Announcements

Community development


The Oaklands Community Association's mission is to provide a welcoming, engaging, sustainable community where all members can live, learn and thrive. Between our two locations, we offer a a 2.5-5 yr child care centre, out-of-school care for 124 students, summer and winter camps, youth drop-in programs, a summer and winter farmers market, recreation and fitness programs, community dinners, seasonal events, and information about local resources. 
 
Our goal is to improve your quality of life in the Oaklands neighbourhood by increasing social inclusion, making recreation affordable and accessible, and creating a lively neighbourhood through special events! The role of community development within the Oaklands Community Association is to serve you, the residents and visitors of Oaklands. This takes a variety of forms. For example through offering low cost, or free special events throughout the year. These include the Easter Eggstravaganza, Street Party and Garage Sale Day, Oaklands Sunset Market, Oktoberfest, Breakfast with Santa, Seniors Christmas Dinner, and the West Coast Winter Market. At each of these events, volunteer opportunities create a chance for people of all ages and abilities to meet new friends and enjoy the event after their short volunteer shift. At most events, non-profits or community initiatives are provided space to engage with the public.  
 
What the Oaklands Community Association does for you?  
  • Do you need information about resources available to you and your family?
  • Do you have a community initiative you would like help with?
  • Do you have a question about traffic safety, public art, or funding for a special project?
  • Do you want to see more public art?
  • Is there a community initiative you would like help with?
  • Do you have a concern about traffic safety?
  • Do you have a question about a land use application?

The community development coordinator is always excited to hear what matters to you as a resident in Oaklands.

Over the course of the year, we have assisted with gathering signatures on petitions, organizing volunteers, making connections between organizations, providing referrals, speaking to City Council on behalf of residents, and more. The community development coordinator can also assist with applying for grants through The City of Victoria My Great Neighbourhood Grant, Victoria Foundation Small Neighbourhood Grants, Resilient Neighbourhood grants, and more. We can help you achieve your goals for the neighbourhood you live in! 
 

What kind of things matter to you as a resident in Oaklands?  We want to hear from you!

Did you know that the Oaklands Community Association is your direct link to the City of Victoria?  We can speak on your behalf to the City of Victoria Council and Mayor and help you make your neighbourhood a better place to live. Together with our City Council liaison, Ben Isitt, we are eager to hear your feedback and improve your quality of life in Oaklands.

 

Oaklands Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2020

At the April 25, 2019 Annual General Meeting, The Oaklands Community Association announced that we will be beginning community consultation resulting in a document to be delivered to the City of Victoria. This document will then be used to inform the City of Victoria's Official Community Plan. This is the first time the City of Victoria has supported a community led neighbourhood planning process. The Oaklands Neighbourhood Plan (ONP) will be carried out by the ONP Steering Committee, led by local resident Rob Tornack, together with a team of other homeowners, renters, business owners, parents, and volunteers.

We are seeking volunteers to help with specific tasks such as: gateway design into Oaklands, canvas residents between Haultain and Bay Streets to consider extending the Oaklands boundary to Bay Street, neighbourhood ways to promote and protect our environment, change Hillside Avenue to a more welcoming people friendly space, expansion of Haultain Corners and Gosworth villages, landscape design for the Oaklands Rise Woonerf, place making opportunities, and so much more! 

If you would like to be involved with the steering committee or the working groups, please email Rob Tornack at onp@oaklandsca.com 

The Oaklands Neighbourhood Plan will take place in four phases:

Phase 1: April -November 2019
process launch - team building, data collection and analysis, community consultation at Oaklands Sunset Market, Hillside Centre, public workshops, design charettes, etc.

Phase 2: December 2019 - March 2020
defining the big picture - this phase builds upon the results of community engagement and focuses on the development of the vision, goals statement and action plan, and primary deliverables.

Phase 3:March - July 2020
building the big plan - this pace involves drafting the updated Oaklands Neighbourhood Plan text which will serve to guide the development of the community over the next few decades. 

Phase 4: August - November 2020
prepare plan for adoption - this phase involves stakeholder consultation to solicit feedback on the draft plan and subsequent revisions. The final draft of the Oaklands Neighbourhood Plan is to be submitted to City Council by December 30, 2020.

Community Consultation Schedule: (check back for some dates)

Annual General Meeting - April 25, 2019 

Oaklands Street Party - May 11, 2019

Oaklands Sunset Market - Wednesdays, July 3 to September 4, 4:30 - 8:30pm. Find the Oaklands Nieghbourhood Plan tent at the Oaklands Sunset Market 

Steering Committee Members

Name  Represents Who
Rob Tornack (chair) Resident
Sarah Murray Oaklands Community Association

Braude, Val Cortes, Meaghan MacDonald,
John O'Brien, Celine Vallant

 Residents
Michael Manhas, Kerry Schular, John O'Brien Business
Sarah Smith
Non-Profit Organizations


 

Community Resources

My Great Neighbourhood Grants Website

Applications are currently being accepted until April 15, 2019. All applicants will need to set up a meeting with Gary Pemberton with the City of Victoria, and have their application signed off by the Oaklands Community Association.

 

Block Party Guidelines / Application / Website

 

Block Watch Website

Would you like to set up a Block Watch on your street?

 

Community Development Coordinator

Sarah Murray

community@oaklandsca.com

250-370-9101 ext. 4


 
 
 

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Oaklands Community Centre
Reception Hours: 9:00am- 5:00pm
#1-2827 Belmont Avenue
Victoria, BC V8R 4B2
T: 250-370-9101
F: 250-370-9102
 Oaklands Neighbourhood House
Little Acorn Hours: 7:30am- 5:30pm
2629 Victor Street
Victoria, BC V8R 4E3
T: 250-370-9103 (ext. 6)
F: 250-370-9159