2018 Message from the Executive Director

Message from the Executive Director

My first year as Executive Director has been a wonderful experience of meeting and working with engaged and passionate community members from the Oaklands neighbourhood.

Over the last year, the staff, board and our committed volunteers have worked hard to increase our programming from Out of School Care to Yoga; and we’ve worked to improve the administrative development of the association by researching, testing and implementing software for member, program, and registration management; and updating and implementing new HR, management and finance policies.  

In 2019 you will be able to register for Oaklands Programs on line!

Our financial management this year, as you will see from the review engagement and the treasurer's report, focused on expense reduction and income generation and has enabled us to post a significant surplus this year.

In many respects it was a challenging year as we restructured ourselves, implemented new systems and adjusted to new responsibilities. I can only applaud the Oaklands staff for their patience and enthusiasm with me as I asked the same questions over and over, shifted processes and added more responsibilities to their work loads.

Given the tight labour market in Victoria, it is prudent for us to focus on recruitment and retention strategies. There is not only a crisis in the lack of childcare, but childcare staff are difficult to find too. We have raised wages for most staff positions this year as we move towards a “living” wage.  

We also created a pension program for staff which is a unique development for a non-profit charitable organization of our size.

Over the next year we will continue to develop the association through our strategic planning process being lead by our volunteers and by working together we can start to plan a positive future for the neighbourhood as well.

Thank you so much for your support.    

Chris Holt

AGM Message from President

Message from the Board President

Oaklands Community Association

2018 Anniversaries

·         23 years as a non-profit society

·         20 years as a charitable society

·         18 years ago the community centre opened

·         8 years ago the Little Acorn house opened 

It has been a pleasure to serve the Oaklands Community Association as the acting President from October 2018 to present.  It has been a new and exciting, and at times challenging experience for me to work with the staff, the board and the community these past months to fulfill our mission of: Strengthening the Oaklands community by providing programs, services and resources for its residents, businesses and visitors.

The OCA staff work hard to host a multiplicity of special events thought the year; to name a few: Breakfast With Santa, the Annual Street Party and Garage Sale Day, Oktoberfest, and the ever popular Oaklands Sunset Market though the summer.  And they also manage and coordinate our facilities for weekly events like community dinners, exercise programs, book groups and different skill classes.  But an often underlooked function of the OCA is to provide childcare and after school care, which are overseen by highly skilled staff.  With so many families needing the assurances of an environment where their children will learn among peers and be safe, this is where the OCA staff have risen to this challenge.  A shout out to all the staff at the OCA!

There has been excellent work among the different board committees.  The land use planning committee facilitates discussions and conversations between residents on land use as it effects Oaklands.  The Park committee has been revived and taken on highlighting the natural and managed landscapes and parks within our oak tree dominated community.  The communication committee has partnered with OCA staff to update communication methods, and finding contemporary and compelling ways to communicate the many different events that occur in the Oaklands.  The human resources committee advocates and supports the staff at the OCA in ways that maintains a high level of staff satisfaction.  And the finance committee helps maintain a firm hand on the tiller of the OCA.  These are all community volunteers working in a collegial and cooperative way in search of the best outcomes for the Oaklands community.  If you run into one of your board members give them your thanks.  And think about volunteering yourself.

City councilors and city staff have also demonstrated their support for the Oaklands Community Association.  For most of 2018 councilor Marianne Alto represented the Oaklands community to the city of Victoria, and with the 2018 civic election a new liaison was appointed - Ben Isitt - who continues the strong support and advocacy role.  City staff have a wealth of information and we appreciate their guidance in all things city.  The Oaklands have benefited from all of their support.

As we move forward we are preparing to embark on an updated STRATEGIC PLAN, (2020-2025), which will help us learn, evolve, and serve the community and our membership during those next five years.  This will certainly tie in with the neighbourhood planning process as well. We are always adapting, changing, and experimenting to try and meet your needs as best we can. We aren’t afraid to try new things, while also trying to maximize our resources.

We want to thank you and let you know how grateful we are to have you as committed members and supporters. Together, we are having a positive IMPACT on community life here in OAKLANDS.

With courtesy, 

Harry H. Kope

Who We Are

Oaklands Community Association

About

The Oaklands Community Association's vision is to provide a welcoming, engaging, sustainable community where all members can live, learn and thrive.  We are proud to serve Oaklands, which is bordered by Cook Street, Haultain Street, Shelbourne Street and North Dairy Road. 

Services

Between our two locations, Oaklands Community Centre and the Oaklands Neighbourhood House, we offer a summer and winter farmers market, a wide arrangement of recreation and fitness programs, a 2.5-5 yr child care centre, out-of-school care, camps, youth drop-in programs, community dinners, events, and learning workshops for everyone - from newborn to 99!

History 

The Oaklands Community Association was established in 1995 by a group of committed citizens.  Our first facility, the Oaklands Community Centre opened it's doors to the public in 2001.  As a major employer within the neighbourhood, Oaklands Community Association has approx 14 full time employees and 57 part-time as well as a number of contract instructors and over 100 volunteers.

The Neighbourhood

Oaklands is approximately 175 hectares (430 acres), located in the northeast corner of the City. The population was approximately 6,825 in 2011 which is 8.5% of the City’s total population. The Hillside Shopping Centre is located in the northeast corner of Oaklands. The remainder of the neighbourhood is mostly residential, with many single family homes, and apartment/ condominium buildings along Hillside Avenue. Oaklands has the second largest household size (2.7 persons per household) in the City and has the second highest percentage of home ownership (58%). Oaklands is one of the eight neighbourhoods with a community centre.

Residents enjoy a great deal of parkland in a variety of city parks. Oaklands Elementary School, originally opened in 1913, continues in its role providing education to young children and serving as a resource to local community groups. The landmark Cridge Centre for the Family, BC's oldest registered non-profit society, is located in Oaklands.

Oaklands has other heritage features including a number of residences and structures and the Jewish Cemetery which was established in 1860 and sits atop Fernwood Hill.