The Victoria Foundation has released their 2025 edition of the annual Victoria Vital Signs report, which gauges residents’ concerns in a report card-like fashion.
Based on feedback from the Vital Signs survey, which closed at the end of May, Victoria-area residents were able to provide their opinions on several aspects of the city’s vitality and areas of concern.
Once the data was analyzed from the survey, the Victoria Foundation was able to put together the report, which is full of letter grades and statistics spanning 12 key issue areas.
These key issues include standard of living, arts and culture, belonging and engagement and more.
Overall the report found that quality of life in Greater Victoria scored a B grade, which remains unchanged from the past two years.
According to the report, housing has improved with a D grade, up from a D- last year. The Victoria Foundation did note that housing continues to be the lowest-graded issue area in the report.
Another key issue area that improved was diversity, equity, and inclusion, which was given a B grade, up from B- last year.
Additionally, ‘getting started’ was given a C+ this year, which has improved since last year’s C grade.
The Victoria Foundation’s report found that all other issue area grades stayed the same as last year.
Survey respondents have indicated through their feedback that the top five aspects of living life in Greater Victoria to address in order to have a better quality of life are:
- Social Issues, including mental health and homelessness
- Affordable housing and rental options
- Improving public transportation
- Better access to healthcare, and
- Improving public safety
According to the report, 70% of respondents said they are likely to still be living and/or working in Greater Victoria 10 years from now.
Other notable insights from the report include that 64% of respondents said they are satisfied with their work and home life balance, and only 22% of respondents said their access to healthcare in a timely manner is either good or excellent.
The Victoria Vital Signs report includes much more than just statistics and letter grades, but also background information on root-causes of issues and context on a plethora of topics.
Given that this year’s report is the 20th anniversary of the first Victoria Vital Signs report, the 2025 edition also includes “Then and Now” sections, comparing life in the region today with twenty years ago.
“When Vital Signs came to life in 2006, we had no idea of the influence on our community it would grow to have,” said Sandra Richardson, CEO of the Victoria Foundation.
“Today, Vital Signs is used by organizations, governments, businesses, schools, and the public, to guide decisions about philanthropy and public policy for the wellbeing of everyone in the capital region. It’s been such an honour to watch Vital Signs and the community grow together, and I look forward to watching how they will evolve into the future.”
Since this endeavour was launched two decades ago, the Victoria Foundation’s annual granting increased from $3.8 million to more than $33 million last year, allowing them to better analyze the quality of life in the region.
Read the full Victoria Vital Signs report online here.
