Emily Carr House

 By Maryanna Gabriel 

Something hurtful happened to me today so I knew I had to create a special adventure and make the day a good one. I have been wanting to visit Emily Carr's family home for a long time. I wandered past horses and wagons and heritage buildings into the stately yellow mansion that was hers. It helped me appreciate how traditional Emily's roots were and how remarkable it was that she painted ahead of her time in a way that renders her more enduring than most.

Besides, she followed her heart and to me this is always remarkable especially at a time when women's roles were severely defined. Her father came from England and made his fortune from the gold rush in California, not in the way one would think by staking a claim, but rather by following the miners and selling them groceries. He was able to build this beautiful home in the city of Victoria on Government Street. Unfortunately he caught tuberculosis, as did Emily's mother, and both died. The home had fallen into disrepair for some time but now it is slowly being restored. 

After this, I wandered down to a food truck for a delicious
oyster burger  above Fisherman's Wharf where many picturesque shops and houseboats bob side by side.
Tally ho.