Welcome to our Blog!

Keep checking back on updates on the council and your community!

Achieving Gender Equity and Closing the Gender Pay Gap in the CRD

March 8, 2023

Women in the Capital Regional District (CRD) continue to earn less than men. The gap is even larger for visible minority women and women with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Women annually earn between 30 and 85 cents for each dollar a white man earns. The gender pay gap is a widely recognized indicator of … Read more

Struggling to Make Ends Meet: What It Means for Families of the CRD

February 21, 2023

This year’s Family Day Factsheet highlights inflation pressures, cost of living, and housing as top issues. Family Day is a day that allows us to be together, celebrate one another and embrace all that is good about those who enrich our lives. But, did you know that 1 in 15 families living in the Greater … Read more

Want to give back this holiday season?

December 13, 2022

As the living wage soars, 1 in 11 families in Greater Victoria are considered low-income. Even more alarming is the fact that over 14% of local children are living in poverty, according to a recent study by the CSPC. We believe that an equitable, sustainable, and affordable Greater Victoria is in reach, but is only … Read more

Affordability Targets Needed as David Eby Releases Housing Plan

November 23, 2022

Community Council report spotlights the need for affordability targets as David Eby announces B.C. affordable housing plan GREATER VICTORIA: The Community social planning Council is pleased to see action provincially on housing. The announcement of the move towards setting housing targets is welcome but there has been no mention of how affordability will be part … Read more

Living Wage Report 2022 Event

November 1, 2022

The Living Wage is the hourly wage that two working parents with two young children must each earn to meet their basic expenses (including rent, child-care, medical needs, food, and transportation), once government taxes, credits, deductions and subsidies have been taken into account. The Living Wage for our region is calculated annually by the Community … Read more

Making Affordable Housing Happen: Non-profit Solutions for Cities

October 25, 2022

What is affordable? What can municipalities and the non-profit sector do to help achieve affordability? Housing affordability has been out of reach for many people living in our communities for a substantial period of time. A change to the status quo is necessary in order to develop a healthy economy where housing serves as a … Read more

Recording: Policy + Protection Event

October 3, 2022

WATCH THE RECORDING HERE In a push to increase housing supply, tenant displacement, increased rental costs, and decreased access are often unintended consequences. However, local governments can implement policies that help to minimize these negative effects. This event was part of the CSPC’s continuing dialogue on Housing Affordability and was co-hosted by Livable Victoria. The … Read more

The intersection of climate transitions and equity

September 27, 2022

On September 20th, 2022, Climate Equity team members Lorenzo Magzul and Chelsea Power had the opportunity to speak to the BC Poverty Reduction Community of Practice. The CoP meets monthly to learn from each other, to enable professional self-development, and to build capacities of their local poverty reduction initiatives. You can view the presentation as … Read more

Policy + Protection: How municipalities can increase density while protecting tenants

September 27, 2022

In a push to increase housing supply, tenant displacement, increased rental costs, and decreased access are often unintended consequences. However, local governments can implement policies that help to minimize these negative effects. Join us from 12-1:30pm PST on September 28th for a solutions-based conversation. This is a chance for you to have your ideas heard … Read more

Filling the Gap: analytics to support housing for all in Greater Victoria

September 14, 2022

Piloting the HART Method in Greater Victoria What is affordable? Affordable for whom? When is affordability not enough? These questions are at the core of housing needs assessments that allow governments to meet the housing needs of everyone in the region. The HART Method, developed by UBC’s Housing Research Collaborative, offers an approach to determining … Read more

Missing Middle Housing

August 9, 2022

On August 4, The Community Social Planning Council share this presentaiton to Victoria Council, highlighting support for the Missing Middle Housing Initiative in Victoria. Here are three key points of the Missing Middle Housing Initiative: This initiative will increase housing supply in terms of sheer numbers and housing type options. Increased density has a positive … Read more

Preparing for Extreme Heat Events

July 20, 2022

While this summer has, so far, been on the cool side for Greater Victoria, the risk still exists for extreme heat events in July, August, and even September. Following the devastating heat dome in 2021 that killed 619 people in British Columbia – the majority of victims being renters, on low-income, and seniors – we … Read more