Camas Bookstore and Infoshop

Last updated
Camas Bookstore and Infoshop
Company typeBookstore and infoshop
PredecessorDark Horse Books
FoundedSeptember 2007;17 years ago (2007-09) in Victoria, British Columbia, unceded Lkwungen territory
Founder Allan Antliff
Area served
British Columbia
ProductsBooks
OwnerCamas Collective
Website camas.ca

The Camas Bookstore and Infoshop is a not-for-profit infoshop located at 2620 Quadra Street in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Contents

History

Camas Collective Books and Infoshop in its former home CamasInfoshop.jpg
Camas Collective Books and Infoshop in its former home

A collective which included Allan Antliff started off renting shelf space at Dark Horse Books in Victoria. [1] Camas was then established at 2590 Quadra Street on the corner of Kings Road, in September 2007. [2] [3]

The infoshop is named after the camas plant (camassia quamash), which was grown by the local Lekwungen nation. [4] The project aimed to publicise social justice perspectives and to make solidarity links to social movements worldwide. The space was intended to be as accessible as possible. [3] Camas sells books and zines on the themes of anarchism, anti-capitalism and anti-colonialism. It is non-profit and supporting itself through book sales and events, such as exhibitions, readings and films. [1] Camas was raided by the Victoria Police Department in 2010. Four volunteers were detained whilst the police searched, taking away two computers. [3] The police were searching for evidence concerning vandalism of the mayor's house. [5]

In October 2012 Camas Books moved to a new location at 2620 Quadra, less than half a block away from the original location. [1] The store hosted a book launch for Ann Hansen's Taking the Rap: Women Doing Time for Society's Crimes in 2018. [6]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Hill, Edward (4 October 2012). "Independent Camas Books thrives outside the mainstream". Saanich News. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  2. Kloster, Darron (22 April 2013). "Caffe Fantastico expands its Quadra Village site". Times Colonist. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Police Raid Camas Educational Bookstore". Vancouver Mediacoop. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  4. "Welcome". Camas. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  5. Holmen, Roszan (10 November 2010). "Vandalism suspect released from custody". BC Local News. Archived from the original on 13 November 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  6. Reimer, Seth (12 January 2021). "Discovering Our History: Late Twentieth Century Feminist Organizing in Victoria, British Columbia". The Ascendant Historian. 7 (1): 92–101.

48°26′14.91″N123°21′31.7″W / 48.4374750°N 123.358806°W / 48.4374750; -123.358806