In the 1860’s and 1870’s, sports events were central to holiday celebrations. Teams and athletic clubs were becoming established, and new sports were beginning to appear.

By 1860, Victoria (formerly Fort Victoria) had grown to a community of several thousand. It had grown almost overnight in response to the influx of gold-seekers in 1858 on their way to the Fraser River. Victoria enjoyed new sports such as billiards and gymnastics, and fads like roller-skating. Most sports, however, were still associated with picnics and included such events as croquet, quoits, caber-tossing and “greasy pig.”