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In 1913, a new warehouse was constructed on the corner of Store Street and Pandora Avenue. This is the building which now houses Swans. In the old days it was a granary and feed store, bringing corn from the prairies to the farmers of Vancouver Island. The grain came in on a train which actually entered the building through the main entrance of Swans. The rail hanging on one of the big posts in the pub comes from the original railway track. The two big iron wheels are from the freight elevators which hauled the grain to the second story storage rooms. The posts themselves are the centre cut of huge trees felled around 1910. The iron chest in the entrance is a 17th century European strongbox built for the storing of treasures, perhaps gold? The ceiling in the pub is the original 3x4 laminated lumber, so thick that it served as a fire barrier. Today a sprinkler system has been installed for added protection. By the 1980's things were different. Michael Williams had given up the dog business and become the owner of a number of buildings in downtown Victoria. His vision of preserving the character of the old buildings while simultaneously giving them a contemporary flare resulted in the exciting renovations of lower Johnson Street—the Grand Central building and courtyard, and the Victoria Box and Paper Building. In 1988 these buildings received a special Merit Award from the Downtown Research and Development Center in New York. In the same year, Michael returned to the store where he used to buy his feed, this time as owner of the building. True to his ideas about redevelopment, he converted the warehouse into Swans, maintaining the spirit of the old place while giving it a contemporary use. The tradition of storing grain in this building goes unbroken, for in the spring of 1989 Swans began serving beer brewed right on the premises in Buckerfield's Brewery. Swans is now composed of a boutique hotel with 29 spacious suites and a award winning Penthouse Suite & Rooftop Terrace; a Brewpub with an open air / glass patio, the Wild Saffron Bistro, and Swans Buckerfields Brewery. Swans most recent addition is the Wine & Beer Shoppe, where you can purchase Swans own bottled beers and lagers.
The building was renovated completely by local craftsmen. The architect is a Victorian, Bill Patterson. The new floors, as remarkable as the old ceiling, were designed and laid by Victoria artisans. The chairs and tables were made by a local firm and the bases for the tables cast to echo the design of the chandeliers which came from the Empress Hotel. The black and white porcelain hand pulls on the bar, called ‘beer engines,’ were imported from England and are used to draw the beer up from the serving tanks underneath the pub. Where does the name ‘Swans’ come from? Michael would laugh
when asked this question and reply, "The Hans Christian Andersen
story. This building was truly an ugly duckling before we started."
The legacy of the late Michael C. Williams In November 2000, came the sad news of the unexpected death of Michael C. Williams. It was Michael’s wish to create a legacy in the form of a generous bequest to the University of Victoria. This included several businesses, real estate and one of the largest private art collections in Canada. Michael’s wishes were for the University of Victoria to use his gift wisely;
Love of the Ocean Community Engagement Passion for Art -A virtual exhibit of Michael’s Collections can be viewed at www.maltwood.uvic.ca/mcw
Michael C. Williams LL D., to the assembly, on the occasion of receiving his honorary degree from the university of Victoria November 24, 1990 [ back to top ]
April 9th finds Swans celebrating its 15th anniversary with month long celebrations, food and beverage specials and, perhaps most importantly to residents, memories of all it has meant to Victoria since it first opened its doors. In some ways it seems as though Swans has always been with us; it is easy to forget just what a radical transformation the redevelopment had on the immediate area when it was first constructed in 1989. Today we take for granted the exterior flowers and sunny yellow building, along with the interior of oak floors, brick walls, vaulted ceilings and incredibly eclectic original art and First Nations’ collection. Michael Williams is quoted as stating that Swans was “built and inspired with an honest approach, with faith in the intelligence of people to judge quality and value.” Today’s caretakers of his dream are proud of how they have managed to continue providing honest and sincere service even while sadly missing him at the helm. Today Swans consists of 29 large, spacious hotel rooms, one magnificent 3,000 square foot Penthouse (formerly Mr. Williams’ residence), a Wine & Beer Shoppe, Buckerfield’s Brewery, The Wild Saffron Bistro and Winebar and, of course, the heart and soul of Swans – the Brewpub. It’s fair to say that to many Swans IS the Brewpub. Right from the beginning, the Pub was incredibly popular, even being voted Monday Magazine’s 5th most popular neighbourhood pub after only having its doors open for two months – this in spite of the fact that, in those days, there wasn’t even a ‘neighbourhood’ anywhere around it. Over the past 15 years the surrounding district has certainly grown and changed, but apart from some minor alterations, Swans has remained the same, and in many respects Swans provided the anchor for these positive changes. The same flowers, oak, brick, stunning art, warmth and welcome greet guests today, just as they did upon opening. Swans award-winning house-brewed ales and lagers (nine quality styles) are still crafted with old-world British tradition in small batches and are still primarily available only through service in the Pub or for sale in the Wine & Beer Shoppe. Recently, a House-brewed non-alcoholic root beer has made an appearance among its alcoholic cousins and is now on tap. These days there is live music Saturday through Thursday nights, a wider menu reflecting modern tastes and choices, and a few new faces, but the heart and soul, that indefinable ‘something’ that is Swans, remains. Many locals are surprised to discover that Swans is more than just the Pub. As impressive as the Pub is however, the unique hotel rooms more than compare. Originally built as apartments, (they were converted after only a year in order to receive the appropriate liquor licensing of the day), the guest rooms are extremely spacious. The majority are loft style suites with the bedrooms overlooking the living area, they all have full kitchens including microwaves, feather duvets, and ‘Juliette’ balconies or flower-filled terraces, and original art pieces throughout. If you’ve ever wanted to reside in a sunny Italian piazza, here’s your chance. Other popular elements of Swans include the Wine and Beer Shoppe (one of the first in the area) which not only sells Swans Beers, but also carries a full selection of wine and spirits, as well as the Wild Saffron Bistro & Winebar, reincarnated some two years ago from the original Fowl and Fish Café. The Bistro is rapidly becoming known for exceptional service and outstanding food with one reviewer saying “Each biteful of dinner was an exercise in pleasure…no two bites tasted alike…somehow there were a million different instruments playing in my mouth--- I could clearly hear each one individually, and yet, together they were making the most mesmerizing music.” Thus far, the Bistro’s many delighted dining guests agree. Constantly providing a stunning background to the many services available, the collection of original art is frequently the most talked about magic of Swans. In conjunction with the antiques, the Michael Williams Legacy Collection numbers about 1600 pieces, some 300 of which are on rotating display throughout Swans. Art pieces grace the walls of the Pub, Bistro, Collard Room (a private dining room and meeting space), Hotel lobby, and Guest rooms. A complimentary self-guided Art Tour is available to anyone who is lucky enough to enter the Pub or Hotel Lobby and hotel guests can even request the room number based on the art piece in the room. For the most part, the pieces in the Collection are from local artists and are eclectic, large, personal, colourful, exotic and unconventional. Works by Roy Henry Vickers, Brad Passuti, Noah Becker, Glen Howarth, Jack Shadbolt, Herbert Seibner, Myfanwy Spencer Pavellic, Richard Ciccimarra, Norval Morisseau, and Toni Onley are included, often in large numbers. The art is such an integral part of Swans that the hotel offers successful Art Lovers Packages to its guests and frequently holds art tours in conjunction with meetings and special events. Perhaps nowhere is the art and antique collection more visible than in the magnificent 3-level 3,000 square foot Penthouse with its Roy Henry Vickers totem pole and vast Vicky Marshall works hanging from its 3rd floor loft bedroom. As the former residence of Michael Williams, the Penthouse today provides an awe-inspiring venue for weddings, receptions and special events. The rooftop terrace overlooking the Inner Harbour is the perfect place to relax, sit back and enjoy, what else, but a Swans beer. The heart and soul of any operation is the people, and Swans is no exception. A few of the employees have been here since the beginning of the dream, with today’s CEO, Janina Ceglarz, being one of them. An ethnic tapestry of human resources have come from all corners of the globe and, wisely, ended up working at Swans. Some 77 staff members are originally from China, The Phillipines, Poland, Portugal, England, Bosnia, America, Vietnam and just about anywhere else you can think of. This not only makes for some really interesting staff meetings, but also contributes to the excellent empathetic service levels experienced by Swans’ guests in every area of the enterprise. The determined spirit of these people reflect the inherent spirit of this place. It’s well known in Victoria that, at the end of a life rich with art and achievements Michael Williams left his entire estate to the University of Victoria. That estate included a number of other enterprises, but perhaps the most important one (at least to Victorians) was Swans. Following his instructions a ‘for profit’ corporation was formed – Heritage Realty Properties Limited. Heritage Realty operates at ‘arms length’ from the University and as an entirely separate entity. It consists of a CEO who runs the company in conjunction with a nine person Board of Directors. This inheritance model is perhaps the first of its kind in Canada and is typical of Michael Williams; a unique, ‘made in Victoria’ answer to protecting his vision while benefiting just one of the causes he loved so much, in this case, UVic. In looking to the future while always respecting its past, Swans will begin major renovations in the Fall of 2004, the first time in its 15 year history. The guest rooms and pub will both receive ‘makeovers’ with some fairly significant redesign elements introduced, particularly into the hotel rooms. Always, of course, that ‘home away from home’ feeling will be protected and enhanced. As one pub regular puts it “This is my living room!” and Swans will always strive to create and protect that homelike ambience. Everyone involved with Swans today is incredibly conscious of the
responsibility entrusted by Michael Williams; to serve the community
honourably and with distinction, to support charities and embrace those
less fortunate, to provide warmth, relaxation and welcome to all weary
travelers (be they local or from far away), and to preserve the magic
and enchantment that is, and will always be, Swans. All members of this
remarkable team are very aware that they are stewards of an incredible
dream - one which must keep coming true. |
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Drama!
Intrigue! Adventure! In the late 1800's, lower Johnson Street
was ripe with the frontier spirit. It was from here that prospectors
headed north to make their fortune in Klondike gold. It was along these
streets that fourteen factories flourished through the legal production
of opium. The Scott and Peden families were merchants dealing in grain
and groceries. They built the warehouses in what is now Market Square,
and their names can still be seen painted on the brick walls facing
the harbour. 
In the 1950's the Buckerfield's Company bought the building from Scott
and Peden. They continued to use it as a feed store, where farmers from
the outlying rural communities converged to buy their grain. One of
those who came to the store was Michael Williams, a young immigrant
shepherd from Shropshire, England, who trained border collies and ran
a kennel in Langford. He travelled in to Buckerfield's to purchase food
for his dogs. In later years, a nursery was added, and Victorians flocked
there every spring to choose flowering plants for their gardens. 
