Poll finds food security challenges impact many Vancouver Island residents

According to a recent poll, many Vancouver Islanders, and British Columbians on the whole, are being affected by food security challenges as the cost-of-living continues to rise. 

The poll was conducted by BC-based Research Co. in partnership with United Way BC as a way to highlight the impacts of food insecurity. 

First, the poll sought to determine the state of Vancouver Islanders’ financial situations now compared to in 2024. 

When asked if feeding their families stressed them out more or less, 24% of respondents said they are more stressed now than two years ago, 37% said they are just as stressed, 36% replied they are less stressed and 3% indicated they have no stress at all. 

Respondents were asked whether they, or other household members, had to reduce the size of their meals because of affordability. To this, 23% of Vancouver Island pollees indicated affirmatively. 

Furthermore, 21% said they purposely ate less than they felt they should because there was not enough money to buy food, or that they did not buy food because they could not afford to. 

When looking at other regions of BC and how their respondents answered these questions, it appears that although many Vancouver Islanders feel the impacts of food insecurity, others are worse off. 

In Metro Vancouver, 31% said they ate less than they should because of affordability; in the Fraser Valley, 33% replied the same; in northern BC, it was 24%; and in southern BC, it was 31%. 

On Vancouver Island, 34% of respondents said they have switched to generic brands to save money and 36% said they had changed their diets to avoid purchasing products that have become more expensive. 

Similarly, 20% indicated they had cut back on lunches for themselves, 4% had to cut down on their children’ s lunches and 10% had to cut down on medications. According to the poll, 43% replied that they were not applying any of these cost-saving measures. 

This poll shows that although the majority of British Columbians are not impacted by food security challenges, many are. 

Rent is rising, the cost of gas is rising and the cost of food is rising as well. 

However, there are some local initiatives in Greater Victoria for people struggling with the cost of food. 

The District of Saanich has a Food Assistance Guide that can provide a plethora of resources and the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank can provide food hampers.

Additionally, the Rainbow Kitchen and Mustard Seed provide hot meals frequently, and Food Not Bombs Victoria distributes and cooks plant-based meals as an act of mutual aid. 

For more resources on food security, click here.