Louis (parrot)

Louis was a well-known parrot from Victoria, British Columbia.[1] From the time of his reclusive owner's death in 1949 until 1966 he continued to live on his owner's estate, well-provided for in her will, and preventing development of the prime real estate.

Louis
Sexmale
Bornbefore 1882
Nation fromCanada

History

Victoria Jane Wilson (1878–1949) was born in Victoria and raised very privately by her parents. At age five she received Louis as a pet, and later obtained many other birds. The top floor of her house became an aviary. Around 1911, Victoria bought an electric car, reportedly in order to take Louis on rides.[2]

Victoria led a reclusive life, entirely at the mansion on Courtney Street where she had been raised, until her death in 1949. Her will included a large amount of funds to take care of her birds (53 at the time),[3] and Victoria's former servant Wah Wong was paid to be a caretaker, staying at the house to do so. Louis was well known for enjoying brandy, two bottles per year, though news reports at the time liked to refer to him as a lush.[4][5][6] Eventually all the birds died except for Louis, whose presence still kept the property from being sold.[1][7][8]

In 1966, Louis went to live with Wong. Louis' move let the Wilson property be developed as a hotel, the Chauteau Victoria, with a restaurant called the Parrot House on the top floor (later renamed "Vista 18"). Wong died soon after taking Louis in, and though his family remained quiet, it has been reported that Louis may have died a few years later, or perhaps as late as 1985.[1][9][10]

Today, the top award of Hallmark Society of the Capital Regional District is called the Louis Award, awarded for exceptional heritage building restoration.[1] LIFE magazine featured a one-page article on Louis, in the August 9, 1963 issue, titled "The Old Bird Won't Sell".

References
  1. Ruttan, Stephen (30 September 2012). Tales from the Vault, a new Victoria history series, begins with Miss Wilson and the famous parrot, Times Colonist
  2. Brehl, John (20 April 1985). Victoria: The city of the Tweed Curtain, high tea, flower myths and don't forget Louis the parrot Lush, The Gazette (Montreal)
  3. (11 October 1949). Pretty Polly, Ottawa Citizen
  4. McKinley, Barney (24 September 1967). They're Plucking Poor Louie's Well-Feathered Nest, The Register-Guard
  5. (30 December 1961). 100 Year Old Parrot Still Soaks Up Brandy In Victoria, The Vancouver Sun
  6. (23 December 1964). Christmas Means Extra Tot of Brandy For Old Louis, The StarPhoenix
  7. (23 June 1959). Hard-Drinking Parrot Stymies Progress, Calgary Herald
  8. Sackett, Russell (9 August 1963). The Old Bird Won't Sell, Life (magazine)
  9. Chateau Victoria, Our History Archived 2012-08-28 at the Wayback Machine, chateauvictoria.com, Retrieved 1 October 2012 (reporting that Louis died in 1985)
  10. Paterson, T.W. (14 October 2011). Pampered parrot postponing push for people, Cowichan Valley Citizen
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