Each year, the Victoria Foundation issues their community well-being report, Victoria’s Vital Signs. Combining local statistics and the results of a citizen survey, assigned letter grades provide a snapshot of how the city is faring in various areas, from affordability to the arts.
The results and accompanying report help inform the Victoria Foundation, government decision-makers, non-profit organizations and local donors and philanthropists wanting to make a difference in their community.
But in any given year, there’s much more information than could be included in Vital Signs, so for those wanting to dig a little deeper, the Victoria Foundation created Vital Victoria: Greater Victoria’s Data Hub.
Launched in 2021 as a companion to the Vital Signs magazine, Vital Victoria is a digital platform that tracks more than 70 indicators on quality of life in Greater Victoria, including historical data that offer insight as to how things have changed – for better or worse – over the years.
Curious about how Victoria stacks up alongside the rest of B.C. and Canada for the number of artists? Check under the Arts & Culture tab. Wonder how much the average rent is today, and what renters were paying last year or five years ago? Review the Housing tab, where you’ll find this info and a whole lot more.
Perhaps you’d like to take action to support children or seniors in poverty. Get information you need to inform your efforts under the Standard of Living tab.
The information is divided into 11 categories, with a variety of sub-sections in each, allowing the Foundation, donors, communities and the general public to drill down into and track various issue areas.
Also included are definitions for the indicators, data sources and web links, plus related news and reports, the Sustainable Development Goals they relate to, and a feature article for the 2022 Vital Signs theme, ‘What does community mean to you?’
Read more on the Vital Victoria site, searchable by category, theme, or even by Sustainable Development Goal, at victoria-vital-signs.tracking-progress.org
Victoria Foundation announces funding for climate action projects
The Victoria Foundation last week announced $550,000 available to boost nature-based solutions for climate action in Greater Victoria.
The new funding opportunity is open to local environmental organizations and First Nations to support initiatives centred on nature-based climate action solutions, including activities that protect, restore and manage terrestrial, freshwater and/or marine ecosystems in the capital region.
Applications will be received and reviewed on a rolling basis through Sept. 22, with funding distributed in early November.
Learn more at victoriafoundation.bc.ca