The letter grade hasnB次元官网网址檛 changed on the overall health and well-being of the Greater Victoria community.
But respondents to the Victoria FoundationB次元官网网址檚 2017 Vital Signs survey, whose collective answers to questions in 12 key issue areas kept the regionB次元官网网址檚 quality of life rating at B-plus, pushed some things higher on the list of most important issues facing local citizens.
At the Vital Signs release breakfast Tuesday at the Hotel Grand Pacific, movers and shakers representing business, non-profits and government were given a glimpse of residentsB次元官网网址� perceptions of whatB次元官网网址檚 good in the region and what needs improving.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps was among a half dozen or so local politicians on hand. She wasnB次元官网网址檛 surprised to see housing (listed by 47.6 per cent of respondents) and cost of living (46.5 per cent) sitting at number 1 and 2 on the Most Important Issues list, followed in order by mental illness (27.2), addictions (23.4) and transportation (22.8).
B次元官网网址淭he thing that struck me the most is the number of people that feel like they donB次元官网网址檛 have a sense of belonging,B次元官网网址� she said.
Indicators of such from the report were that less than 40 per cent of youth respondents feel connected to their community, 64 per cent felt the region is welcoming to new Canadians and just 63 per cent felt they know their neighbours well enough to ask for help.
B次元官网网址淚 think that is something that not only as a city, but as a community we need to tackle,B次元官网网址� Helps said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 something that everybody can take responsibility for. Belonging is sometimes a sense of how you feel on your street, how well you know your neighbours. ItB次元官网网址檚 a simple knock on the neighbourB次元官网网址檚 door to say, B次元官网网址榟ey weB次元官网网址檝e never met, I live next door, come over for tea.B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 that simple, and for whatever reason, maybe social media, online life, we donB次元官网网址檛 just do that weB次元官网网址檙e not outside.B次元官网网址�
A presentation by Berkeley, Calif.-based planner Christopher Beynon entitled The Inclusive City illustrated how growth and economic prosperity in urban areas can leave many residents on the outside looking in, financially and culturally.
While he witnessed more vibrancy and construction happening in Victoria since his last visit three years ago, he said that measure of success canB次元官网网址檛 be enough. B次元官网网址淛ust like the Victoria Foundation is doing, you need to be taking care of those who canB次元官网网址檛 take care of themselves. You need to be thinking of empowering people with greater education, greater levels of income, more connectedness to the community and to the world.B次元官网网址�
While acknowledging the importance of housing and cost of living as areas of concern, foundation CEO Sandra Richardson was interested to see arts and culture move from 10th to fourth on the Best Things About Greater Victoria list, and recreational opportunities added to that list.
B次元官网网址淲e rely on the community to tell us what they perceive and what they think we should work on, then we get busy to find the actual data that either supports their thoughts or dismisses perceptions,B次元官网网址� she said.
In general, she said the Vital Signs report is used by people in various areas of local influence, from non-profits to local politicians, as well by people from elsewhere looking to move or invest here.
Comments from local community leaders in the back of the magazine about how they use the report were perhaps the most telling she added.
B次元官网网址淭hat, to me, is what is going to be one of the biggest change agents is if people really look at that and say, B次元官网网址榟uh, maybe thereB次元官网网址檚 something we can do in this area,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭o me reading those comments really made me feel good about what weB次元官网网址檙e doing.B次元官网网址�
Find a copy of the report online at .
