VICTORIA GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Walking Victoria’s Queer Past: Pride, Provocation and Public Memory
A compact, 75-minute guided walk that traces Victoria’s LGBTQ2S+ history — from an outspoken 1860s town crier to the fight to create the city’s first pride parade in the 1980s — useful for anyone wanting a grounded, human-centered reading of the city.
Walking Victoria’s Queer Past: Pride, Provocation and Public Memory.
On a focused 75-minute loop through downtown Victoria, this guided walk uncovers queer lives that have shaped the city: early provocateurs, community organizers of the 1980s who launched Victoria’s first pride parade, and the contemporary legacy of those struggles. The tour drills into hidden and celebrated stories that link the 1860s to the present, led by a guide who frames queer histories as essential civic history.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Naomi Duska brings the stories to life
The walk is led by Naomi Duska (she/her), a writer, museum worker, and tour guide who has lived in Victoria since 2017; her perspective and care for queer stories are central to the tour’s tone and focus.
From an outspoken 1860s town crier to 1980s pride
The route threads together pivotal moments in local LGBTQ2S+ history, including an openly gay town crier in the 1860s and the struggle to launch Victoria’s first pride parade in the 1980s.
A compact route that maps memory onto place
In roughly seventy-five minutes the walk traces how queer stories are embedded in Victoria’s public spaces and how those histories continue to mark the cityscape today.
What the day feels like
What the walk feels like
This is an intimate urban walk — concentrated, conversational, and rooted in specific places — that pauses on sidewalks and squares to relay personal and civic histories. Expect a steady, accessible pace as the guide moves the group through centering moments in Victoria’s queer past and connects them to present-day landmarks.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this walk suits — and where to be cautious.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The tour runs for approximately 75 minutes.
Tickets must be purchased online.
Please meet at The Knowledge Totem Pole outside the Legislature (499 Belville Street).
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is Victoria’s Queer Culture Walk?
The tour lasts 75 minutes.
Where do we meet for the tour?
Meet at The Knowledge Totem Pole outside the Legislature (499 Belville Street).
Where does the tour end?
The walk concludes in Bastion Square.
Who leads the tour?
The walk is guided by Naomi Duska (she/her), a writer, museum worker, and tour guide who has lived in Victoria since 2017.
Do I need to purchase tickets in advance?
Yes — tickets must be purchased online.