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