Photos: Meet the people behind the scenes at the BC legislature building
A photo series of the workers who keep the 125-year-old building running, rain or shine
Passing through a door half a size too small, and gingerly climbing a narrow spiral staircase, Surjit Dhanota, the facilities manager for all of the BC Legislature building and the property surrounding it, slowly opens a thick wooden door.
The late summer sunshine is blinding and the blue sky is framed by the faded green copper roof of the Parliament building. Walking from cat walk to cat walk, Dhanota inspects the roof and tiles before leaning over the edge to check one of the almost 3,500 lights that criss-cross the structure and illuminate the stone building every night.
The whole time his radio buzzes with conversations from facility crews around the property. It takes a dedicated team to maintain and upkeep a 125-year-old building through wet winters and extended summer heat; through the masses of tourists during travel season, and a robust parliamentary calendar.
From cleaning and upkeep, to repairs and conservation, the work is always ongoing as visitors come and go, and the work of running Canada’s third largest province rolls on.
Eric Hutchings, whose grandfather worked as a contractor at the Legislature, works in the wood shop where cabinetry, furniture, and historical pieces of the building are fixed, updated, and conserved. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
Josh Freeman tweaks a lock mechanism on one of the heavy wooden doors on a Legislature breezeway. Being so close to the ocean, and with the winter rains, the wood of the doors and building contract and expand throughout the year causing the need for regular adjustments. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
Maria Tiamzon carefully sweeps down the carpets of the legislative chamber. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
Surjit Dhanota works at his desk where he can control the exterior and fountain lighting from a specialized program on his office computer. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
A view of the BC Legislature from the front lawn of just some of the close to 3,500 lights that cover the building's exterior. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
Rodney Pilatzke changes a light bulb in one of the corridors of the BC Legislature. There is a constant effort to update and modernize parts of the building, while also working to maintain and preserve its history. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
Surjit Dhanota speak on the radio while on the roof of the legislature building. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
Surjit Dhanota poses for a portrait on one of the catwalks on top of the BC Legislature. Being the facilities manager, he is responsible for all the lighting around the buildings, and controls the lighting of the fountains, and exterior lights from a specialized program on his office computer. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
A view of the BC Legislature from the front lawn of just some of the close to 3,500 lights that cover the exterior. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
Eric Hutchings works in the wood shop where cabinetry, furniture, and historical pieces of the building are fixed, updated, and conserved. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
Maria Tiamzon carefully sweeps down the carpets of the legislative chamber. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
Surjit Dhanota checks a bulb along the front roof of the legislature building. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
A view of the BC Legislature lawn from the roof and a portion of just some of the close to 3,500 lights that cover the exterior. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
*This story has been updated from an earlier version which incorrectly stated the age of the BC Legislature building. The buildings opened to the public almost exactly 125 years ago on Feb 10, 1898.*
The 7am habit · free
Tomorrow, wake up already knowing Victoria.
One email at 7am, every weekday. What city hall decided, the place that just opened on Fort Street, the thing the whole Island will be talking about by noon — in a five-minute read, written by people who actually live here.
Independent Victoria news · 50,000 readers · unsubscribe anytime
The newsletter is free. The reporting isn’t.
Members fund the reporters who sat through that council meeting so you didn’t have to — $10/month keeps Victoria’s daily reading independent.
Wednesday deep dive · ad-free audio · early guides
Was this worth your morning?
.jpg)
