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Building 1020 in Work Point Barracks was built in 1898 to for use as the base administration and headquarters. It housed the first headquarters of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in 1941, later under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Joan Kennedy.

Formerly known as the Frezenberg Building, it was rededicated by the Naval Officer’s Training Centre (Venture) in 1998 in memory of His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Haida, a Tribal class destroyer that served in the Second World War and Korean War. Haida helped sink 14 ships during the Second World War. After peacetime service from 1947 to 1950, it served from 1952 to 1954 in the Korean War where Haida protected aircraft carriers and blockaded supply lines. It also helped blow up communist supply trains as they sped along the coast in what was known as “train busting.”

Haida remained in service with the Royal Canadian Navy until 11 October 1963. After being moved to Ontario Place, Toronto, as a memorial, then to dry docks in St. Catharines for repairs, it moved to Hamilton, Ontario, where in June 2004 it opened as a National Historic Site. Haida is moored at Pier 9 in Hamilton Harbour and is the only surviving Tribal class destroyer.

Building 1031 in Work Point Barracks was designated Amiens Building in 1977 by 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in honour of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry who fought in that battle and for which action they received a Battle Honour.

The Canadian Corps’ reputation in the First World War was such that the mere presence of Canadians on a section of the front would warn the enemy that an attack was coming. This meant that great secrecy would be involved in the movements of the Canadian Corps. A large offensive was planned in France in August 1918 and Canadian troops were shifted north to Ypres, Belgium. This made the Germans think a major attack was coming there before the Canadians secretly hurried back to the Amiens sector for the real attack.

On August 8, Canada led the way in an offensive that saw them advance 20 kilometres in three days. This offensive was launched without a long preliminary artillery bombardment as was usually done (which also warned the enemy that an attack was coming) and the Germans were taken totally by surprise. This breakthrough was a remarkable development and dashed enemy morale, with the German high commander calling it “the black day of the German Army.”

Building 1070 in Work Point Barracks was built in 1902 as offices and general stores for the Royal Garrison Artillery. It was designated Arleux Building in 1977 by the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in honour of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry who fought in that battle and for which action they received a Battle Honour.

Actions on 28 and 29 April 1917 resulted in the successful capture of the village of Arleux-en-Gohelle to the east of Vimy Ridge. Conducted mainly by the 1st Canadian Division (Major-General A.W. Currie) the Canadian attack was meant to capture a portion of the German “Arleux Loop” defensive position in front of the village. The Canadian portion of the attack was launched in the early morning of the 28th and had successfully gained its objectives by 6:00 am after which reinforcements moved forward in anticipation of German counterattacks. These counterattacks were mainly broken up by Canadian artillery fire. The Germans eventually fell back on to their Oppy-Méricourt Line defences in front of Fresnoy-en-Gohelle abandoning the Arleux salient. 

Building 1068 in Work Point Barracks was built in 1904 by the Royal Engineers as the Detention Barracks for the Royal Garrison Artillery. It remained as such until 1957 when it was utilized for other barracks logistical requirements. It was designated Hill 70 Building in 1977 by the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in honour of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry who fought in that battle and for which action they received a Battle Honour.

Hill 70 battle was planned and carried out almost entirely by Canadians—a rarity in the First World War where Canadians usually fought as part of a larger British effort. Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie felt that his artillery would have trouble smashing the well-camouflaged German defences at Lens and a direct attempt to send attacking troops into the town would result in terrible casualties. He persuaded his superiors to instead allow the Canadians to first capture the nearby high ground to the north (code-named Hill 70).

Poison gas was widely used, often forcing the men to gasp for air inside their restrictive respirators as they struggled to see the advancing enemy through their fogged-up goggles. Many soldiers had to engage in desperate hand-to-hand combat against the German attackers who managed to reach the Canadian defensive lines. The 100,000-strong Canadian Corps suffered some 9,200 casualties between August 15 and 25, 1917. 

This memorial was unveiled on 20 April 2010 and commemorates the service of two of the Battalions of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. Formed in Toronto in 1860, the regiment is Canada’s oldest continuously serving infantry unit. Two of its Regular Army Battalions were stationed in Victoria during the Cold War, 2nd Battalion returned from Korea in 1955 to Gordon Head Camp, now the University of Victoria prior to departure to Germany on 1957. The 1st Battalion returned from NATO duty in Germany in 1963 and was at Work Point Barracks until re-designated Third Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light infantry in 1970.

The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada have a long and proud record of service to Canada, fighting its first engagement in 1866 near Ridgeway, Ontario against Fenian Raiders from the United States. The deaths of nine soldiers at that time heralded sacrifices in campaigns throughout the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries serving in the North West Rebellion, Boer war, First and Second World Wars, Korea, NATO duty, Cyprus and other Peacekeeping Operations and today in Afghanistan.

This memorial symbolizes the dedication and sacrifice of soldiers of the regiment in war and peace. It reflects the affection, admiration and appreciation of all riflemen of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada for their service to the regiment and to Canada of their Colonel-in-Chief, Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra, KG, GCVO. They celebrated her 50 years as their Colonel-in-Chief as well as their 150th birthday.

A grove of oak trees were dedicated on 4 May 2010 by Vancouver Island Chief and Petty Officers' Association to celebrate the Canadian Naval Centennial. Oak trees symbolize the historic relationship between the Canadian Navy and the Royal Navy. 

Prior to 2005, this twin 4” quick firing naval gun was placed adjacent to the Collier Building in Work Point, presented to building housing Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Venture at the time. Venture was a Royal Canadian Navy establishment name, part of the Naval Officer Training Centre, which moved to Work Point after 3^rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry relocated in 1994. These British design guns were also built in Canada during the Second World War. They were mounted on Canadian built River class frigates, as secondary armament on cruisers and in the post-war years they replaced the twin 4.7" inch low angle guns on Canadian Tribal class destroyers. Although not used for coast defence on the west coast, some twin 4" inch guns of this type were used in the coast artillery role on Canada’s east coast.

The 5th (BC) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, has a strong historical connection to Esquimalt. The Victoria based army reserve unit unveiled a monument at Work Point Barracks on 18 May 2003, while commemorating its 125th anniversary and is a component of the Cultural Landscape of the "Saluting Battery." The regiment is a descendent of the first Canadian army unit that was stationed in Greater Victoria in 1878.

The memorial was established in recognition of the contributions “C” Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA), which was stationed at Work Point Barracks from 1887 – 1893. It was officially unveiled by retired Major General John Arch MacInnes, Colonel Commandant of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, and Major Craig Dalton, who commands the modern day “C” Battery, RCHA from Shilo, Manitoba.

In 1871, when the colony of British Columbia joined the Dominion of Canada and became a province, the responsibility of defence for the new province passed from Great Britain to the Dominion. There were fears the remoteness of the west coast from the rest of Canada, would mean the region was poorly defended. On 20 July 1878, the Victoria Battery of Garrison Artillery was formed in response to a threat of war with Russia. The war never happened.

They fired their first round from a seven inch gun at Macaulay Point on July 26, about the first time the unit conducted a test run with one of its guns. Three days later, the 28 man unit fired a 13 gun salute for the opening of the third provincial assembly. The unit continued to operate coastal defence batteries at Macaulay Point until 1887 when they were replaced by “C” Battery.

In 1893, the unit was replaced by a garrison of Royal Marine Artillery, through an agreement between Canada and Great Britain. That unit was eventually augmented by the new 5th (BC) Regiment, Canadian Artillery in 1898. 

The Royal Canadian Artillery Association gunners presented a three inch anti-aircraft gun to Work Point Barracks on March 3, 1981. The gun is a permanent memorial marking the service of the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Work Point Barracks. The Regiment of Canadian Artillery first established itself in Victoria in 1887, “C” Battery moved into Work Point Barracks when it was completed in 1890. Since then, the artillery units and schools have remained on strength at Work Point until 1957.

The gun came from the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum in Canadian Forces Base Shilo, Manitoba and was refurbished by the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Maintenance Platoon. It is a three inch, 20 CWT, MK IIIA, quick firing anti-aircraft gun and was introduced in 1914. They were used during the Second World War and subsequently removed from service.

The 3" AA memorial gun was placed in the center of the defined "Saluting Battery" adjacent to the flag staff. On the left is the C Battery Memorial, on the right is the raised platform where the gun battery of the day was situated from 1890. At one time it facilitated four 12-pounder field guns for protection of Rose Bay and one 7" rifled muzzle loading cannon for Royal and local ceremonial gun salutes.

Building 1075 in Work Point Barracks was built for the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1902. A bronze plaque was embedded in the outside south wall next to the entrance in 1957 that is dedicated to Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt.-Col.) J.C. Cave, CD, Commandant of Esquimalt Garrison. After a period of 18 years absence, during which the battalion saw service in two wars, and a two year tour of duty in NATO, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry returned to Work Point Barracks in 1957. Foresight on the part of Lt.-Col. J.C. Cave, in having renovations of the old barrack block begun prior to the arrival of the advance party, avoided a difficult situation in barrack room space. Lt.-Col. Cave was quartered in the same building while serving with B Company before the Second World War. 

Cave Block also retains the commemorative designation of Ypres Building in honour of the Canadians who through terrible fighting, withered with shrapnel and machine-gun fire, hampered by their issued Ross rifles which jammed, violently sick from a gas attack and gasping for air through soaked and muddy handkerchiefs, they held on during the First World War at the Battle of Ypres until reinforcements arrived. It was designated Ypres Building in 1977 by the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in honour of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry who fought in that battle and for which action they received a Battle Honour.