Camas Bookstore and Infoshop
{{short description|Anarchist bookshop in Victoria, Canada}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Camas Bookstore and Infoshop
| logo =
| logo_caption =
| image = CamasInfoshop.jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Camas Collective Books and Infoshop in its former home
| type = Bookstore and infoshop
| industry =
| predecessor = Dark Horse Books
| founded = {{Start date and age|2007|09}} in Victoria, British Columbia, unceded Lkwungen territory
| founder = Allan Antliff
| defunct =
| fate =
| successor =
| hq_location_city =
| hq_location_country =
| area_served = British Columbia
| key_people =
| products = Books
| owner = Camas Collective
| website = {{URL|camas.ca/}}
}}
The Camas Bookstore and Infoshop is a not-for-profit infoshop located at 2620 Quadra Street in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
History
A collective which included Allan Antliff started off renting shelf space at Dark Horse Books in Victoria.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Edward |title=Independent Camas Books thrives outside the mainstream |url=https://www.saanichnews.com/entertainment/independent-camas-books-thrives-outside-the-mainstream/# |accessdate=4 October 2019 |work=Saanich News |date=4 October 2012}} Camas was then established at 2590 Quadra Street on the corner of Kings Road, in September 2007.{{cite news |last1=Kloster |first1=Darron |title=Caffe Fantastico expands its Quadra Village site |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/business/caffe-fantastico-expands-its-quadra-village-site-1.116880 |accessdate=4 October 2019 |work=Times Colonist |date=22 April 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523221508/http://www.timescolonist.com/business/caffe-fantastico-expands-its-quadra-village-site-1.116880/ |archivedate=23 May 2013}}{{cite web |title=Police Raid Camas Educational Bookstore |url=http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/5086 |website=Vancouver Mediacoop |accessdate=4 October 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804011924/http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/5086 |archivedate=4 August 2019}}
The infoshop is named after the camas plant (camassia quamash), which was grown by the local Lekwungen nation.{{cite web |title=Welcome |url=https://camas.ca |website=Camas |accessdate=4 October 2019}} 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. 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. Camas was raided by the Victoria Police Department in 2010. Four volunteers were detained whilst the police searched, taking away two computers. The police were searching for evidence concerning vandalism of the mayor's house.{{cite news |last1=Holmen |first1=Roszan |title=Vandalism suspect released from custody |url=http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/victorianews/news/107093963.html |accessdate=4 October 2019 |work=BC Local News |date=10 November 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113231146/http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/victorianews/news/107093963.html |archivedate=13 November 2010 |url-status=live }}
In October 2012 Camas Books moved to a new location at 2620 Quadra, less than half a block away from the original location. The store hosted a book launch for Ann Hansen's Taking the Rap: Women Doing Time for Society's Crimes in 2018.{{cite journal |last1=Reimer |first1=Seth |title=Discovering Our History: Late Twentieth Century Feminist Organizing in Victoria, British Columbia |journal=The Ascendant Historian |date=12 January 2021 |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=92–101 |url=https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/corvette/article/view/20016}}
External links
- [http://www.camas.ca/ Website]
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Anarchism}}
{{Infoshops}}
{{coord|48|26|14.91|N|123|21|31.7|W|type:landmark_region:CA|display=title}}
Category:Independent bookstores of Canada
Category:Shops in Victoria, British Columbia
Category:Socialism in British Columbia
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