Category: FOUP Camas Day Celebration

Another Spectacular Camas Day…

Camas Day on Sunday April 30,2023 was the best!  Weather was cool but dry and the clouds made for better photographs.  Over 200 people listened to Songhees Knowledge Keeper Florence Dick’s heart-felt welcome talk.  Everyone learned protocols for having our indigenous people speak… with a blanket and a headpiece for the heart and love, given to Florence by Mayor Kevin Murdoch before she spoke.  He then acknowledged her words.  A personal gift was given to Florence by Friends of Uplands Park.

Margaret thanked Florence, Oak Bay Council, Oak Bay Parks, the FOUP Board members and all the volunteers that have helped to restore natural area parks, and the volunteers helping at Camas Day, encouraging all community members to work together with indigenous people as one to look after the land.  Florence also did the closing.

Fifteen organizations had excellent displays that engaged over 400 visitors.  The numbers were similar to last year, but people stayed around for much longer, enjoying the displays, Ron Carter and the Bald Eagles Band, the food, family activities and just chatting with each other.  The Wildflower Walks with Wylie Thomas and Matt Fairbarns were very well attended.

Thanks to Florence, Mayor Kevin and the Oak Bay Councillors, Chris Hyde-Lay and Oak Bay Parks staff, the FOUP Board, the Bald Eagles Band, the displaying Organizations and their representatives, the FOUP volunteers and to all the local businesses and people that donated food and prizes. You all made the day the best!

Margaret Lidkea,

President of FOUP

Uplands Park Camas
Elder Florence Dick and Mayor Kevin Murdoch
Margaret Lidkea continued the welcome
Over 400 people attended the event
People learn from partner organizations, like Habitat Acquisition Trust
A model of Bowker Creek watershed is explained
Friends of Uplands Park presents an honorary gift to Elder Florence
15 organizations helped make this day a huge success
Individuals who work to preserve nature of all shapes and sizes were celebrated
Generous donations of refreshments and prizes brought joy to attendants
Ron Carter and the Bald Eagles volunteered their time and talents to entertain throughout the day
Botanist Matt Fairbarns led wildflower walks, showcasing the rare plants of Cattle Point
Botanist Wylie Thomas led groups through Uplands Park, educating on the plant species that make it so amazing
Common Camas and Western Buttercup field

Camas Day

Join us for an afternoon of celebrating Spring and those in our communities who tirelessly work to save, protect and restore the magnificent natural systems throughout Oak Bay and the Capital Regional District.

The festivities will commence at noon with an opening by Songhees First Nation Elder Florence Dick, who will share of her people’s connection with the land in Oak Bay and how they have cared for it through countless generations, and continuing today and into the future.

Enjoy live music with the Bald Eagles, food, drink, and prizes. Wildflower walks throughout the afternoon, led by local expert botanists, will showcase the beauty of Uplands Park and highlight the importance of its threatened ecosystems and the rare species that inhabit them.

Visit displays from local partner organizations and talk with their teams to learn about their role in nature conservation:

• Anderson Hill Restoration Project

• Community Association of Oak Bay

• Compost Education Centre @viccomposted

• Friends of Bowker Creek @friendsofbowkercreek

• Friends of Ecological Reserve 

• Friends of Victoria Migratory Bird Sanctuary

• Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society @gomps_victoria 

• Greater Victoria Green Team @gvgreenteam 

• Greater Victoria NatureHood @naturehoodyyj 

• Habitat Acquisition Trust @habitatacqtrust 

• Native Bee Society of BC @bcnativebees 

• NatureKids @naturekidsbc 

• Restoration of Natural Systems Program UVic #uvicenvi 

• Swan Lake and Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary @swanlakenature 

• Victoria Natural History Society

• Canadian Wildlife Federation WILD Outside Program @wildoutside.ca 

Volunteers are needed to set up at 10 am and take down at 3pm. Volunteers are also needed to assist with facilitating various activities throughout the event.

Donations of prizes or gift certificates for the event would also be greatly appreciated! Email foupsociety@gmail.com to get involved.

Please help us spread the work and looking forward to seeing you there!