2. Community:
A social group of people who are geographically
located in the same area and have access to the
resources in this area
The way in which individuals in the same vicinity
socialize, connect, and interact with each other
3. Hillside-Quadra Neighborhood
in Victoria, B.C.
Borders: Tolmie Street, Cook Street, Blanshard Street
and Bay Street
Population: 7,180
Ethnic origins (most commonly cited): English,
Canadian, Scottish, Irish, German, French
Aboriginal population: 7.1%
Marital status: 47.9% single people
10% of the population is bilingual
45% of households earn incomes under 30,000/year
4. Housing
27.3% are single homes
58.6% are apartments
61% are rentals
39% owned
In the heart of the community is a large low-income
housing complex that provide 184 families with
affordable housing. I have lived in this housing
complex for the past 7 years.
5. Community Needs/Problems Map
The following slides reflect the Hillside-Quadra
neighborhood’s needs and problems
6. My information and sources
My information and sources were gathered by going
out into this community and talking to people who live
in the neighborhood, local merchants, and community
workers. I have chosen to respect their wishes to
remain anonymous. I have also gathered my
information through the experience of not only being
a resident for the past 7 years in this neighborhood but
of also frequenting this neighborhood and visiting
friends for the past 25 years that I have lived in
Victoria.
7. Unemployment and welfare
recipients
The Hillside –Quadra area is referred to by many
people in the area (and in the city) as a “poor”
neighborhood with many people unemployed and
living on welfare
In the low-income townhouse complex where I live
known as Evergreen Terrace (previously Blanshard
Courts) all families are working poor, living on welfare
or disability, or are trying to survive on student loans
as students.
Many people in the area refer to our complex as “slum
housing”
8. Domestic violence and broken
families
I was shocked by the number of women that I spoke
with in the community who have experienced
domestic violence and are single parents. The majority
of these women were under the age of 30.
According to one caretaker in the complex where I live,
over 75% of the households are run by a single parent.
Several women that I have known in this complex have
had their children taken away by the Ministry of
Children and Families.
9. Teens
The Hillside-Quadra area has many teens that hang outside the
community centre and all over the neighborhood.
Many people in the community see the teenagers as “problems”.
They see them smoking pot, drinking, getting into fights, and
bullying people walking by. Some people I spoke with claim they
are afraid to walk around the neighborhood at night for fear of
being “attack” by the teens. Police cars frequently drive the
streets at night to take care of this “problem”.
Over 20 cameras were installed in the housing complex where I
live to monitor the teens and other concerns.
To prevent the teens from hanging around the old elementary
school, the city’s bright idea was to take out the basketball
courts.
10. Drug Abuse and Alcoholism
The Hillside-Quadra neighborhood frequently has people
“hanging out” or walking around that are visibly under the
influence of drugs or alcohol. Occasionally, there are
needles laying in the park or on the sidewalk. To deal with
this problem the city workers “clean” the park several times
a week.
Many transients sit in the park and drink alcohol during
the day and night. Seems they are not concerned with all
the children playing and perhaps watching what they are
doing. On many occasions I have left the park to take my
children to another park because of this behaviour. The
police asking them to leave and dumping out their alcohol
does not seem to deter them from coming back.
11. Homelessness
While observing, I notice there are a lot of homeless
people walking around this neighborhood. Some push
shopping carts with all their belongings inside of it.
Many homeless people dig through the garbage cans
looking for cans and other “treasures”. To solve this
“problem” many local establishments put locks on the
garbage bins in the hopes that these homeless people
will move into another neighborhood. However, they
just move to other areas in the neighborhood looking
for food, cans, warm clothes and other items that
people throw out.
12. Crime
Many people, including myself, have had items stolen from
our back or front yards. Most people put locks on their
gates now. However, sometimes those are broken off.
I talked to several people in the neighborhood who claim to
have their townhouse, house, or apartment broken into.
Many blame teenagers, others blame drug addicts,
however, when asked if they actually KNOW who broke
into their house all say “no!”
In the housing complexes and apartments in the Hillside-
Quadra area many people claim that because of criminal
activity and unruly teens hanging out in the laundry
rooms, most are closed around 4pm. This causes major
problems for people who work after that hour and do not
have a washer or dryer in their suite.
13. Slum Housing
As noted earlier many buildings in this area are
considered “slum housing.” This includes my complex.
Many people complain of mold in their homes, mice,
moths continuously in their food cupboards, things
remaining unfixed, and rats outside. The housing
management has done very little to address these
complaints. They do however, constantly clean up and
fix the outside buildings and surrounding areas so that
they “appear” well kept.
14. Child Neglect
One issue that has bothered some people in the community (myself
included) is the fact that many parents are free to allow their young
children to play outside by themselves or at night.
It is not uncommon to see children as young as 3 or 4 to be running
around in the parks by themselves or with equally young children.
I find this disturbing, especially because of the number of successful
and attempted abductions of children in the area (the most famous
being Michael Dunahee several years ago).
I have personally walked children home when they are very young and
playing in the park right outside of my house. Most of the parents I
have seen while doing this are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
and do not seem concerned for their young children.
I know of several parents who have been investigated by the Ministry of
Children and Families on matters such as child neglect.
15. Poverty
The Hillside-Quadra area is considered a “poor”
neighborhood in comparison to many neighborhoods
in Victoria.
There are many consequences of poverty that are not
addressed effectively in this area. Some of these
consequences include unemployment, drug and
alcohol abuse, crime, child neglect, homelessness, and
broken families.
16. Interactive Walking Tour of Hillside
Quadra Area from the Victoria
Heritage Foundation
Follow this link:
http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/hillsidemap
.html
17. Here is a link from the Victoria
Heritage Foundation on the many
Architectural Styles in the area
http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/hillsidefeat
ures.html
18. Features
The Hillside- Quadra neighborhood has many interesting
features. At the heart of the neighborhood is “Quadra
Village” which features a mix of retail stores, community
services, and small office spaces.
Quadra Village also features multiculturalism at its finest
with Caribbean, Dutch, Indian, Greek, and Filipino stores
and bakeries.
The neighborhood also features the city’s only independent
movie theatre, “The Roxy.”
There are over 43 acres of parkland, including Summit
Park, which showcases rare and protected Garry Oak trees
(City of Victoria, p.1).
19. A bit of History
an excerpt from “About Smith Hill” by
the Victoria Heritage Foundation
“The area east of Quadra Street and north of Hillside
Avenue rises to the summit of Smith’s Hill, also known as
The Rise, Work’s Rock and Summit Hill. The landscape was
once covered in Garry Oak meadows except for the swampy
land near Hillside and Quadra. This is part of the
traditional territory of the Lekwungen speaking (Songhees)
First Nations. They cultivated and harvested the meadows’
indigenous camas lily bulbs for a staple food source”
(Victoria Heritage Foundation, p.1).
Here is a link to more interesting info:
http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/hillside-
quadrabrochure.pdf
20. Some people may have the perspective that the
Hillside-Quadra neighborhood is a slum, poverty
stricken, with many problems.
However, looking at this area from a positive
perspective, there is much to share about this
interesting and vibrant community!
21. Community Assets Map
This map will show the many features, resources, and
community connections for the people who reside in
and outside of this area of Greater Victoria.
23. The many community resources in
the Hillside-Quadra area
The following link is to the Hillside-Quadra community
newspaper article that expresses that the area of Hillside-
Quadra has an abundant amount of community resources
such as Blanshard Community Centre, Citizen’s
Counselling, BC Schizophrenia Society, Parent Support
Services, Salvation Army, Alzheimer’s Society, and Inter-
Cultural Association.
Note: although this article is from 2007, all the associations
still exist in the neighborhood and the community
newspaper still circulates monthly.
http://www.blanshardcc.com/files/2007-HQN-Spring.pdf
24. Primary Building Blocks
The Wark Street Commons Community Garden
Project is a run by volunteers in the community in
partnership with the Blanshard Community Centre. I
take my children to this park everyday. The community
garden has fruit, veggies, herbs, and edible flowers for
whomever would like to enjoy them. The volunteers
include youth, elderly people, low-income citizens,
and people from all walks of life and all nationalities.
27. The following is a link to the
community garden project
http://www.blanshardcc.com/commgarden/index.ht
ml
28. Quadra Village Days
pamphlet taken from:
http://www.blanshardcc.com/qvd/
QUADRA VILLAGE DAY
"BEE" A PART OF QUADRA VILLAGE DAY!
Building and Celebrating Our Thriving Community
Mark your Calendars: SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2012 - 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Check back later for information on this year's activities and entertainment. In the meantime, why not take a look at some images from Quadra Village Day 2011.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Volunteers Needed
There are lots of ways to be involved. Do you have a cheerful, outgoing & helpful attitude? Are you someone who can work with people of all ages? We particularly want to hear from you.
1. We need people on the day of the event for:
Decorating Committee
Painting
Crafting
Set up & take down (requires strength & agility to handle tents, tables & chairs)
Recycling & Garbage Maintenance
Helium Balloons
General Food Handling
2. The Quadra Village Day Planning Committee also has an opening for a Marketing Assistant to help our PR and Communications volunteer. This opportunity is suitable for a senior high school
student or other community member with an interest in marketing and communications. The Marketing Assistant's role will be to provide administrative support with web postings, email, and public
service and media announcements. Duties will be negotiated based on experience and time available. Be part of an inclusive, family-friendly event and help build community while learning more about
the role public relations and marketing play in successful event planning.
3. Do you have experience with music and dance events? The Quadra Village Day Planning Committee has an opening for a Community Stage Co-ordinator. In this position you will work together with
our Main Stage Co-ordinator, and community dance and music groups, to schedule entertainment for the Community Stage at Quadra Village Day. This opportunity is suitable for an individual who is
comfortable working with diverse community groups, and has knowledge of the technical requirements involved in staging entertainment.
(Note to high school students: volunteer hours contributed to this event will count for your graduation credits.)
CONTACT US:
Quadra Village Day Planning Committee
c/o Blanshard Community Centre
901 Kings Rd. Victoria
250-388-7696
quadravillageday@gmail.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29. Quadra Village Days
Quadra Village Days is celebrated every year in the
Hillside- Quadra neighborhood. There is music, food,
and entertainment. There is lots of things for children
and adults to do. It is a celebration for everyone living
in the neighborhood to come out, socialize, and be
proud of our community.
30. Communications
Another primary building block is the Hillside-Quadra
community newspaper that is circulated every month.
This newspaper is in direct association with the
Blanshard Community Centre.
32. Blanshard Community Centre
The following is a direct link to the Blanshard
Community Centre’s website
http://www.blanshardcc.com/
33. Blanshard Community Centre
The Blanshard Community Centre offers so many
community resources. There is a seniors group, youth
and family workers, youth and family counsellors, best
babies programs, a nurse for immunization, adult
coffee groups, free bread, internet access, a clothing
exchange, weekly hot and affordable lunches, out of
school care, a daycare for young children, parent and
tot drop in groups, family games night, a woman’s
support group, and effective parenting groups.
This community centre supports, empowers, and helps
so many people in this neighborhood.
34. Secondary Building Blocks
These building blocks would include assets in this
neighborhood that are located within the community
but are mostly controlled by outsiders (McKnight, J.,
Kretzmann, J.).
36. Other secondary building blocks would include local
public schools and social service agencies such as
Citizen’s Counselling, the Schizophrenia Society, and
the Umbrella Society.
38. Potential Building Blocks
The following is a link to an example of potential
building blocks. It is a link to the “City Planning
Division of Victoria, BC” and it is the Hillside-Quadra
Neighborhood Plan that includes topics, maps, and
graphics on areas such as housing, land use,
commercial use, social planning, parks/open spaces,
public works, and the implementation of the plan.
http://www.victoria.ca/assets/Departments/Planning
~Development/Development~Services/Documents/ne
ighbourhoods-hillside-quadra-plan.pdf
39. As you can see there are many ways to view a
neighborhood. One can stand from a point of view
that relies heavily on what is wrong with the
neighborhood and what we should do about all the
“problems” or one can see all the positive assets a
neighborhood has. I choose to view my neighborhood
as a beautiful place full of resources, diversity, and
acceptance.
40. References
City of Victoria. Hillside Quadra. Retrieved from
http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/community/about/n
eighbourhoods/hillside-quadra.html
McKnight, J. L., Kretzmann, J. P. (1996). Mapping
Community Capacity. Retrieved from
http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/publications/paper
s/mcc.pdf
Victoria Heritage Foundation. Hillside-Quadra
Heritage Walking Tour No. 1. Retrieved from
http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/hillside-
quadrabrochure.pdf
