User:Loneaxiom

The Beacon Lodge is an old apartment building in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Located on Douglas Street, the building is directly across from the start of the Trans-Canada Highway.

The building has 56 rental suites located on 4 separate floors, with the majority of them being small bachelors and a few one bedrooms. Many suites have views of the Juan De Fuca Strait in the Pacific Ocean and Beacon Hill Park. All suites come fully furnished, a niche that has made renting the suites much more appealing.

History
In 1945 Henri Côté and his wife Anne Marie, along with his parents, Joseph and Ida Côté, moved to Victoria from Morinville, Alberta. Together, both father and son purchased the Beacon Cottage, an old historic building built in 1883. Being contractors by trade, they renovated the building, converting it into a motel, renaming it the Tourist Lodge. They opened for business in 1946. The Tourist Lodge was a haven for many travelers looking for a peaceful retreat. As the Côté’s began to take root in the city, Henri Côté felt it was time to expand the business. Over the course of a year, the Beacon Lodge was built. The building was built in front and attached to the existing Tourist Lodge and on September 15, 1949 was officially open for business. Two years later, in 1951, Joseph Côté passed away suddenly, and in his honor, Cote Enterprises Ltd was formed. For the next decade the Beacon Lodge operated as a successful motel, housing thousands of guests each year. Its Art Deco features, both inside and out, made it very trendy for guests during that time. In 1962, an additional renovation was conducted under Henri Côté’s supervision. A fourth floor was added and an additional wing was constructed and attached to the southern back part of the Beacon Lodge. This final renovation brought the building up to its current specifications. A miniature lighthouse was erected on the northern part of the property by Henri Côté. Over the years, the lighthouse became a symbol to the many residents the sense of home and warmth offered by the Côté family. The Beacon Lodge continued to operate as a motel, until in the early 1970’s Henri Côté’s youngest son, Bernie, joined the family business and persuaded to have the Lodge operate as an apartment building instead. Since then it has continuously run as an apartment building by the Côté family. 2016 will mark the 70th anniversary of their businesses beginning.



Honors
In March of 2011 the Government of British Columbia recognized the Côté family for their contributions to the Francophone community over the course of many decades. A plaque was issued and placed in front of the Beacon Lodge.