Opening September 15, 1949 Management Cote Enterprises Ltd Architect Henri and Joseph Côté | Owner Bernie Côté Floor count 4 | |
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Location Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | ||
The Beacon Lodge is a unique apartment building in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Located at 30 Douglas Street, the building is directly across from the start of the Trans-Canada Highway, and just down the street from the famous Beacon Drive In.
Contents
The building has 59 rental suites located on 4 separate floors, with the majority of them being small bachelors and a few one bedrooms. Many suites have views of the Olympic Mountains across the Juan de Fuca Strait in the Pacific Ocean and Beacon Hill Park. All suites come fully furnished, a niche that has made renting the suites much more appealing.
History
In 1945 Henri Côté and his wife Anne Marie, along with his parents, Joseph and Ida Côté, moved to Victoria from Edmonton, Alberta. Joseph Côté purchased the Beacon Cottage, an old historic building built in 1883. Being contractors by profession, both father and son renovated the building, converting it into a motel and renaming it the Tourist Lodge. They opened for business in 1946.
The Tourist Lodge was a haven for many traveler's looking for a peaceful retreat, especially those from the Canadian Prairies who were looking to get away from the harsh long winters. As the Côté’s began to take root in the city, Henri Côté felt it was time to expand the business. Over the course of a year, the Beacon Lodge was built. The building was built in front and attached to the existing Tourist Lodge and on September 15, 1949 was officially open for business. Two years later Joseph Côté died suddenly, and in his honour Cote Enterprises Ltd was formed in 1952. For the next several decades the Beacon Lodge operated as a successful motel, housing hundreds of guests each year. Its Art Deco and Streamline Moderne architecture, both inside and out, made it very trendy for guests during that time. The building included octagonal windows, a signature of Henri Côté, which he used on other projects he helped build in Victoria during that time. In 1962, an additional renovation was conducted under Henri Côté’s supervision. A fourth floor was added and an additional wing was constructed and attached to the southern back part of the Beacon Lodge. This final renovation brought the building up to its current specifications. A miniature lighthouse was erected on the northern part of the property by Henri Côté. Over the years, the lighthouse became a symbol to the many residents, giving them a sense of home and warmth offered by the Côté family.
The Beacon Lodge continued to operate as a motel until in the early 1970s when Henri Côté’s youngest son, Bernie, joined the family business and persuaded to have the Lodge operate as an apartment building instead. Since then it has continued to operate as an apartment building by the Côté family for over 70 years.
Charitable Foundation
In 1977, after the sudden death of one of Henri Côté's sons, Raymond, the family started the Côté Family Memorial Foundation, which supports organizations in Victoria such as the Our Place Society, Anawim House, Victoria Women’s Transition House and Society Of St. Vincent De Paul Of Vancouver Island.
Honours
In March 2011 the Government of British Columbia recognized the Côté family for their contributions to the Francophone community in Victoria over the course of many decades. Henri Côté's youngest daughter, Thérèse (Côté) Gerein received the honour on behalf of the family. A plaque was issued and placed in front of the Beacon Lodge.