Camas Bookstore and Infoshop

Camas Bookstore and Infoshop is a not-for-profit bookstore and infoshop in Victoria, British Columbia. The project combines retail activity with political education, movement networking, and community events. Its collection focuses on anarchism, anti-capitalism, anti-colonialism, social justice, and related forms of radical political thought, with books and zines forming the core of its offering. The project developed from a collective that initially rented shelf space at Dark Horse Books in Victoria. It established an independent location at 2590 Quadra Street, near Kings Road, in September 2007. The name refers to the camas plant, Camassia quamash, which was traditionally cultivated by the local Lekwungen nation. The name therefore connects the project to the history and Indigenous geography of the region while distinguishing it from a conventional commercial bookstore. Camas was created to make social-justice perspectives more available and to build relationships of solidarity with social movements in Canada and internationally. Its stated approach emphasized accessibility, both in the political material it circulated and in the use of the physical space. In addition to selling books and zines, the infoshop supported itself through events including exhibitions, author readings, book launches, and film screenings. These activities made the premises a venue for discussion and organizing as well as a retail outlet. The store attracted police attention in 2010, when the Victoria Police Department searched the premises while investigating vandalism at the mayor's house. Four volunteers were detained during the search, and police seized two computers. The incident became part of the infoshop's public history because of the tension between law-enforcement investigation and the space's role in radical political organizing. In October 2012, Camas Books moved to 2620 Quadra Street, less than half a block from its original premises. The new location continued the bookstore's combined retail and event-oriented function. A later documented activity was a 2018 launch event for Ann Hansen's book Taking the Rap: Women Doing Time for Society's Crimes. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current owner, corporate parent, website, financial scale, or definitive present operating status.

Camas Bookstore and Infoshop emerged from a Victoria collective that included Allan Antliff and initially operated by renting shelf space at Dark Horse Books. The project became an independent location in September 2007, opening at 2590 Quadra Street near Kings Road. Rather than functioning solely as a conventional bookstore, Camas was conceived as an infoshop: a space where printed material, public events, political education, and movement relationships could operate together. The name Camas refers to Camassia quamash, a plant historically cultivated by the local Lekwungen nation. This choice situated the project within the Indigenous history and ecology of the Victoria area. Its political purpose was to circulate social-justice perspectives and strengthen solidarity with social movements in other places. The organizers also sought to make the space broadly accessible, reflecting an emphasis on public participation rather than an exclusive specialist audience. Camas's stock centered on anarchist, anti-capitalist, anti-colonial, and related social-justice subjects. Books and zines were sold to help sustain the not-for-profit project, while exhibitions, readings, films, and other events expanded its role as a community venue. The combination of retail income and programming allowed Camas to function as both a distributor of ideas and a meeting place for people involved in political and cultural organizing. A significant interruption occurred in 2010, when the Victoria Police Department raided the premises as part of an investigation into vandalism at the mayor's house. Four volunteers were detained during the search, and police removed two computers. The incident was notable in the history of the infoshop because the premises were associated with radical political publishing and organizing, although the available reference material does not provide a court outcome or further legal resolution. In October 2012, Camas Books moved to 2620 Quadra Street, less than half a block from its first location. The move preserved the project's connection to the same Victoria neighborhood while providing a new operating address. Its event program continued to include literary and political programming. In 2018, for example, Camas hosted a launch for Ann Hansen's Taking the Rap: Women Doing Time for Society's Crimes. Available reference material does not identify a formal founder, corporate parent, current executive team, financial figures, or a confirmed present-day operating status.

• 2018

  Taking the Rap book launch

  [1]Camas Bookstore and Infoshopen.wikipedia.org

  The store hosted a launch event for Ann Hansen's book Taking the Rap: Women Doing Time for Society's Crimes.

• 2012

  Move to 2620 Quadra Street

  [1]Camas Bookstore and Infoshopen.wikipedia.org

  Camas Books relocated to 2620 Quadra Street, less than half a block from its original site.

• 2010

  Police raid and volunteer detentions

  [1]Camas Bookstore and Infoshopen.wikipedia.org

  Victoria police searched the infoshop during an investigation into vandalism at the mayor's house, detaining four volunteers and taking two computers.

• 2007

  Independent Camas location established

  [1]Camas Bookstore and Infoshopen.wikipedia.org

  After beginning with rented shelf space at Dark Horse Books, the collective established Camas at 2590 Quadra Street near Kings Road in September.

A collectively oriented, accessible, not-for-profit infoshop and independent bookstore serving radical political education, social-justice publishing, and movement solidarity.

• Political books

  Anarchist literature

  Books presenting anarchist theory, history, organizing perspectives, and related critiques of hierarchy and state power. This material formed one of the central subject areas of Camas's bookstore collection.

• Political books and pamphlets

  Anti-capitalist and anti-colonial publications

  The store carried books and zines addressing capitalism, colonialism, Indigenous issues, and social-justice movements. These publications supported the infoshop's educational and solidarity-oriented mission.

• Independent publishing

  Zines

  Small-format independent publications were part of Camas's offering, providing an accessible channel for movement writing, cultural commentary, political analysis, and local organizing material.

• 2012

  Relocation within Quadra StreetStrategy

  Background

  The bookstore's original premises were at 2590 Quadra Street near Kings Road.

  Action taken

  Camas Books moved to 2620 Quadra Street, less than half a block from the original location.

  Aftermath

  The move maintained the project in the same Victoria neighborhood and allowed its bookstore and event functions to continue from a new address.

  Source

1. 1Camas Bookstore and Infoshopen.wikipedia.org