Dowagers of The Fairmont Empress
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The Fairmont Empress was a favourite playground for the Dowagers from Britain. A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property, or "dower", derived from her deceased husband. Many were associated with monarchical and aristocratic titles, some being referred to as a Countess or Lady. Many of the Dowagers traveled on the Empress steam liner vessels to Canada, arriving in Victoria. They liked the colonial charm of Victoria and resemblance to England.
Some of the most famous guests of the hotel stayed in various suites were fondly referred to as "the Empress Dowagers". The longest standing dowager resident was, Florence French, having been a resident of the hotel for 42 years!
Another renowned Dowager of The Empress was Leas Rogers, founder of Rogers' Chocolates, who lived here from 1927 to 1950. Cybil Martin was also a wealthy widow who lived in the hotel from 1960 to late 1980's, until she was asked to leave while the hotel underwent the major renovations back in 1989. She was in fact very upset and incensed that she was asked to move out of her home. Mrs. Martin was the hotel's last Dowager to leave and her suite on the 6th floor was transformed into 8 one-bedroom suites!
It was reported when the last of the dowagers left in 1989, one of them became very fond of a bellman. She asked him to share her life with him in Palm Springs, and he obliged.