702 Yates Street – ScotiaBank

Additional Information About 702 Yates Street / 1301-1309 Douglas Street:

• Assessed Value (July 2018): $7.899,000; Land $1,587,000; Buildings $6.312,000
• Assessed Value (July 2017): $7.722,000; Land $1,531,000; Buildings $6.191,000
• Assessed Value (July 2016): $5.684,000; Land $1,456,000; Buildings $4.228,000

A Brief History of 702 Yates Street / 1301-1309 Douglas Street

This building was built in 1923 by architect Alfred Arthur Cox (1873-1944) for the Bank of Nova Scotia, now Scotiabank. It is still the main downtown branch of Scotiabank.

In 1963 an addition was built on the north end of the building, comprising the section containing the northern three bay windows visible on the Douglas Street facade. Here is a BC Archives photo showing 702 Yates Street circa 1940, prior to the 1963 addition.

Alfred Arthur Cox also built the following buildings in downtown Victoria:

• British America Trust Company building, 737 Fort Street, built in 1912
• Union Bank Building, 1205 Government Street at View Street, built in 1912

Here are links to some historic photos of 702 Yates Street / 1301 Douglas Street:

• City of Victoria Archives photo M09168 – during construction, 1923
• BC Archives photo I-02182 – circa 1940, also showing 718 Yates Street and 1313 Douglas Street. This photo was taken prior to the 1963 addition on the north side of the building. (photographer: Duncan MacPhail)
• City of Victoria Archives photo M01150 – 1961

Here are some other buildings designed by architect Alfred Arthur Cox: