When I was a young girl I swam at the Crystal as a fresh water pool.
A history of the building can be read here:
http://www.bcexperience.info/history.asp
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/crystalgarden/today.html
Architect F M Rattenbury link:
http://www.bookboat.com/history/ratbuimain.html

Architects F.M. Rattenbury and Percy James created a steel and glass roofline that allowed light to enter the building; the magical 'glass palace' effect delighted the public. The construction was a matter of civic pride, as the citizens of Victoria had voted in favor of the project after a prolonged debate over whether or not the Canadian Pacific Railway company should finance the building. The Crystal Garden was approved and became a Victoria landmark.
Since then it had a make over and in 1980 had become The Crystal Garden Conservation Centre. My pictures are from that era.
And again the Gardens has struggled to stay open but unfortunately closed its doors once more.