Our synagogue today is the oldest house of worship in British Columbia and the oldest synagogue in continuous use in Canada. The building was designed by John Wright, the first professional architect in Victoria.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the Jewish population in Victoria declined as Vancouver took on more worldly importance. By the mid-1940's, there were only 10 - 15 paid up families at Congregation Emanu-El. The synagogue was 80 years old by then, and was badly deteriorated. In an effort to save it from being condemned, the original brick exterior was covered with stucco, the windows were blocked in and a false ceiling was installed to allow for adequate heating. This preserved the synagogue until 1978, when a group of volunteers decided to restore the synagogue to its original condition. The cost of this restoration was $370,000.00, more than half of which came from the Victoria Jewish Community. This restoration was completed in 1982 with a multicultural and multiethnic celebration similar to the original dedication in 1863.
The Victoria Jewish Community kept growing, and another addition to the synagogue was completed in 2003, to accommodate the social and cultural demands of the congregation. By 2004, the congregation had grown to about 215 families who are enjoying our much used building.
