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.
The perfect fit! Supporting barriered youth through gender-affirming apparel
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 in their 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 aged 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), gaffs (underwear that creates a smoother appearance in the pelvic area), 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.
ARYZE
Photo by: Jo-Ann Richards, Works Photography
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 GOALS
SENSE OF BELONGING
In 2021/22, South Vancouver Island population who felt a somewhat strong or very strong sense of belonging to their local community :
SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA
POLICE-REPORTED HATE CRIMES
POLICE-REPORTED HATE CRIMESIn 2024, there were80police-reported hate crimes in the Victoria CMA, a rate of 18 per 100,000 population
Up from the region's 2023 rate (12)
Above the rate for BC (12) in 2024
Above the rates across all CMAs (14) in 2024
The region’s hate crime rate rose from 8.5 (35 incidents) per 100,000 population in 2020.
SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA
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 friend 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
GREATER VICTORIA
Down from 21% in 2022
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CANADA
2023 Median donation in Greater Victoria
$540
Below BC median ($570) in 2023
SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA
Giving Attitudes and Behaviours of Multicultural Canadians
Major findings of Imagine Canada’s 2024 Multicultural Charitable Giving Study include:
- 66% of multicultural Canadians view the charitable sector positively
- 80% donated to charitable causes in the previous year, making an average contribution of $795; 60% expressed a desire to donate more in the future
- 57% would be more likely to donate more if they were asked more often or knew where to give
- Primary drivers for giving are showing compassion (83%), doing the right thing (81%), and belief in the cause (81%); personal incentives (52%) or recognition (37%) are less important
- 74% support teaching children about philanthropy
- 76% who have been in Canada 5-10 years donate regularly, compared to 40% who have been in Canada for less than three years
SOURCE: IMAGINE CANADA
THEN & NOW
From our first Vital Signs report (2006): In 2004, 30% of Greater Victoria tax filers made charitable donations and the median donation was $290.
SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA
COMMUNITY IN FOCUS
Uplifting Indigenous Self-determination
The Capital Regional District (CRD) has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) to formalize government-to-government relationships and commit to working together on key priorities with the W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), W̱SÍKEM (Tseycum), XʷSEP̱SƏM (Kosapsom), and STÁUTW̱'s (Tsawout) Nations.
The MOUs will foster a more inclusive approach to regional government with new processes for respectful and reciprocal government-to-government decision-making. The MOUs will promote deeper understanding and respect for each other’s governance structures, cultural values, and perspectives.
CRD and Nation staff will meet regularly to support ongoing communication and implementation of shared workplans to address priorities in the MOUs. Leadership and elected representatives will hold annual government-to-government meetings. These connections will foster stronger relationships, build trust, and ensure all parties remain aligned in their shared goals and stated commitments.
SOURCE: CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT
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