Community Challenge

Each municipality across Greater Victoria is encouraged to take up the challenge to be the “Bloomingest Community” of the Greater Victoria area! People reporting flower counts will have their number attributed to their community. Whether they live on the Saanich Peninsula or in Sooke, every flower counts, for their own community and for the overall total. While you’re out counting, don’t forget to share your photos on social media for a chance to win! Details can be found here.

Flower Count History

In the late 1960’s, a committee of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce led by Victoria’s unofficial ‘flower lady’ Norma Fitzsimmons, started a promotion called “Victorian Days” tasked with getting tourists here in the winter. It all began with the simple question, “Where else in Canada would you find flowers blooming in February?”. In late February, they would visit cities such as Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg, handing out daffodils to the general public, radio stations and news rooms. 

In 1976, the event expanded to involve Victoria residents and create a fun promotional story through the counting of February’s flowers. The Victoria Flower Count was born. The first flower count “head office” was in a corner window at Eaton’s. Four brave volunteers staffed the phones, as local residents tallied their blossoms and dialed in with their official counts. 

The local municipalities have cheerfully battled out who has the most petal power in the region to be crowned the Bloomingest Community of the year. Flower Count has evolved over the years, from phones to online counting, from sending daffodils to uploading Instagram photos of their flowery finds, but at the heart of it Flower Count remains the same fun event coaxing Canadians out of their winter hibernation to get outdoors, #ExploreVictoria, and welcome in the spring.