Please take a moment to observe the date "1903" on the Rogers Chocolate building. The City of Victoria, sometimes described as a "piece of England," was named after Queen Victoria. It is one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest and has a number of significant historic buildings. Founded in 1843 as a Hudson's Bay Company Trading Post, it was incorporated as a city in 1862. This 1903 facade shows the classical details of the Queen Anne Revival style, notice that large bay window. Several buildings along Government St. exhibit this architectural style.

The Rogers Building is a City of Victoria Heritage Building and recognized by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. This plaque can be found on the sidewalk in front of the store. Walking the length of Government St. provides many opportunities for visitors and locals to view this "piece of England's" historic buildings, some of which have been transformed into interesting and unique shops.

This is the view looking south from Rogers' Chocolates along Government St. It is a quiet chilly February Sunday morning, and I was waiting for Rogers' chocolates to open at 11 AM. This is the quiet tourist season in Victoria, BC. In just a few months though this street will be crowded with tourists.

This is a portrait of Charles "Candy" Rogers and his wife Leah. In 1885, Charles moved to Victoria, BC and opened a green grocery store on Government St. In 1903, architects Hooper and Watkins designed a Queen Anne Revival shopfront for him, featuring woodwork, stained glass, and intricate tiling, which remain in place today. The original grocery store was across the street from the current location and Charles imported chocolates from San Francisco before starting to make his own creations at the back of the new store. His wife Leah looked after managing all the retail aspects of selling the chocolate at the front of the store.

The Victoria Creams, shown in the pink wax paper packaging were the signature chocolates that started it all for Charles and Leah Rogers. The creams became a local favourite and established Rogers' Chocolates as Canada's premier chocolatier. Today some of the flavours include Coconut, Wild Cherry, Rum, Vanilla, Chocolate, Raspberry, Peach, Blueberry, Peanut Butter, Maple, Marzipan, Orange, and many, many more.

Rogers' Chocolates today is privately owned and locally operated by Canadian families and they now have eight stores in British Columbia. While the owners take great pride in carrying on the legacy of Charles and Leah, there have been a few updates to marketing, expansion, additional products such as popcorn nut clusters, ice cream and new chocolate cream flavours -- cinnamon anyone?

It was a little too chilly this February morning for Ice Cream, but certainly something to look forward to in a few months. I selected a box of Rogers' Chocolates Valentine Victoria Creams: Chocolate, Raspberry, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Peanut Butter. I cannot wait to try the Cinnamon!