The Victoria Foundation is giving out a record $2.3 million in community grants to 104 non-profit groups on Vancouver Island this year. The foundation, the capital region’s largest non-government funding organization, has disbursed $2,294,724.40 in community grants this December, and more than $20 million in overall funding so far this year.
The community grants are awarded through the foundation’s Vital Victoria Fund. Food security and homelessness have been identified as priorities in the fund’s three-year strategic strategy, but grants go to projects in several areas.
Victoria Foundation chief executive Sandra Richardson said she is struck by the diversity and quality of projects that come up for community grants each year. “From tackling the opioid crisis to supporting single parents, fostering environmental stewardship to 25 different arts and culture projects, the range is incredible,” she said.
Among this year’s recipients is Victoria Native Friendship Centre, which gets $15,000 to support youth-leadership programming that looks at Indigenous food knowledge. Friendship centre executive director Bruce Parisian said he is grateful for the foundation’s support.
“This funding will be directed toward the cultural teachings of harvesting and preparing traditional foods to urban Indigenous youth through our Youth Leadership Program.”
“The revitalization of Indigenous food systems and knowledge are essential to the preservation of the cultural identities and self-esteem of these young people, and empowers them to live healthier cultural lifestyles. This contributes to the well-being, sense of belonging and health of our people.”
Food-related skills have been lost in many cases because older family members weren’t able to keep them up in the residential-school system, Parisian said.
Also awarded is a $35,000 grant to the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust Society to help establish a “food hub” for the community.
The Victoria Foundation is Canada’s second-oldest community foundation and the sixth-largest out of close to 200 across the country. It manages charitable donations that are used to initiate permanent, income-earning funds, then distributes the money.
