Each summer, Greater Victorians look forward to the new edition of Pulse magazine – the Victoria Foundation's in-depth look at some of the many organizations working to improve people's lives in and around the region.
Acting as a response to the annual Victoria's Vital Signs report, which highlights the community's most pressing needs in areas ranging from housing to the arts, Pulse also explores how the Victoria Foundation and community are building capacity to support these initiatives.
With the 2025 edition of Pulse out now, here's a look at some of the many organizations and initiatives in the spotlight:
Cetus Research and Conservation Society – When the call came in that a humpback whale was thrashing at the surface and dragging a buoy, the Cetus team sprang into action, supporting the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' disentanglement experts by tagging, identifying, documenting and monitoring the humpback, and keeping the area safe until it was freed. As one of the few Canadian NGOs on the water every day in summer, Cetus also focuses on preventive measures – informing boaters about best practices for interacting with whales and other marine mammals, monitoring cetaceans and gathering data on vessel activity around marine mammals.
Fateh Care Charity – Fateh Care, which means “winning hearts by caring,” grew from a family-run passion project of the Popli family into a wider community initiative. Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the family was navigating the challenging task of finding help to obtain groceries and medicines, the non-profit mobile food bank today has two part-time employees and many volunteers who deliver essential food, hygiene products, clothes and more, directly to thousands of people from Sooke to Sidney who have mobility challenges.
Impact Investing – The Victoria Foundation currently has six “impact investments" – hand-picked investment initiatives that aim to further social change and improve the wellbeing of people and the planet. Shifting how we think about our investments and returns, these investments into companies, organizations and funds work to generate measurable social or environmental benefits as well as a financial return. Demonstrating that investing can be socially transformative, the Victoria Foundation believes it’s time to further direct funds to help the community solve the most pressing challenges of our time.
Pacific Opera – Renowned for its world-class productions and imaginative storytelling, Pacific Opera is equally committed to building spaces of empathy, connection and care. Beyond the stage, the organization engages the community through education and outreach, invests in young artists and uplifts underrepresented voices. Recognizing that women have been historically underrepresented in arts leadership, support from the Victoria Foundation’s gender equity initiative is helping Pacific Opera take meaningful steps to support women pursuing careers in opera.
Pauquachin Nation marine team – For thousands of years, the shellfish harvest was an integral way of life for the Pauquachin First Nation, until the harvest was closed in 1997 due to marine pollution. Nearly 30 years later, the harvest is poised to return, thanks to the Nation's marine team efforts to revive an essential cultural practice, restore the bay’s health and food sources, and reawaken a deep, intergenerational bond to the beach. After learning the structures of ancient sea garden sites and hearing from elders about traditional practices, during the season’s lowest tides this August, a monumental three-day gathering at Coles Bay will carefully build a 250-metre-long rock wall down the beach. This traditionally designed sea garden will help nourish healthy clam beds to harvest and maintain, from that day forward.
To learn more about the many organizations and initiatives driving change in our community, read the latest edition of Pulse magazine here. To learn more about the work of the Victoria Foundation, and how you can get involved, visit victoriafoundation.bc.ca