Sep
6
Roy Fletcher, Chairperson of Friends of Beacon Hill Park Society. Photos by Anne Draper.
By Anne Draper
Our neighbourhood park has been named one of Canada's ten best urban public spaces. Beauty, drama and hidden landscapes are found in this parcel of land given in trust to citizens of Victoria by James Douglas, acting agent for the Hudson's Bay Company and the British government, in 1850. Judge Matthew Begbie of the Supreme Court decided to exclude commercialism from the park in 1884. One hundred years later, Friends of Beacon Hill Park Society was founded with fifty members, dedicated to preserving natural and cultural features and promoting uses for the park in keeping with the original trust policy. The Society is a registered charitable organization. Members meet monthly, and director Roy Fletcher can be reached at 250-380-5023 or , email info@friendsofbeaconhillpark.ca. New members are welcome. Help is needed to clear invasive species and provide specific signage. An annual Camas Day walk is held in April, and talks on historic events and current topics are among the Society's interests.
Coming together and connecting with nature is encouraged by Friends of Beacon Hill Park. A seasonal animal farm, music concerts, weddings, picnics, gardens and unique trees are main attractions and meeting places, while the City of Victoria manages, maintains and plans for continuing improvements. Artwork includes a tall totem pole, a stone bridge honouring Emily Carr, sculptures, murals, memorial benches and monuments that can be discovered on a leisurely walk. Sports are a popular activity 365 days of the year. Running, cycling, playgrounds, cricket, lawn bowling, tennis, mini-golf and British car shows offer more fun. Many species of birds are encouraged to nest in the park, but Canada geese though are chased out of the park by border collie Splash and Belgian sheep dog Tizer. Beacon Hill Park is a public space that needs help and support from each and every Greater Victoria citizen.