Each year, eighty thousand people line the streets of BC’s capital to watch the Victoria Day Parade. This year Dogwood Initiative will be taking part. Our “walking float” will visually demonstrate the spirit of local, sustainable control of natural resources.

After the parade, join us at St Ann’s Academy for the Strength in Community Festival. Enjoy inspiring interactive displays, speakers, music, and plain old fun.

The acoustic stage will feature speakers and music all afternoon, including sustainable energy guru Guy Dauncey and enviro-diva Briony Benn.

Writer James MacKinnon will speak about his experience spending a year eating only food produced within 100 miles of his home. Try the diet yourself-delicious local food will be provided by the Island Chefs Collaborative, a group of twenty progressive local chefs whose mandate is to support our local farmers and small-scale food producers by purchasing from them and promoting their efforts in their restaurants.

“We work to educate the public about the fantastic food resources we have available locally and we fund-raise and donate money to farmers and farm organizations. The ICC chefs will feature a 100% local assortment of dishes for sale, from soups to sandwiches, beverages, and even our famous ice cream. Everything we prepare will come from farms within 100 miles of the venue. All proceeds from our booth will go back to the ICC to fund new and upcoming local farmers” said David Mincey of Camille’s Restaurant.

Enter the scavenger hunt for a chance to win great prizes including: a weekend for two at the exclusive Cliffs at Kispiox Lodge, gift certificates for Lifestyle Markets and the Victoria Soap Exchange, books from Munro’s Bookstore, a meal at Caf Brio or The Mint Restaurant, and a tour/tasting from Merridale Ciderworks.

Scavenger hunt participants will have to visit the Energy, Forestry, Democracy, Community, and First Nations tents to get their “passports” stamped and be entered for the prize draw.

The tents will be run with the help of our Festival partners: BC Sustainable Energy Association (Victoria chapter) and Council of Canadians (Victoria chapter).

Our outdoors festival runs from noon until 4:30 pm. In the auditorium you can watch a thought-provoking film program chosen by Open Cinema.

Entry to the Festival is free, scavenger hunt by donation. Come and help us celebrate the spirit of community in British Columbia!

Please make a donation toward our work.

For more information, including a detailed schedule of the festival, visit our Strength in Community event page.