Friends of Beacon Hill ParkOrganization Mandate
The Friends of Beacon Hill Park is a registered charitable society. Mandate is to protect the natural and cultural history of Beacon Hill Park. The first undertaking of the Friends of Beacon Hill Park was preservation of the Southeast Wood (corner of Cook and Dallas Road) mainly as a bird habitat and natural area. The Friends were registered as a society shortly thereafter and the founding members of the Friends of Beacon Hill Park were Helen Oldershaw and Anne Fletcher. The first board of directors included Reuben Ware, Joel Ussery, Connie Hawley, Helen Oldershaw and Anne Fletcher. Nature and history walks were given in the park at that time and could possibly be continued by the organization in the future. Helen Oldershaw and Anne Fletcher coordinated the volunteers and walk leaders who were knowledgeable in a particular area of natural or cultural history. Locations
Beacon Hill Park which also includes the waterfront area (Dallas Road) and the area next to the St. Ann's property (the part of Southgate Street connecting Superior Street to Heywood Avenue runs through Beacon Hill Park). Current Activities and Projects
The 18th Annual Camas Day was held on Saturday April 25, 2009. This annual event is "A Celebration of the Garry Oak Habitat" and is presented in conjunction with the Victoria Natural History Society. Guided walks of 1 - 2 hr in length are held. There were the usual Birding Walks, Archaeology Walks and Wildflower Walks. Currently the first 3 of 9 interpretive signs are being worked on for the Park. As of April 2009, they are ready to go except for City Communications Department approval. Completed Activities and Projects
Tours of the Park including natural areas have been given. Camas Day, held in late April or early May since 1992, is a day of activities celebrating the camas and other park wildflowers. Various restoration projects have been undertaken with the Parks staff. Friends continue working with the Parks staff on issues such as mowing schedules, planting plans for natural areas, helping raise wildflowers for planting out in the park, preservation of wild flower areas, removal of invasive species and other related matters. Fundraising Initiatives
To become a member of the Friends of Beacon Hill Park, send your name, address, phone number and email to the contact address with $10.00 annual dues. You may chose just to receive the newsletter for $10.00 rather than becoming a regular member. Also indicate whether you would like to volunteer. See below for needs. As we are a registered charity, any donation over the $10.00 membership for the year will receive a tax receipt. Partners
Victoria Natural History Society co-sponsors Camas Day. The Beacon Hill Park Coalition is the organization which does lobbying for the park's interests and is separate from the Friends. The Southeast Woods Ecological Restoration Project is a separate project to work at ivy removal in that area. Cornelia Lange now coordinates this project and they meet every Sat morning to continue the ivy removal. Publications
Periodic newsletter provided to members of the Friends of Beacon Hill Park. For those interested in the history of Beacon Hill Park, check out the online history of the Park which was independently researched and created by Janis Ringuette. Go to History Volunteers Required
Assistance with restoration projects, staffing information tables at environmental events, writing newsletter articles, monitoring the park, attending city hall and other meetings as an observer, helping with phoning, helping collate and mail the newsletter. 
|
2 -1507 Laurel Lane
Victoria, BC V8S 1Y2 Phone: 250-592-6659 or 478-0239
Email: yg669@victoria.tc.ca
Website: friendsofbeaconhillpark.ca Main Contact
Helen Oldershaw
Director
Phone: 250-592-6659
Email: yg669@victoria.tc.ca
Secondary Contact
Roy Fletcher
Treasurer, Director
Phone: 250-592-6659
Email: yg669@victoria.tc.ca
|
