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Sandra Richardson: We can move forward, together

Anyone who has watched a choir sing can attest to the power of voices joining in harmony. From the first note to the final bow, people working together can inspire and move audiences.
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Sandra Richardson from the Victoria Foundation. ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST

Anyone who has watched a choir sing can attest to the power of voices joining in harmony. From the first note to the final bow, people working together can inspire and move audiences. This month reminds me that, beyond singing, working together can also inspire and move entire communities.

There’s little the Victoria Foundation does on its own. It takes a collaboration of individuals, donors, organizations and communities to help realize our vision of a vibrant, caring community for all.

This month saw a celebration almost 10 years in the making. In 2014, there were approximately 50,000 people in our region who were deemed “food insecure.” This kickstarted a collaboration between the Victoria Foundation, civil society, businesses, service clubs such as Rotary, donors, and municipal and provincial government coming together. It led to the creation of the Mustard Seed Street Church’s Food Distribution Centre, which is now a thriving hub with commercial kitchens and food distribution.

I was fortunate to join Rotarians from across the country at the Food Distribution Centre this month, along with B.C. Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin. It was a true display of the power of coming together as a community, as Rotary International welcomed its first female president, Jennifer Jones. To celebrate their work, all while highlighting the Food Distribution Centre, was a true symbol of communities moving forward together.

The Victoria Foundation also recently released the latest issue of Pulse magazine. It highlights how the Foundation and other organizations in our community are working to build on the findings of our annual Vital Signs report. The stories featured in Pulse show how organizations and individuals come together to work on issues in our community.

There is the story “Better through Brotherhood,” which highlights the work of the New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community, operated by Our Place Society. The community helps support men living and learning together to achieve sustainable sobriety. Funding for the healing garden and the purchase of a transition home was made possible through the JAYMAC Fund at the Victoria Foundation.

There are groups highlighted such as the Greater Victoria Green Team and the Existence Project, supported by the Foundation’s 2021 Community Recovery Program. The Green Team works with communities to promote environmental stewardship, while the Existence Project holds storytelling workshops to help connect residents in supportive ­housing.

I encourage you, when you have the time, to visit our website VictoriaFoundation.bc.ca to read this year’s Pulse and the new online blog with additional stories.

It’s a reminder that, much like a choir, we can move our communities when we move forward together.

Sandra@victoriafoundation.bc.ca

Sandra Richardson is CEO of the Victoria Foundation.