The Canadian Orchid Congress (COC) is an association of Canadian orchid societies dedicated to serving the Canadian orchid-growing public. It is federally registered as a non-profit organization. The COC represents affiliated societies and their members on Canada wide issues and promotes the cultivation of orchids through exhibitions, publications, lectures and seminars; it supports the conservation of orchids and it makes awards in the form of medals or trophies for excellence in the development and culture of orchids.
About The Canadian Orchid Congress
COC Officers
The COC has no central office – its officers reside across Canada and communicate electronically.
History
The Canadian Orchid Society was founded in Winnipeg January 1, 1981 and produced a publication called the “Orchidian”. In the East the Canadian Orchid Journal was being published quarterly by editor Peter Bell from St Johns Newfoundland from the Spring of 1981 to winter of 1985. The Journal then moved to Winnipeg where it was taken over by the Canadian Orchid Society, replacing the Orchidian. Publication continued irregularly from the Winter of 1986 to the January of 1989.
In March 25-27, 1988 the COC was successfully organized during the Vancouver OS show and AOS Trustees’ meeting. Dr. Wally Thomas (a well known orchid grower in Vancouver) and Dr. Carl Withner (a famous orchid everything from Bellingham) were the two driving forces that created this totally Canadian organization to assist orchid societies and orchid growers in Canada. The first COC Newsletter was published in May 1989.
The original Constitution defining the incorporation of the COC was adopted at the COC AGM on May 2, 2004 in Vancouver.
This new Constitution for the incorporation of the COC was adopted at the COC AGM on Aug 9, 2014 in Toronto.
The symbol of the Canadian Orchid Congress is the Yellow Lady’s Slipper, Cypripedium parviflorum, a terrestrial orchid native to Canada
Photo Credits: Steve Saunders.
Please note that:
Canadian Orchid Congress does not sell orchids nor orchid supplies and does not represent orchid vendors.
Working together for over 35 years.