Welcome Message

Welcome to the Parliament Buildings, home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia where elected representatives – called Members of the Legislative Assembly or MLAs – meet to shape the future of the province by debating and passing the laws that govern British Columbia.

The Parliament Buildings and surrounding areas are located in the traditional territories of the Lekwungen (pronounced Le-KWUNG-en) people. Now known as the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, these Coast Salish people have a rich culture and history dating back thousands of years.

The Parliament Buildings are located in downtown Victoria, BC on the inner harbour at the following street address: 

     Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
     501 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC
     Canada V8V 1X4W

Learn About the Legislature

Many informational and learning resources designed to help British Columbians learn more about the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia are available at Learning Resources and Discover Your Legislature.

What to Do While You're Here

History of the Buildings

This 12 ½ acre property has served as a site of government in British Columbia since 1864. The original structures, known as the Birdcages, were built to house the elected assembly for the Colony of Vancouver Island and continued to be used by the Legislative Assembly after British Columbia became a Province of Canada in 1871. The current Parliament Buildings, designed by the architect Francis Rattenbury,​ were officially opened on February 10, 1898. 

Take a Tour​

Free guided tours are available throughout the year. Come to ​​discover the history of the province, the architectural splendor of our cherished heritage building and learn about British Columbia's parliamentary process.

Observe Debates​

​Visitors are welcome to observe proceedings from the Public Galleries when the Legislative Assembly is sitting. Please check the Parliamentary Calendar to see if the Legislative Assembly will be sitting on the day of your visit. Visitors can also observe Parliamentary Committee meetings or find out more about public consultations that are underway.  Public meetings of Parliamentary Committees are listed in the Committee Meeting Calendar. 

   
Dine at the Parliamentary Dining Room

The Parliamentary Dining Room is open from Monday to Friday for breakfast and lunch. The hours of operation change based on the schedule of the Legislative Assembly and can be found on the Parliamentary Dining Room page. Visitors to the Parliamentary Dining Room must use the ground level accessible Mowat entrance located on the front driveway beside the stairs and present valid photo identification to Legislative Security upon arrival. Please allow for sufficient time to go through security screening.

Browse the Parliamentary Gift Shop

​Located next to the exit on the first floor of the Parliament Buildings, the Parliamentary Gift Shop offers a variety of souvenir and protocol gifts that are custom made for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

Visit the Legislative Library

The Legislative Library's core collection consists of political science, parliamentary procedure, public administration, economics and Canadian history. There is also a significant collection of British Columbia and Canadian federal government publications. Please visit the Library's hours and services​ page for more information.

Attend an Event

Areas of the Legislative Precinct grounds are used for events such as band and choir performances on the front steps, photographs on the Library steps, and public events on the front lawns. Please consult the ​​Public Calendar for more information. 

Building Status and Emergency Information

In the event of an emergency, or change to status of the Parliament Buildings, visitors can find updated information to provide assistance.  Information may include precinct security alerts, closures and openings during emergencies or unfavorable weather situations.  

Book the Grounds

The grounds of the Parliament Buildings are available for use for a wide variety of non-commercial events and performances. Please consult the Public Use of Legislative Grounds information for guidelines and how to submit an application form.

Visit Victoria

Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is the western most Provincial Capital in Canada.  Please visit Tourism Victoria for more information or check out this map of downtown Victoria.