Shape Your Future Victoria

Victoria, BC’s Official Community Plan (OCP), needed a change of direction. With issues like growth, housing availability, infrastructure needs, and environmental concerns becoming greater threats to long-term sustainability, the City and Citizen Advisory committee decided to solicit public input. The City engaged over 6,000 people in drafting the new vision for Victoria.

First, citizens identified community values that helped guide the direction of the Plan. Values include age-friendly planning, ecological consciousness, downtown vibrancy, and increased public engagement. In the second year, citizens provided feedback on the proposed draft. Over 1,300 people contributed, participating in 57 events. The City hopes to release the new, revised, Official Community Plan in early 2012.

Victoria's community engagement methods included:

• Two public community surveys reached over 3,000 people, available at kiosks in coffee shops, community centers, and public events.
• Large community forums where survey results were presented and discussed, engaging more than 500 people.
• Smaller citizen-run "community circles," discussion groups run by groups of friends, neighborhoods, and interest groups. Over 300 people participated in 47 of these groups.
• Two "Citizen Insight Councils" - randomly selected groups of citizens convened to provide suggestions on “big picture” questions involving transportation, housing, public engagement, and land use management.
• 25 Stakeholder Workshops for representatives from 90 different sectors to share ideas with government officials.
• Youth presentations, surveys, discussions, and workshops held in conjunction with high schools and youth councils. Notably, 30 young people presented at a Community Café, sharing stories and hopes for Victoria’s future.