Public Involvement
The new Official Community Plan has been shaped by a wide variety of community input, including more than 6,000 people representing various interest groups in the community.
Over the past two years, citizens have taken time to provide their input through activities such as kitchen table “community circle” workshops, Citizen Insight Councils, community forums and direct correspondence with staff. Staff attended neighbourhood markets, local coffee shops, community centres, schools, and meetings with various interest groups in an effort to capture a diverse range of thoughts and opinions.
Individuals representing neighbourhood associations, businesses, service providers, First Nations, heritage, arts and culture groups, recreation services, and youth organizations have participated and helped ensure that the new plan is reflective of the community’s values.
The new plan brings forward a more current and sustainable approach to community planning. It reflects the community’s desire for walkable neighbourhoods, a vibrant downtown core, and to celebrate Victoria’s unique character and sense of place. It also takes a new approach to local area planning, focussing on areas of major change.
Here is a summary public involvement over the past two years:
June to July 2012
A public hearing was held on Wednesday, June 27 at Victoria City Hall. Council formally adopted the new Official Community Plan as a bylaw on July 30, 2012.
April to June 2011
From April to June 2011, Victoria citizens had an opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Official Community Plan. More than 1,300 citizens participated in 57 different events related to the OCP during this phase of engagement. Feedback received includes:
- More than 300 people who attended one of four open house events
- 75 people who attended a Feast with representatives from Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations, Victoria City Council and staff
- More than 300 people who attended one of 10 information sessions held at coffee shops and community events around town
- Input from close to 400 people who submitted written feedback or completed a feedback survey
- Close to 200 people who attended a presentation to their Community Association
- 400 people who met with staff and provided feedback on behalf of their organization or area of expertise. These groups included downtown service providers, seniors groups, business and development.
- More than 100 youth who contributed ideas through facilitated workshops
- Seven individuals who participated in Citizens Insight Councils
February to June 2010
From February to June of 2010, input from the public contributed to shaping the direction of a draft version of the new Official Community Plan. A variety of methods were used in an effort to hear from a broad range of people and interests in the Victoria community.
Below is a diagram illustrating the different opportunities for public input. For more information about each of these activities visit the past events and activities page.
A summary is also available in a report to Council – OCP Engagement August 11, 2010 [PDF - 103 KB]
Throughout the various stages of the public engagement process, members of the community identified areas they felt were priorities for the City to address in the Official Community Plan update. Feedback from the public identified common community values, as well as possible goals and directions in key topic areas.
All of the input received helped inform a report approved by City Council in August 2010. With Council’s endorcement of a framework for plan development, staff are preparing a draft plan for submission to Council in early 2011. Further public engagement will take place in 2011, providing citizens an opportunity to provide more input on Victoria’s updated Official Community Plan before it is adopted later in the year.
