By 1987, the parks clean-up was well underway. On January 9, 1987, the founder and president of the Friends, Edo Nyland met with the BC Parks Zone Supervisor; Parks Planner; Resource Technician & Surveyor; and the Visitor Services Representative. They toured the old-growth valley, out the West Viewpoint, along the Surveyors’ Trail and up the […]
Author Archives: Jarrett Teague
SAMUEL KELLY
THE FIRST OWNER OF: Section 1, Range 1 West, North Saanich On August 15, 1883, Samuel Leon Kelly (age 61) attended a government land sale in Victoria. He was the highest bidder of catalogue Lot No. 18, officially known as: Section 1, Range 1 West, North Saanich. This one hundred acre section sold for $1.12½ […]
VOLUNTEER ELDERS – 7 years plus
Friends Executive Service / Park Volunteer These consistent and amazing volunteers – are the precious few – who have maintained the “Friends” and supported this provincial park since 1984. Updated for end-2022 Name Period (years) Impression Elizabeth Nyland 1984 – 1999 (15) Founder Edo Nyland 1984 – 2017 (33) Founder, Builder, President & Advisor, […]
TRAIL BUILDERS, 1987-90
These amazing volunteers constructed the great John Dean Park loop trail. If I’ve accidently omitted/misspelled someone, please let me know; updated – summer 2019. By February 8, 1988, the volunteer trail crew had become too large for one project. The main 31 person troop split into three teams. The Alec Road Crew was led by […]
EARTH GRAVITY SITE – MOUNT NEWTON
The Earth Gravity Site on Mount Newton, in John Dean Provincial Park – was created in 1979. It’s one of 5,737 control stations that were systematically established across Canada in the 1970s. Ours is located inside the park, on the west side of Dean Park Road, 30′ NE of the upper over-flow parking lot, in a mossy meadow. The Centre for […]
FRIENDS OF JOHN DEAN PARK SOCIETY
Newsletters & Circulars – updated for autumn 2021 Anyone interested in the parks post-1980 history, will find the newsletters most fascinating. They contain a wealth of information – previous park issues, history and nature articles; they truly explore the fundamental accomplishments and mission of the Friends. For public access, in 2009, the Friends donated their […]
THE THOMSON CABIN, 1910-1974
Section 1, Range 1 West, South Saanich After the 1858 First Survey of the Saanich Peninsula, William and Margaret Thomson received three crown grants which all told, stretched from the summit of Mount Newton, south into their preexisting valley farm. Over the next century, five generations of the Thomson family would spend their relaxation time […]
POST No. 1 OF SURVEY OF NORTH AND SOUTH SAANICH DISTRICTS
There’s an amazing place, a secret, at the summit of John Dean Provincial Park – that’s worth a visit. From the parking lot, follow the gravel road upwards, past the swooping Coast Guard radar tower, to the fence of the Transport Canada (airports) radar facility. From the gate, turn right and walk along the fence […]