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How to find First†Metropolitan United Church

The church is located at the northeast corner of Quadra Street and Balmoral Road (932 Balmoral Road) in Victoria, BC. Note that Balmoral Road becomes Fisgard west of Quadra.

The entrance to the Sanctuary is on Quadra, while the entrances to the church office, chapel, fellowship hall, and meeting rooms are on Balmoral. If you are attending Epiphany Explorations or other conferences and events, please use the Balmoral entrance.

Parking

On Sundays, angle parking is available on Balmoral Road. Weekdays, parallel parking is the rule. The two hour time limit on street parking 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday is strictly enforced, so please observe the signs and watch your time. Additional parking spots are available in a small lot off North Park Road, beside Canadian Linen Supply. A walkway and stairs leads from the back of this parking lot to the entrance to the church buildings adjacent to the office. Please note that this entrance is not accessible to those with wheelchairs.

Nearby, pay parking lots include:

1. Robbins – 2 lots on Caledonia Street between Blanshard and Quadra Streets
2. City of Victoria parking at Caledonia and Vancouver Street
3. The Bay Parkade at Blanshard and Fisgard
4. Glad Tidings Church parking, 1800 Quadra Street

The rates for pay parking vary from $0.50 per hour to $1.00 per hour. Daily rates are from $4.00 to $6.00.

When attending large conferences or events at First Metropolitan, check the event brochure or registration package for availability of additional parking.

Transit

First Metropolitan is located on a bus route. For transit information and schedules, see the Victoria Regional Transit System. If you require accessible bus transportation, see the Guide to Accessibility.

Taxi Service

Many taxi companies serve the Victoria area. Blue Bird Cabs and Yellow Cab of Victoria offer wheelchair accessible vehicles. They also honour BC Transit Taxi Saver coupons.

There are two phones available at the church to phone for a taxi. One is located in the Narthex (main entrance) of the Sanctuary, and the other in the photocopy room.

Accessibility

Several parking spots, for those who with handicapped stickers, are available outside the entrance to the church buildings on Balmoral Road. From this entrance, both floors including the Sanctuary, Chapel, all offices, classrooms, and social areas are accessible. The elevator to the second floor is located just prior to the interior (chancel) entrance into the Sanctuary.

Please note that the only areas not accessible to wheelchair users are the balcony and the Kindergarten room — the entrances to these rooms having two to four steps — as well as the washrooms located downstairs from the Fellowship Hall and from the Narthex.

There is a universal access washroom on each floor: 1st floor – adjacent to Balmoral Road entrance; 2nd floor – almost directly above next to the Social Suite (Rm. 200.)

Our Greeters, Ushers, and staff are happy to assist you in your seating and/or addressing any needs you may have.

For persons with hearing impairments, our regular amplification in the Sanctuary is augmented by an FM system. You may be provided with “ear plugs” or for those who have a “T” device in their hearing aids, a “loop.” At present this system is not available for the Chapel or other areas of the church.

First Metropolitan is a smoke-free, scent-free church. Please note while we do our best to accommodate the special needs visitors, we cannot guarantee to meet every need. We have a family room available to those with special sensitivities. Please dress appropriately for the season in layers so that you can adjust your clothing for comfort.

Security Reminder

Please do not leave any valuables in the pews or meeting rooms while at church functions. While we do the very best to be watchful and aware, things do go missing if left.