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Public Administration

Exploring Victoria’s Contested Landscapes

October 17, 2025

On October 11, 2025, the City Talks at the University of Victoria and the Local Governance Hub co-hosted an engaging walking event titled The City Walks: Victoria’s Contested Urban Landscape. The tour was led by Professor Martin Segger, a distinguished architectural historian, museologist, and educator.

The walk invited participants to consider the interwoven stories of people, land uses, and built forms that shape the city’s evolution. Along the route, Professor Segger illuminated how political ideas, economic ambitions, and collective beliefs have materialized in Victoria’s built environment—turning architecture and urban spaces into symbols of both shared aspirations and contested histories.

This collaboration between the City Talks series and the Local Governance Hub, Chaired by Dr. Tamara Krawchenko, highlights the University of Victoria’s commitment to public humanities and civic learning, offering new ways to connect academic expertise with local experience through engaging formats like walking conversations.

Speaker Biography: Professor Martin Segger

Martin Segger is a Canadian architectural historian, museologist, and heritage conservationist whose research and professional work have profoundly influenced the understanding of British Columbia’s architectural and cultural landscapes. As a professor emeritus at the University of Victoria, he has taught in art history and museum studies and has curated numerous exhibitions highlighting regional architectural heritage.

Segger’s career includes leading roles in heritage planning for the City of Victoria, as well as contributions to national advisory boards on built heritage and urban design. His publications, such as Victoria: A History in Architecture, explore how the city’s evolving form reflects broader patterns of colonial expansion, civic aspiration, and modern identity. Recognized for his ability to integrate academic insight with public education, Segger continues to champion accessible forms of urban storytelling through his ongoing lecture series and community walks.