Who first settled in Victoria BC and why?

Victoria, British Columbia, was first settled by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1843, primarily as a fur trading post called Fort Victoria. The location was chosen for its strategic position on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, facilitating trade and access to resources. The settlement attracted various groups, including Indigenous peoples and later European settlers, due to its natural harbor and mild climate. Over time, it evolved into a vibrant colonial city and the capital of British Columbia.