In the mid-1800s, Victoria grew from a fur-trading post into a provincial capital—the jewel in British Columbia's golden crown. Meanwhile, many of the early residents, happy to leave the Hudson's Bay Company behind, followed simple trails from the fort or discovered new routes of their own. In her first book, Danda Humphreys introduced readers to some of the people who forged those pioneer pathways. Now she takes us another step back in time to the roads and railways that connected the original city's core to today's suburbs.

From Saanich to Sooke, street names tell stories of intrigue and adventure:

Rowland Avenue, named for the farm labourer with a sinister sideline: hangman for the HBC.

Joan Crescent, where coal baron Robert Dunsmuir's widow once resided in solitary splendour in a castle called Craigdarroch.

Sidney Avenue, close to where the Brethour brothers donated land for the northern terminus of the "Cordwood Express," first train to link the city with the Saanich Peninsula and the islands in the Strait of Georgia.

In this second book in her On the Street Where You Live trilogy, Danda once again combines her passion for the past with a penchant for lively prose to bring you stories about Victoria's pioneers. You know the streets; now meet the people—their lives, their loves and the legends they left behind.

Originally from Cheshire, England, Danda Humphreys has lived in Canada since 1972 and on the west coast since 1982. Her first career was nursing, and she then moved on to journalism. Over the years she has been an actor, broadcaster, public-relations person and presentation-skills coach.

Danda arrived in Victoria in late 1996 and was captivated by the city´s short but unusual history. Curious about the street names, she started researching their historic origins and soon earned the unofficial title of Victoria´s Favourite Street Walker. Danda´s columns on street names appeared weekly in the Victoria Times Colonist for five years, and her first book, On The Street Where You Live: Pioneer Pathways of Early Victoria, was published in 1999. She has since written two more books in her Streets´ series. More than anything, Danda loves to tell stories. Residents and visitors alike enjoy her guided walks, talks and tours through Victoria's historic downtown.

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