Discover Victoria’s Best Independent, Women-Owned Shops
Some of Victoria’s best shops are easy to miss. I’ll make sure you don’t. Explore the city’s finest stores: vintage clothing, apothecary, books, gifts. And hear the stories of the audacious women behind them.
Spending three hours scrolling reviews trying to find the good stuff, only to give up and follow the herd down the main tourist strip. We’ve all been there.
Come walk with me instead.
Hello, I’ll be the one doing the talking.
I’m Katie. I am, and have always been, the book club organiser. Or the dinner club. Or the sports team. Now, I’m organising your best few hours in Victoria.
I’ve lived all over the map, from growing up in Nova Scotia to spells in London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Sydney, Bali, and Cape Town. But I’ve chosen to settle right here. It turns out this pint-sized city has its own kind of magic.
I’ve designed these tours to make you feel welcome from our very first interaction, and to leave you glowing and inspired by the women whose stories you’ve just heard. I want you walking away saying things like “Damn those women are something!” or “Good god what a great tour that was! Why isn’t this offered in EVERY city??”
What to expect on my walking tour of Downtown Victoria
01
Hear the stories behind the shops.
These women pour everything into their shops. You’ll hear how they got started, what keeps them going, and you’ll feel it. Passion like that is contagious.
02
No pressure to buy.
You’re here for the stories, not a sales pitch. But if something catches your eye, you’ll know exactly who you’re buying from.
03
Leave with The List.
The tour’s just the start. You’ll leave with my list of even more women-owned businesses beyond the route: cafés and restaurants, more shops and services.
And who are you?
Maybe you’re flying solo and keen to join a group.
Maybe you’re travelling with family and need a breather for a couple of hours.
Maybe you’re with a bigger tour and just fancy a change of company for the afternoon.
Maybe you live here and walk past these shops every week without knowing who’s behind them.
Maybe you want to start a business one day, or just love supporting the women who already did.
Maybe you remember when a woman running her own business was the exception, and you love seeing what’s changed.
Whatever brings you here, you’re someone who cheers women on. You’ll fit right in.
The practical bits
01
Group size.
Up to six guests - small enough to connect, and to slip into the best shops without taking over. Six people means you hear everything, see everything, and actually get to know the people you’re walking with.
02
What to expect.
Whether you’re here for a weekend or you’ve lived here for years, I’ve done the research. You just show up.
I’ll take you through downtown Victoria’s winding alleys and share the origin stories of the women behind each stop.
At the end, if you want to circle back to try on vintage clothes or lose yourself in a bookshop, you’re never more than a few minutes away.
You’ll leave with my list of recommendations beyond the tour.
No sponsored stops. Every business is chosen because I genuinely love it.
03
Meeting point.
We meet outside a major central landmark downtown. (You’ll receive the address when you book.) At the end of the tour, you’ll be about a 10-minute walk from where we started.
04
Price and days.
$65 CAD (approx. $47 USD) per person. Thursday to Saturday. Rain or shine.
Bookings open soon.
Tours run Thursday to Saturday, 11am to 1pm, in downtown Victoria. Join the list and you'll hear about dates before anyone else.