The James Bay Inn Pub is thriving as a community hub and the place where iconic Canadian artist and writer Emily Carr died.

Housed in a heritage building built in 1911, it has operated as a hotel or pub all that time — apart from the war years, 1942 to 1945, when it was bought by Mother Cecilia’s religious order and operated as St. Mary’s Priory.

It was during this spell that the building looked after its most famous guest, Carr being a patient at the Priory in her final illness, dying there on March 2, 1945.

“Emily Carr died in the area where we now have the men’s washroom, which was the intensive care unit of the age care facility,” says head waitress Sherry Sanborn.

“I also find the contradiction in her story quite amusing. She was schooled in Europe and went to Japan to study. Subsequently her professional life was very international. But her domestic life was two blocks from here on Government Street, with her pet monkey Woo. She never married or had kids. So Woo was her fur baby and she dressed it up as a little girl and took it out in the neighbourhood in a stroller. It would freak out little old ladies who approached the stroller.”

Along with its Carr story, the JBI Pub was unique in being an old English-style pub, which attracted great local patrons, says bar manager Victor Zanet.

“We’re a little out of town, so we don’t get a lot of the downtown crowd. But we have our own community here in James Bay.

“I think we’re Victoria’s best-kept secret. We have our own unique environment. And everybody that comes always comes back.”

Zanet says the pub doesn’t serve signature dishes or drinks per se, but they cater to everyone.

“All the food is good here. It’s all made in-house and is old school; mom-and-pop type stuff. It’s not trendy. You know what you’re going to get. And the portions are good.”

Customer favourites include the JBI Steak Sandwich, Halibut & Chips, the Tibetan Bowl and Panko Breaded Oysters.

“As far as beverages go, our customers are beer drinkers. They’re not fancy cocktail people. Sure we can make them cocktails if that’s what they request. But that’s not the way we roll here. Our beers are all local and all work. We include three Phillips, two Hoyne and one Lighthouse. ”

When it comes to what makes a great bartender, being an amateur shrink is a good asset, Zanet suggests.

“You have to be a bit of a shrink, I guess, because everyone’s got their issues," he laughs. "A sense of humour also helps. And being a good listener, as people want to talk. When they’re not ‘talking’ to their electronic devices that is! They should turn those things off. The phone just gets in the way. But knowing your customers, knowing what they want. And not making them wait.”

The JBI Pub has seven TVs normally playing sports, but Zanet was quick to say they’re not a sports bar.

“We don’t have a theme. People come to watch the sports, but I wouldn’t say we’re a sports bar. We’re more of an eatery. The senior people in the neighbourhood don’t want to cook, so they come here. We do a great breakfast and lunch in the restaurant. Then dinner in here. A lot of the older clientele come here. We get a few but not many of the young people. We get the working-class people coming in. We always offer a friendly face and don’t have any issues here.”

Zanet, 63, has been working at the pub for 14 years and said he’ll go part-time in a couple of years but will be keen to keep going.

“It’s a good place to work. The owners are great. No, it’s a great spot. We’ve got darts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sports are always on. We’re full of regulars. They like to play the casino and the lotto. The hamburgers are good, the seniors' menu’s good – we change it up every six months to freshen things up. But all the other stuff works year-round.”

On the spirit front, of the ghost variety, Zanet and Sanborn said paranormal experts have been in to do tests and have reported there is activity in the pub. The pair are not convinced though.

“I’m respectfully skeptical,” Sanborn says. “I’ve heard things have happened to people, but they haven’t happened to me.

“And I’ve never experienced anything,” adds Zanet.

Zanet says the JBI Pub has its own niche, with great customers and a great location.

“We’re just out of town, but close enough that you can just walk here. The heritage building attracts guests from all over the world. It’s got character and is a character building and pub. And we have characters among our patrons.

“People also love that it hasn’t been modernized. The formula works here. I have friends who drive in from Langford because it’s worth it. You come here and you always have a good time. Customers are more like family. We have a good vibe here.

“We don’t do much advertising; most of our customers come via word-of-mouth — and they stay customers. We’re very proud of that.”

To learn more visit: www.jbipub.com.

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