Read The Village News:
The Village Initiative e-newsletter (July 2025)
What The Village network has been up to as we head into Summer!
On May 8th more than 70 leaders from local government, education, non-profit organizations and the development sector gathered for “The Art of the Possible” to discuss practical win-win ways to build our community while addressing the urgent need for suitable spaces to support the health and social services of families across the growing West Shore/Sooke region. Read about the key takeaways and other news from The Village in the Summer 2025 Village News.
The Village in the Goldstream News Gazette
It takes The Village: Group’s summer list supports West Shore, Sooke families
Stuck for ideas for what to do with the kids now school’s out for summer? Never fear, The Village has come to the rescue – proving it truly does take one to raise a child.
The organization has compiled a list of free and low-cost summer programs available to children, youth and families in the West Shore and Sooke.
The list, created with Greater Victoria Public Library, includes family fun events, such as movies on the hill behind Juan de Fuca Library, summer reading clubs, sporting activities and much more.
West Shore & Sooke Food Security Roundtable
On June 23 the Village hosted key organizations supporting community food security in West Shore/Sooke for a facilitated conversation about what we can do together as we face these challenging times. The conversation focused on the good work underway, opportunities to enhance efforts, and the coordination and leveraging of resources. There was unanimous support for staying connected, including ensuring that information concerning food security service providers for the West Shore, Sooke and the full CRD is shared widely. Find the document link here. A follow-up meeting is slated for late October.
Read The Village News:
The Village Initiative e-newsletter
Reporting on the Village Initiative’s 2024 scope of work.
The Village makes a difference by bringing organizations together in meaningful ways and enabling greater coordination among its network of over 60 organizations.
2024 was a very busy year for the Village Initiative. This edition of our e-newsletter provides a snapshot of what we accomplished, illustrating that we are stronger together …
Read the Spring 2025 Village News
Read the Village Initiative’s 2024 Annual Report and Looking Ahead at 2025 Document
The Village in the Victoria Times-Colonist:
It takes a village: This initiative is reshaping youth wellness in Sooke and West Shore
Since 2018, The Village Initiative (or “The Village”) has been growing a network of more than 60 organizations – from local government agencies to non-profits and funders. It aims to help the community’s many social service agencies work together, as a unified team, to meet the complex wellness needs of one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions. It’s a steep task, but the impact in its first years has been inspiring, intentional and deeply effective. At its core, The Village Initiative is focused on redefining how the Sooke and West Shore communities come together to improve the health and well-being of young people and families.
Read the Village News:
The Village Initiative e-newsletter
The Village News is published to support connection among the Village members and supporters.
TVI in the Goldstream Gazette: Sooke and West Shore community group unveils plan to address youth needs
From April 25, 2024 Gazette Online:
A South Island advocacy group, the Village Initiative, is calling for greater municipal participation in a program aimed at improving the health and well-being of youth in Sooke and the West Shore.
The Village Initiative is a network of over 60 community service organizations, including the Sooke School District, Island Health, and United Way South Vancouver Island. United by the philosophy of “it takes a village to raise a child,” the group presented a comprehensive five-year plan to Sooke council to address the needs of local youth.
Their initiatives focus on improved transit accessibility, creating safe environments for youth development, and implementing programs and services tailored to their specific needs.
TVI Steward Cindy Andrew Interviewed on the Love, Sweet Love Podcast
Check-out a spirited conversation between TVI Steward Cindy Andrew and podcaster Gayle Beavil about The Village Initiative and its role in supporting children, youth, and families in Sooke and the West Shore.
Community Action Ignited by BC Adolescent Health Survey Results in Sooke and West Shore
Recent findings from the 2023 BC Adolescent Health Survey (AHS) have sparked a proactive response from local leaders and youth advocates signaling a shift towards collectively bolstering the well-being of the youth in Sooke and the West Shore.
On February 27, 2024 forty-two grade 10 to12 students from Sooke and the West Shore gathered to review the results of the 2023 Adolescent Health Survey (AHS). With the help of a team from the McCreary Centre Society, students shared their reflections on the results and discussed actions they want to see taken to support the health and well-being of young people across our region.
On February 28, 2024, several youths involved in the previous day’s workshop joined over 100 community leaders from health and social services, municipal, provincial, and federal governments, Island Health, education, funders, business and service clubs for a review of the AHS results and an opportunity to hear firsthand youth needs and recommendations for action.