Located in the District of Oak Bay in Victoria, British Columbia,Tod House is one of Western Canada’s oldest, continuously occupied residential homes. Built by John Tod in 1850, and expanded in the 1860s, Tod House is an example of an early farm settlement done in the French-Canadian piece-sur-piece construction style.
Tod House is a designated heritage property that continues to house tenants to this day. Its original features are largely intact, including the original hand-hewn finish interior and field stone fireplaces. To preserve this piece of Canadian history, Tod House has undergone a number of restoration projects over the years. The most recent renovation addressed the home’s exterior features and included general landscaping, fence construction, a roof replacement, chimney and flashing repairs, reconstruction of the porch, and water drainage improvements.
Quick Facts
The exterior restoration was completed in just five months, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, coming in on time and under budget.
Karen Hunter, the Lead Project Manager, was proposed for her experience managing one of Canada’s longest active archeological dig sites.
With connections to the Hudson Bay Company, Canada’s Fur Trade and one of BC’s First Legislative Council Members, Tod House is 172 years old.
Bringing in the right expertise
The District of Oak Bay engaged our team to supplement its internal staff and manage the delivery of the project.
To complete the exterior restoration, our team worked closely with Heritage Works to ensure that any new or salvaged materials used for the restoration preserved the home’s integrity and original design. We acted on behalf of the District of Oak Bay and collaborated with Heritage Works and Thujacraft to carefully review and approach each portion of the restoration.
Communication was critical during this project, as a new wave of COVID-19 meant that the existing tenants had to remain in the home throughout construction. Our team communicated with the home’s tenants regularly to ensure they were aware of upcoming work, to lessen the impacts of construction on their daily lives, and to ensure their safety amid the ongoing pandemic.
Although the team encountered challenges during testing, such as the presence of asbestos and lead-based paint, the project team’s dedication to finding solutions to preserve history and share their expertise enabled us to mitigate all risks and keep the project moving forward. The collaborative environment established by our team, the District of Oak Bay, consultants and contractors truly made this project a success and prepared Tod House for future interior renovations.
