VITAL SIGNS

Victoria’s Vital Signs report reveals the top concerns of Greater Victoria citizens

OUR VISION: A VIBRANT, CARING COMMUNITY FOR ALL 

Established in 1936, the Victoria Foundation is Canada’s second oldest community foundation and sixth largest of over 200 nation-wide. We manage charitable gifts from donors whose generosity allows us to create permanent, income-earning funds. The proceeds from these funds are then distributed as grants for charitable or educational purposes. To date, the Victoria Foundation has invested more than $340 million in people, projects, and non-profit organizations that strengthen communities in BC and throughout Canada.

Which issues will you take on?

Arts & Culture

Arts and culture make a community a vibrant and enriching place to live. An active and diverse mix of cultural offerings increases our sense of satisfaction with our environment and community pride.

Belonging & Engagement

Participation in civic life contributes to the wellbeing of our community and to our sense of connection to one another. By engaging, we foster leadership that helps build and maintain a vibrant community.

Economy

Strong and vibrant communities have diverse local economies and a wide variety of options for fulfilling, secure, and well-paid work.

Environmental Sustainability

From the air we breathe to the ground we walk on, a healthy and sustainable environment is an important part of quality of life. A healthy environment is reflective of a healthy community.

Getting Started

Helping children, youth, and newcomers to get a good start in life, work, adulthood, and our community makes a lasting difference.

Health & Wellness

Good physical and mental health & wellness improves the quality of individual lives and reduces health care costs. The health status of people depends on good health practices and behavior, and access to health care services.

Housing

Having safe and accessible housing people can afford is a basic need that contributes significantly to quality of life.

Learning

Lifelong learning and educational achievement affect our ability to participate in a competitive workforce, achieve higher incomes, and escape the cycle of poverty.

Safety

Public and personal safety affects the way we socialize and participate in community life.

Sports & Recreation

Sports & recreation play a foundational role in developing and sustaining healthy citizens and communities.

Standard of Living

Individuals, families, and children living below the poverty line may face many obstacles, which can limit their ability to enjoy quality of life.

Transportation

Transportation includes the ability to get around and transport people and goods. The capacity and convenience of transportation, such as our transit and road systems, have a big impact on quality of life.

A message from

Victoria Foundation’s CEO

A message from

Victoria Foundation’s CEO

For nearly 20 years, Victoria’s Vital Signs has been helping us identify and respond to the most important issues facing residents of Greater Victoria. Thanks to thousands of survey respondents who have shared their experiences of living here, we now present the 19th edition of our annual, data-driven checkup that snapshots the diverse qualities of life on the South Island. 

This year, Vital Signs asks: Can you imagine Victoria for your grandkids and future generations? Imagination is a powerful tool. It’s one that will inspire many of us to work together by listening, learning, and collaborating to ensure our grandkids and their kids can prosper in our beautiful region. Together, with knowledge gathered from this report, we can continue to improve our collective wellbeing and strengthen the vitality of our community. 

We hope you enjoy reading the 2024 Vital Signs report and imagining a future where our upcoming generations can thrive.  


Sandra Richardson

Chief Executive Officer, Victoria Foundation


Up Nextnext-flyoutMessage from our sponsor

A message from

Our Presenting Sponsor

A message from our

Presenting Sponsor

Coast Capital is honored to partner with the Victoria Foundation as Presenting Sponsor of Victoria’s Vital Signs report. This report is essential in helping us understand our community’s most complex challenges. As a federal financial cooperative and Certified B Corporation™, guided by our Social Purpose, Building Better Futures Together, we share the Foundation’s commitment to fostering understanding, dialogue, and the collaborative action needed to create an equitable society where everyone can thrive. 

We are also proud to support actionable solutions through our sponsorship of Vital Conversations and collaboration on the Spark Funds grants. These initiatives allow us to dig deeper into the report’s data, turning insights into meaningful conversations and, ultimately, into tangible change through innovative partnerships and projects that drive systemic solutions to local issues. 

We are deeply grateful to the Victoria Foundation for the work they do to strengthen our community and look forward to the conversations and initiatives that will emerge from this year’s Vital Signs report. 

Tanya Smith
Senior Manager, Social Purpose Ecosystems, Coast Capital

Up Nextnext-flyoutWith thanks

With Thanks

We would like to express our gratitude to the many businesses that have embraced the opportunity to help create a vibrant, caring community for all, specifically the sponsors whose generosity makes production and promotion of this report possible. 

Our thanks also go to all the individuals and organizations that helped to create this report, including those that provided data, took our survey, or helped guide and support the project, including our board and staff at the Victoria Foundation. 

Special thanks to the Marshall and Bicknell family featured on this year’s cover, representing three generations of local community members. Dave Bicknell, Retired Battalion Chief with Victoria Fire Department, his daughter Alexandria Marshall, Firefighter with Esquimalt Fire Department, and her daughter, Stevie Marshall. 

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