This well photographed site hosts the Canadian National Marker called Mile Zero that marks one of two western points of the Trans Canada (TC) Trail and Highway. Just shy of a half a hectare in size, Mile Zero West is a beautiful landscaped triangular shaped lawn that is part of Beacon Hill Park. It is separated from the main parkland by Battery Street in Victoria, B.C. The TC Highway passes through the southern towns and cities of the provinces of Canada to St. John’s, Newfoundland, whose terminus is Mile Zero East. That’s an eight thousand and thirty kilometer distance. The Trans Canada Trail is multi-user trail that mostly parallels the highway. A statue of Terry Fox, a young Canadian man whose dream was to complete a foot race across Canada despite diagnoses with cancer, stands just behind the marker and looks south to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Salish Sea. A plaque and monument acknowledging Stephen Fonyo’s marathon across Canada also lies in nearby. A couple of Garry oak, shore pine and horse chestnut trees provide limited shade of the lovely flower beds and benches in this green space.
Geographic coordinates N48° 24′ 33” W123° 22′ 8″
Mile Zero-Beacon Hill Park can be reached from Blanchard Street. Stay on Blanchard Street as it merges with Douglas Street near Southgate and Superior streets. This marks the northwestern corner of Beacon Hill Park. Continue along Douglas Road to Dallas Road and look for the markers near the junction of Douglas, Dallas and Battery Street. City buses travel to the Beacon Hill Park and in the James Bay area from downtown Victoria.