Dive Deeper into the VDRA

Vision
The VDRA envisions a sustainable, inclusive and diverse Downtown Victoria where all residents feel welcomed, valued and connected with their neighbours.

Mission
The purpose of the VDRA is to:

  • foster a sense of community for residents of the Downtown neighbourhood

  • represent Downtown neighbourhood residents’ interests to the City of Victoria

  • advocate for cultural and architectural heritage sites within the Downtown neighbourhood

  • promote, facilitate, support or undertake activities to enhance the quality of life and environment of the Downtown neighbourhood

  • encourage learning, understanding and proactive support of Indigenous culture and history within the Downtown neighbourhood

  • support climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in line with the City of Victoria’s Climate Leadership Plan

Values:

  • Community

  • Diversity

  • Equity

  • Making a difference

Constitution, Bylaws and Policies:

As a non-profit society, the VDRA is governed by our Constitution and Bylaws, along with our Governance Policies and Financial Policy.

Click on the image above to access a map of the Downtown neighbourhood boundaries.

A large mural above the Yates Street Community Garden of a woman with flowing black hair surrounded by pink and purple flowers on the side of a building, with a blue sky in the background.

History of the VDRA

The Victoria Downtown Residents Association was formed in 2004 as a grassroots organization by a handful of Downtown residents who were concerned about a proposed development project that was out of scale and beyond the height and density limits prescribed for Victoria’s historic Chinatown; the oldest Chinatown in Canada and a designated National Historic Site of Canada. Since those early days of its inception, the VDRA has been a strong proponent of responsible densification that supports livability. In its infancy, the VDRA focused on land use issues and community building and outreach through arts and events.

The VDRA continues to add to its membership as the Downtown neighbourhood continues to absorb the highest concentration of new residential units in the core. This growth provides a greater depth of resources and access to residents with a reliably diverse range of skills, knowledge and experiences. These local human resources have provided the VDRA the opportunity to continue to expand its activities through organizational restructuring and updating its governance to better meet the full scope of its mandate.

The VDRA Team

Staff

Jade sitting on a park bench, wearing a black cap, navy blue dress, black knee-high socks, and a pearl necklace. She is holding an ice cream cone with mouth open, appearing to enjoy, with lush green and pink flowering bushes in the background.

Jade Chicorelli - Neighbourhood Engagement Coordinator

James with red beard smiling outdoors at a daytime event with blue tents in the background.

James Davis - Executive Director

Lisa, with curly hair, is smiling while holding cucumbers in a greenhouse filled with cucumber plants.

Lisa Small - Yates Street Garden Coordinator

To email a staff member, click on their photo or scroll down to the Contact Us form to get in touch with our Executive Director.

Doug Boyd (Treasurer), Michael Demakiling, Furkan Kucukdurmaz, Sherry Lee (Secretary), Mano Majumdar, Neil McKinnon, Dawn Moorhead, Jordan Royer, Sandra Severs (President) , Jeremy Zhao (Vice President)

Board of Directors

Contact Us

Victoria Downtown Residents Association

300-722 Cormorant Street

Victoria, British Columbia

Canada V8W 1P8

Fill out the form below to get in touch with us.