Welcome to the Greater Victoria Flower Count
March 8 – March 15, 2023
The Greater Victoria Flower Count is an annual light-hearted promotion sponsored and organized by local businesses, Destination Greater Victoria and The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. The goal is normally to bolster community pride and increase awareness of Greater Victoria as an attractive shoulder-season tourism destination and an incredible place to work, live and play.
Our goal in 2023 is to spread spring cheer to the residents of Greater Victoria and encourage them to stop and count the flowers while out in their communities. This is a great time to #ExploreVictoria
Count blossoming blooms from 7 a.m. on March 8 to 3 p.m. on March 15!
2022 Counts
2022 “Bloomingest Community”: Colwood: 9,637,779,463
2022 Community Runner Up: Saanich: 9,250,486,250
2021 Winning School: Prospect Lake Elementary School
2022 Total Municipal Blooms Counted: 27,875,292,158
Prize Sponsors 2023
Although of course counting flowers in March is its own reward, we have several very generous prize sponsors for our Photo contest, Social media contest, Used.ca Spot the Bloom and School contest this year.
Our very biggest thanks to prize sponsors: Fairmont Empress, Butchart Gardens and L.A. Limousines.
ㅤ
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.
How Did It Start?
In the late 1960’s, members of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce started a promotion called “Victorian Days”. 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. In 2014, the Flower Count went fully digital, harnessing the power of social media to keep everyone informed on news and updates.
Over the years, the local municipalities have cheerfully battled out who really has petal power in the region. In 2022, the City of Colwood raked their way to the top again as the Bloomingest Community after their five-year winning streak ended in 2020. In the end, we’re all winners, living, working and playing in one of our 13 gloriously floral municipalities.
