Once again, Victoria has demonstrated its generous spirit.
GoFundMe has revealed that Victoria has been crowned Canada’s most generous community for the second consecutive year. Victorians have continued to showcase a level of generosity that sets the standard for the nation.
In 2024, more than 19,500 donations were recorded—a remarkable feat for a city with a population of nearly 92,000. This translates to an incredible per capita donor rate of 21.3 per cent, meaning more than one in five residents contributed to causes both local and global through the GoFundMe platform.
Among the many inspiring stories from 2024 was one involving Nikki Sieben, a local resident who launched a GoFundMe campaign to purchase a new wheelchair for fellow Victorian Bert Arnold.
Bert, known for his daily 10-20 kilometre rolls along Dallas Road, has become a beloved figure in the community thanks to his friendly waves and cheerful presence. The campaign raised over $13,000, enabling Bert to continue spreading his positivity with a brand-new set of wheels.
GoFundMe reports that Victoria’s generosity reflects a larger trend across Canada, where the platform saw $280 million CAD raised in 2024—an eight per cent increase from the previous year.
“From small acts of kindness to major community efforts, Canadians are consistently committed to lending a helping hand,” said Tim Cadogan, Chief Executive Officer of GoFundMe.
“People across Canada have exhibited unprecedented kindness and compassion. Whether it’s supporting a young girl in North Vancouver training her service dog or donating to keep the beloved Toronto Santa Claus Parade alive, Canadians demonstrate an unbreakable spirit of solidarity.”
Astonishingly, one in 13 Canadian adults contributed through the platform this year, helping fund urgent healthcare needs, small businesses, and disaster relief efforts.
Other notable acts of kindness include a campaign by Halifax ultra-marathon runner Ryan Keeping, who ran 7,386 kilometres across Canada in just 98 days, raising over $252,000 CAD for the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
GoFundMe’s list of Canada’s 20 most generous communities:
- Victoria, BC
- North Vancouver, BC
- St. John’s, NL
- Vancouver, BC
- Milton, ON
- Brampton, ON
- Kelowna, BC
- Thunder Bay, ON
- Moncton, NB
- New Westminster, BC
- Guelph, Ontario
- Whitby, Ontario
- Prince George, British Columbia
- Kitchener, Ontario
- Regina, Saskatchewan
- Calgary, Alberta
- Pickering, Ontario
- Waterloo, Ontario
- Toronto, Ontario
- Kamloops, British Columbia
