Musical railings returning to Victoria parkade next month
The sound of music will soon be alive and well at Bastion Square Parkade in downtown Victoria.
The interactive musical staircase at the parkade will turn back on sometime in September, pending a bit of maintenance and repair work.
The musical staircase launched in 2016 and was shut down during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic due to safety concerns, according to Monkey C Interactive, the Victoria-based company that created the installation.
The project was unveiled at the Bastion Square Parkade on Yates Street Tuesday. July 26, 2016 (CTV Vancouver Island)
Monkey C says the City of Victoria approached the company to turn the railings back on earlier this summer.
However, some repairs and maintenance work were needed before the railings could sing again, and Monkey C has been waiting for a few parts to be delivered before the work can complete.
Once the parts arrive and the fine-tuning is done, the stairs will light up again, with even a few new musical tunes added in.
Monkey C expects the stairs to reopen sometime in September. After that, the musical railings are expected to remain open permanently.
People are seen using the musical stairs in Victoria. (CTV News)
The Victoria company is responsible for creating other impressive interactive works at cities across B.C. and beyond, including at Burning Man in the U.S., at Shambhala Music Festival in Salmo, B.C., and at Phillips Backyard Weekender events in Victoria.
Scott Amos, co-owner of Monkey C, says he's heard from plenty of Victorians that they miss the musical stairs – and that it was a highlight for some locals to show their out-of-town friends.
He says the company hasn't discussed the cost of repairs with the city yet, and has so far been focused on getting the musical attraction back up and running again.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | B.C. reveals plan for decriminalization of small amounts of drugs for personal use
British Columbia is taking a major step forward in its fight against the province’s deadly overdose crisis by decriminalizing the possession of a small amount of certain illicit drugs for personal use.

L'Arche says co-founder Jean Vanier sexually abused 25 women
A report commissioned by a non-profit organization founded by the late Jean Vanier says the Canadian sexually abused 25 women during his decades with the group.
Girl, 6, dead after accident at ski resort north of Montreal on Sunday
A six-year-old girl died in hospital Sunday night after being involved in an incident at the Val-Saint-Côme ski resort in Lanaudiere. Quebec police are investigating, though details into the event are not yet known. Officers indicated that it involved a T-bar lift, but they were not able to say more.
Why adding a bit of milk to your morning coffee might be good for you
Adding some milk to your morning coffee may boost the body's anti-inflammatory response, new research out of Denmark shows.
Michael Jackson's nephew to star in King of Pop biopic
Michael Jackson's 26-year-old nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will play the King of Pop in the planned biopic "Michael" to be directed by Antoine Fuqua.
WHO: COVID-19 still an emergency but nearing 'inflection' point
The coronavirus remains a global health emergency, the World Health Organization chief said Monday, after a key advisory panel found the pandemic may be nearing an 'inflection point' where higher levels of immunity can lower virus-related deaths.
New alcohol recommendations could speed up changing drinking habits: businesses
New guidance for drinking alcohol could speed up changing consumer drinking habits as younger generations drink less and non-alcoholic beverages become more popular, advocates and business owners in the beverage industry say.
Health, economy, crime top issues of concern as House of Commons resumes
Members of Parliament return to Ottawa to resume sitting for the first time in 2023 on Monday, with the state of Canada's health-care system, the health of the Canadian economy, and rates of violent crime in this country all top of mind.
Quebec minister calls on new anti-Islamophobia representative to step down over Bill 21 comments
Quebec's minister responsible for secularism, Jean-Francois Roberge, has called on Canada’s new special anti-Islamophobia advisor Amira Elghawaby to apologize and step down.