About the Canadian Orchid Congress
Qu'est-ce que c'est la Fédération Canadienne des Sociétés Orchidophiles?
The Canadian Orchid Congress (COC) is an association of Canadian orchid societies dedicated to serve the Canadian orchid-growing public. It is federally registered as a non-profit society. 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.
Because the COC Executive council members reside throughout Canada, precluding monthly meetings, they communicate using the Internet and more traditional means. Each year, usually during the spring show season, a member society hosts the COC Annual Convention during their show, when the COC Executive and representatives from member societies meet to conduct business. There usually is an auction during the COC convention to raise funds for designated activities.
The goal of the COC is to support Canadian orchid hobbyist activities as follows:
- Communication and distribution of information on member society shows and activities through a newsletter and internet web site.
- Publication of information of interest to the orchid hobbyist such as orchid culture, conservation, nomenclature, etc. through a newsletter and a web site.
- Financial assistance to smaller, remote societies to bring a notable orchid expert to present programs to the societies.
- An annual convention, in conjunction with a show, to bring orchidists together to share their hobby. Several talks on orchid related aspects are presented during the course of the convention.
- Preparation and distribution of slide programs for the use of the member societies.
- Representation of orchid-related topics on national and international issues with the federal government, notably on the importation/exportation of orchids by orchid hobbyists.
- The offering of national recognition for contributions to the improvement of orchid growing and conservation in Canada.
There are over twenty-five member societies in the COC, representing about 3,000 orchid hobbyists. Each member society supports the COC with an annual due proportional to their membership.
The COC does not sell orchids nor orchid supplies and does not represent orchid vendors.
Cypripedium parviflorum
Yellow Lady's Slipper / Le Cypripède jaune
The symbol of the Canadian Orchid Congress is the Yellow Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium parviflorum, a terrestrial orchid native to Canada. This picture was taken by Steve Saunders at the Devonian Botanical Garden, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
Click on the image for the rest of the picture.
