Ken Kelly: Connecting Communities in Downtown Victoria

Like any city centre, downtown Victoria is a place where people from different communities intersect; residential, visitor, business, service, cultural.  Each community is diverse. Residents may be living in high-end condos or in short-term residence at Our Place.  Visitors include tourists, local shoppers, and the transient homeless. Businesses range from big bank office to small, […]

Henri Lock: Community Connector

For most students attending university, it is a time of great personal exploration.  It was for me. Henri Lock helps university students with their internal explorations.  He also helps them connect their personal passions, interests, values to opportunities in the external world; of people, work, causes, organizations, Henri is United Church Chaplain at the University […]

Neighbourhood Gifts

It was my neighbourhood association‘s annual Streetfest last weekend.  Excellent turnout.  People connecting. Conversation.  Having fun.  No rain! And, gifts galore… locals sharing their time, talents, and community spirit. Many of those things that make for a healthy neighbourhood were there, all orchestrated by neighbours, volunteering, including: Food; donated, baked, cornucopia Music; DJ, musicians, musical […]

Janis La Couvee: Community Connector

I always enjoy a conversation with Janis La Couv’e.  She is involved in many diverse communities, online and offline, here in Victoria.  And, I get the feeling she brings all of her communities, all of her connections, to each conversation, a good thing.  Making connections is what Janis does. Although, I’ve only known her for […]

The Good News: Restorative Justice

Two recent news items about restorative justice caught my intention.  Which one should I let “take the day”? The first was what I consider a bad news story.  Alberta pulls restorative justice funding, read the CBC news article headline.  The Province of Alberta will stop funding restorative justice programs.  This is hard one for me […]