Past and present
The carillon was a gift from the Dutch community of British Columbia, to celebrate Canada’s 100th birthday, and also to honour Canada’s role in the liberation of Holland in World War II. The carillon was conceived and sponsored by the Netherlands Committee for BC, under the chairmanship of L. R. Doorman, and the patronage of J. G. Beekman, Consul-General of the Netherlands in Vancouver.
The tower in which the carillon is housed, was designed by the Department of Public Works in British Columbia, and the cost contributed by the provincial government. Queen Juliana of the Netherlands laid the cornerstone on 23 May 1967. The presentation and ringing-in ceremony took place on 9 March 1968. Carillonneur Herman Bergink played to an audience which included The Honourable W. A. C. Bennett, Premier of British Columbia, The Honourable George R. Pearkes, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of British Columbia, and J. G. Beekman, Consul-General of the Netherlands. One of the bells was dedicated to the Canadian soldiers who gave their lives for the liberation of the Netherlands during the Second World War.
In 1971, the carillon was enlarged from 49 to 62 bells after funds were raised through the sale of a recording made by Provincial Carillonneur Herman Bergink and his tutor Leen ’t Hart. The automatic player went silent in 2003. Since it could not be repaired, it was replaced by state-of-the-art technology in 2007. The $55,000 Royal Eijsbouts project was funded by local benefactor Ralph Bodine and included replacement of the carillon’s original keyboard.
Today the carillon adds charm to the neighbourhood of Victoria’s Inner Harbour and the parliament buildings. Every December, the Royal BC Museum hosts ‘Carol-Along with the Carillon’, featuring choirs and members of the community singing their favourite seasonal songs, accompanied live by the carillon, followed by hot chocolate and cookies.
Facts and figures
Number of bells | 62 |
Total weight of the bells | ca. 8500 kg |
Weight of the bourdon | ca. 1500 kg |
Pitch of bourdon | d1, connected to c on the keyboard |
Bell-founders | Petit & Fritsen (49 from 1967, 13 from 1971) |
Manual playing system | mechanical baton-type keyboard |
Automatic playing system | Hourly chimes on midi system with pneumatic pistons |
Carillonneur | Rosemary Laing |
Regular recitals | At civic events and national holidays |
Summer concerts | Sundays in July and August from 3 to 4 pm |
Accessibility of the tower | no |
Significant inscription
This stone was unveiled by
Her Majesty Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
on the occasion of her visit to the site of the Carillon Tower
a project to mark Canada’s Centennial Year
and a gift to the people of British Columbia
by the Dutch Community in the province
May 23 1967
(memorial stone at the base of the tower)