In order to make room for festivities at the Esquimalt 100 Community Celebration at Gorge Park, and to create a safe environment in the park, no personal vehicles will be permitted in the park area on Celebration Day - Saturday September 8th. The main access road into the park will be closed beginning on Friday morning at 7:00 a.m. to allow for park setup, and will be closed to vehicle traffic until Sunday morning at 10 a.m. In addition, the parking area located at the bottom of Sioux Place at the western entrance to the park will be closed to parking to allow for supplier access Friday and handicapped parking and access on Saturday.
What are the options?
1. Shuttle Service
Park at the Archie Browning Sports Centre (rear parking lot adjacent to Lyall Street) and take our free shuttle service to the park entrance off Tillicum. Buses depart Archie Browning every half hour beginning at 11 am. Buses depart Esquimalt Gorge Park and return to Archie Browning every half hour beginning at 11:30 a.m. Final departure from Esquimalt Gorge Park is at 11:00 pm. Transportation provided by Wilsons Transportation and Esquimalt 172 Senior's Group. Victoria Pedicab will be on site to provide free pedicab rides from the shuttle drop-off to the centre of the park for those with walking difficulties. Golf carts will also be available to shuttle individuals in need of assistance.
2. Walk/Transit
If you live close by, and are able, why not walk? If further afield, why not try BC Transit? Plan your route at www.transitbc.com/regions/vic/tripplanner.cfm
3. Bike
There will be a free bike check-in on site during the event. Bike riders are encouraged to enter through the Sioux Place access, and walk their bikes to the parking area. If arriving northbound on Tillicum, consider taking the walkway under the Tillicum Bridge, rather than turning left into the park off of Tillicum. Please walk your bike under the bridge and along the Gorge walkway if taking this route.
4. Harbour Ferries
Want to make a special day even more special? Take a Harbour Ferry from Downtown Victoria! There will be at least 15 trips running between the Empress in Downtown Victoria and Tillicum Landing near the Gorge Park entrance on September 8th, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. (last trip back to Victoria at 7:15 p.m.). Harbour Ferries is offering a special Esquimalt Centennial Rate:
- $10 one-way (a $5 savings!)
- $20 two-ways (a $10 savings)
5. Drop-off passengers by vehicle
Personal vehicles may drop-off passengers at the Tillicum entrance to the park. Passengers must disembark as quickly as possible to avoid traffic jams in the loop. The parking lot at the end of Sioux Place has four parking spaces designated as handicapped drop-off and pick-up.
For more information, please contact:
Ritchie Morrison, Communications and Centennial Coordinator
Tel: 250-414-7122