime visitors arrive via cruise ships which dock at [[Ogden Point]] near the city's [[Victoria Harbour (British Columbia)#Inner Harbour|Inner Harbour]]. Many whale watching tour companies operate from this harbour due to the whales often present near its coast. The city is also close to [[CFB Esquimalt|Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt]], the Canadian Navy's primary Pacific Ocean naval base.

[[Downtown Victoria]] also serves as [[Greater Victoria, British Columbia|Greater Victoria]]'s regional downtown, where many night clubs, theatres, restaurants and pubs are clustered, and where many regional public events occur. [[Canada Day]] fireworks displays, [[Symphony Splash]], and many other music festivals and cultural events draw tens of thousands of Greater Victorians and visitors to the downtown core. The Rifflandia and Electronic Music Festival are other music events that draw crowds to the downtown core. Victoria relies upon neighbouring communities for many recreational opportunities including ice rinks in Oak Bay and [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]]. Victoria has one small public pool (Crystal Pool) and many residents use larger and newer pool facilities in Oak Bay, and [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]] (Commonwealth Pool and Gordon Head Pool).
[[File:Ogden Point. MORE INFO IN PANORAMIO-DESCRIPTION - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Ogden Point]] is a deepwater port in the southwest corner of Victoria. The port sees 500,000 daytime visitors via cruise ships per year.]]
The city and metro region has hosted high-profile sports events including the [[1994 Commonwealth Games]] which hosted track events at the [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]]-Oak Bay based University of Victoria and the [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]] Commonwealth Pool, the 2009 [[Scotties Tournament of Hearts]], the [[2005 Ford World Men's Curling Championship]] tournament, and [[2006 Skate Canada]]. Victoria co-hosted the [[2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup]] at [[Royal Athletic Park]], and is the venue for the Bastion Square Grand Prix Criterium road cycling race. The city is also a destination for conventions, meetings, and conferences, including a 2007 [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] military chief of staff meeting held at the Hotel Grand Pacific. Every year, the [[Swiftsure International Yacht Race]] attracts boaters from around the world to participate in the boat race in the waters off of Vancouver Island, and the Victoria [[dragon boat|Dragon Boat]] Festival brings over 90 teams from around North America. The Tall Ships Festival brings sailing ships to the city harbour. Victoria also hosts the start of the [[Vic-Maui Yacht Race]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Laba |first1=Nick |title=Brainy North Shore crew sets sail in Victoria-Maui race |url=https://www.nsnews.com/local-sports/brainy-north-shore-crew-sets-sail-in-victoria-maui-race-5556528 |website=North Shore News |date=7 July 2022 |access-date=8 June 2024}}</ref>

The Port of Victoria consists of three parts, the [[Ogden Point|Outer Harbour]], used by deep sea vessels, the Inner and [[Victoria Harbour (British Columbia)#Upper Harbour|Upper]] Harbours, used by coastal and industrial traffic. It is protected by a [[breakwater (structure)|breakwater]] with a deep and wide opening. The port is a working harbour, [[tourist attraction]] and [[cruising (maritime)|cruise]] destination. [[Esquimalt Harbour]] is also a well-protected harbour with a large [[graving dock]] and [[shipbuilding]] and repair facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Transport |title=Port of Victoria |url=https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/ports-harbours-anchorages/port-victoria |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=TE 18794427 |language=en-CA}}</ref>