Coming from Edmonton Rory you'll probably laugh that we even call Victoria a city.
So yeah it's pretty small and there lots of little shops and stuff to do.
You can wander around with no fear of getting mugged or anything
Tofino and Parksville are great for large sandy beaches.
But hey i know what you really want to see..... Tide pools!
Botanical beach is the place to check out.
http://www.portrenfrew.com/botbeach.htm
Its a long drive but can be done as a nice day trip from Victoria.
Even better if you spend the night in Sooke.
Just remember to check the tide table.
High tide = Bad
Low tide = good