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.
A Nourishing Welcome
Belonging & Engagement
The perfect fit! Supporting barriered youth through gender-affirming apparel
Clothing that fits properly helps you feel like you. For barriered gender-diverse youth, feeling safe and affirmed intheir body is where belonging begins. With makeshift solutions like ACE bandages or multiple sports bras, many compromise their wellbeing out of necessity, risking physical health and personal safety.
The Victoria Foundation’s grant to Island Sexual Health supports the Wear & Care program, offering free or pay-what-you-can apparel, health education, safety guidance for compression wear, care instructions, proper sizing support,and resources centred on bodily autonomy and informed decision-making. Currently, 80% of fittings are for youth ages 11 to 21. The 10 to 15 weekly fittings are with a trans adult, often the first the youth has met. Half attend with someone they trust. Inventory includes binders (chest compression), undergarments for trans women and transfemmes (gaffs, tight underwear, no stretch), and hypoallergenic sports tape (for tucking or binding).
“Many youth don’t have supportive parents. Island Sexual Health becomes their safe place and resource hub,”explains Syd G, the Maturation Educator & Gender-Affirming Apparel Coordinator. One youth shares, “I thought this would be hard, but it turned into a really meaningful and affirming moment in my transition.
”This program is also funded by a Fund for Gender Equality grant. The Fund for Gender Equality is supported by a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada.
Vital signs citizen survey grade
B-Last year's grade was B-
Belonging & Engagement
Vital signs citizen survey grade
B-Sustainable Development Targets
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TARGETS
YOUTH CONNECTIONS
In South Vancouver Island, youth, aged 12-19 years, in 2023
94% had at least one close friend in their school or community, although they were less likely to have three or more of these friends than before the COVID-19 pandemic (70% vs. 82% in 2018).
There were no changes in how many online friends they had whom they had never met in person (33% in 2023, including 14% who had three or more such friends).
75% had at least one adult in their neighbourhood or community (outside of their family and school) who they felt cared about them, similar to youth throughout BC.
Youth were more likely than those in 2018 to have an adult to turn to when they had a serious problem: 75% had an adult inside their family they could turn to (vs. 71% in 2018), 37% had one outside their family(vs. 31%), and 28% had both (vs. 21%).
SOURCE: MCCREARY CENTRE SOCIETY
CHARITABLE GIVING
Tax filers who made charitable donations in 2023
CANADA
2023 median donation in Greater Victoria
$540
below BC median ($570) in 2022
well above the national median donation ($390) in 2023
SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA
POLICE-REPORTED HATE CRIMES
POLICE-REPORTED HATE CRIMESIn 2023, there were52POLICE-REPORTED HATE CRIMES IN THE VICTORIA CMA, a rate of 12 per 100,000 population
Up from the region’s 2022 rate (9.3) and on par with BC’s rate in 2023
Lower than the rate across all CMAs (14) in 2023
The region’s hate crime has doubled from 4.2in 2019 to8.5in 2020 and has risen steadily since then.
Police data on hate crimes reflect only those incidents that come to the attention of police and that are subsequently classified as hate crimes. Fluctuations in the number of reported incidents may be attributable to a true change in the volume of hate crimes, but also to changes in reporting by the public because of increased community outreach by police or heightened sensitivity after high-profile events.
SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TARGETS
16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all
16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms
BELONGING, ENGAGEMENT, AND WELL-BEING IN CANADA
In 2023, Community Foundations of Canada released its national Vital Signs report, Reconnecting Communities, drawing on results of the 2022 Social Capital in Canada Study, conducted by Environics Institute for Survey Research. According to the national report:
People’s feelings of belonging are going down
Since 2013, a strong sense of belonging has dropped 12%.
29% of people do not have close friends in their community, while 8% of people have no close family and 12% have no close friends at all.
50% of two-parent families feel like they live in a close-knit community, but only 32% of lone-parent families feel the same.
22% of people who have experienced high levels of discrimination do not have someone they can depend on, compared to 8% of people who have experienced no discrimination.
31% of people who are financially insecure do not have someone they can depend on, compared to 8% of people who are financially secure.
People are less engaged in their communities.
Since 2013, the proportion of people engaging in community groups has declined by 19%, and the proportion of people volunteering has declined by 12%.
Despite years of the pandemic, people are resilient
SOURCE: COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS OF CANADA
COMMUNITY IN FOCUS
BC NON-PROFITS UNDER PRESSURE
BC’s non-profits are grappling with soaring demand, skyrocketing costs, and fixed capacity, according to the latest State of BC’s Non-Profit Sector Report, a survey of 558 BC non-profits, including 67 in the region.
In 2024, the sector reported decreases in all revenue sources, except government funding, which remained stable, and spending increases across the board. Over the previous 12 months:
- 84% of respondents reported higher overall expenses.
- 75% reported increased spending on salaries and benefits, 66% on programs and services, and 68% on administration.
- 76% reported increased demand for services and support from clients and communities.
- 39% reported capacity to deliver programs and services stayed the same.
- 29% reported decreased volunteer involvement.
The State of the Sector report series is a collaboration between Vantage Point, Vancouver Foundation, Victoria Foundation, and the City of Vancouver. Vancity Community Foundation and United Way BC joined in 2023.
SOURCE: VANTAGE POINT, VANCOUVER FOUNDATION, VICTORIA FOUNDATION, CITY OF VANCOUVER, UNITED WAY BRITISH COLUMBIA, VANCITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
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