James Bay was originally home to the Swenghwung First Nations, a group now known as the Songhees First Nation. 

The name of this neighborhood came from the inlet forming part of the inner harbour which was named after Sir James Douglas.

James Bay originally began as a farming community right after the construction of Fort Victoria in 1843.

The first homes to be built in the area started in 1859 and were intended solely for the wealthy elite of Victoria. However, after a few decades, the working class began to move in and had cottages built on the west side, which became an industrial and shipping hub.

By the time the 1960's arrived, many of the older homes were torn down and replaced by block style apartments.

These monstrosities did not sit well with the local residents and they fought back with a grassroots movement to preserve the remaining homes as heritage buildings.

Fun Fact: Emily Carr, one of Canada's most famous artists was born at Carr House (207 Government Street) in 1871, and died a few blocks away at the James Bay Inn, 74 years later. For most of her life, she lived in James Bay and wrote extensively about the area and her family's homes.