Repairs & Removals – 6-8 Feb 2017, the old-growth valley at John Dean Park received 16” of soft snow, which compacted to an 11” hard pack. During the evening of Wednesday, 8 Feb., a freezing rain added a huge weight and literally brought down hundreds of limbs, 65 smaller trees and one old growth Douglas fir. The […]
Category Archives: History of John Dean
2021 Centennial Project
1st Donated BC Park | Established: December 9, 1921 | 2021 Centennial Project Some amazing people have recently moved to Vancouver Island. They’ve found John Dean Park, and we’re getting together for the parks 100th anniversary, join us! We’re planning: a) adding the W̱SÁNEĆ SENĆOŦEN name to Pickles’ Bluff b) painting commissions w/prints c) […]
PICKLES’ BLUFF STEWARDSHIP SUCCESSION
Today, Pickles’ Bluff is mint – ready for special visitors! Updated: May 2016 The magnificent Pickles’ Bluff is the best place to share with tourist and visitors alike! The eastward views are exceptional, everything from Sidney, the North Shore Mountains, the Gulf & San Juan Islands, the Cascades, the Victoria area and the […]
JOHN DEAN’S SACRED TRUST – 1996
75th anniversary film (1921-96) by Don Robb & Jarrett Teague – 30min Between March and June 1996, Don Robb and Jarrett Teague created the film: John Dean’s Sacred Trust. The initial plan was to celebrate the parks 75th anniversary; however the priority message needed to focus on the proposed down-loading from the province to the region. […]
LES DESFOSSES PRESENTS
LAUWELNEW | 7:50min | JOHN DEAN PARK, 2014 “…Mount Newton mantled by the deep green of John Dean Park.” “…these magnificent old trees – these huge firs and cedars, that remind you that John Dean Park is the home on the largest stand of old growth forest we still have on the Saanich Peninsula.”
RESTORING THE TRADITIONAL NAME – ȽÁUWELṈEW
Updated: December 12, 2014 ȽÁUWELṈEW (The place of refuge) is best pronounced as: Tlay will nooth Possibly May/June 2015, elders of the Saanich First Nation may host a march to restore Mount Newton`s traditional name, ȽÁUWELṈEW. The march will likely commence at the parking lot, and follow the summit access road to the airport radar facility. […]
JOHN DEAN’S SACRED TRUST
Film By Don Robb and Jarrett Teague – 1996 (29:18, courtesy YouTube, Shaw) Between March and June 1996, Don Robb and Jarrett Teague created the film: John Dean’s Sacred Trust. The initial plan was to celebrate the parks 75th anniversary; however the priority message needed to focus on the proposed down-loading from the province to the […]
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 […]
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 […]