The Bahá'í Community of Victoria BC Canada
A Short History of the Baha'i Community of Victoria
The earliest hint of the Bahá’i Faith in the City of Victoria may have been the birth in 1868 of Harriet Gibbs. As Harriet Gibbs Marshall, she later became the first prominent African American to adopt the Bahá’i Faith. In 1908, our city received a visit from Thornton Chase, who is acknowledged as the first North American to accept the Faith. And in the 1920s, a frequent visitor here was Mark Tobey, artist, Bahá’i, and friend and mentor to Emily Carr.
By 1948 the Bahá’i community in Victoria elected our first local governing body, known as The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’is of Victoria. We incorporated under the Societies Act in 1964, and held in 1974 the first Bahá’i wedding in Canada to be officially recognized by the province. Due to our location in the capital city, Victoria’s Bahá’is have accepted a duty of representing the Baha’is of BC to the provincial government.
During the 20th Century, the focus of Victoria’s Bahá’i community was largely outward, supporting our Faith beyond the city boundaries. Many Bahá’is journeyed out from Victoria to carry the Faith to other parts of the world. Articles in the Times Colonist newspaper, for example, record the travels of Vivien Combe who was well known in Victoria as an actor and puppeteer. Miss Combe had started from Victoria in the 1940s, made a successful acting career in Toronto and Hollywood, discovered the Bahá’i Faith in the 1960s, and taught it in Asia and Europe before returning to Victoria in 1968. In 1975 she left here for Hawaii, and carried Bahá’i teachings throughout the Pacific islands, Australia and New Zealand.
Our outward focus was evident also on Vancouver Island. Here we supported the formation of other Bahá’i communities, including a long-term relationship with the First Nations community at Alert Bay. We played a large role in developing and supporting Maxwell International Bahá’i School at Shawnigan Lake, and hosted the Bahá’i Information Centre and Bookstore for greater Victoria.
In the 21st Century we are giving increased attention to outreach activities. In each Victoria neighbourhood we are developing a range of activities for adults and children. People of all faiths and backgrounds are invited to join Bahá'ís in these activities