Community Information
Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and located on the southern part of Vancouver Island. There are plenty of reasons to love this area: a dynamic arts community, the mild climate, and the year-round outdoor life. You’ll find it a place rich in history with modern shops, recreation facilities and schools. You’re never too far from a great restaurant, a beautiful park or a walk by the ocean.
Moving to Victoria?
If you are brand new to the area or planning on moving here, you may want to check out the following organizations.
- BC Ferries
- BC Hydro
- Canada Post
- Canadian Forces Housing Agency
- CF Integrated Relocation Program
- Finding a Family Physician
- Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
- Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC)
- Medical Services Plan of BC
- Public Health Service Care Plan
- TELUS
- Welcome Wagon
Military Organizations
These are links related to the Department of National Defence, CFB Esquimalt and Military Family Services.
- Canadian Army
- Canadian Forces College
- Canadian Forces Health Services
- Canadian Forces Recruiting
- Combat Camera
- Department of National Defence
- Lookout Newspaper
- Maple Leaf, Canadian Forces Newspaper
- Maritime Forces Pacific
- Member Assistance Program
- MFRCs
- Minister of Defence
- Ombudsman
- Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS)
- Personnel Support Programs (PSP)
- Ranks and Appointment Insignia
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- Royal Canadian Navy
- SISIP
- Veterans Affairs Canada
Community Organizations
Here are some great community organizations in Victoria, BC.
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Victoria
- Boys and Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria
- Cridge Centre for the Family
- Family Caregivers Network Society
- Family Services of Greater Victoria
- Greater Victoria Citizens Counselling Centre
- Greater Victoria Public Library
- Greater Victoria Police Victim Services Organization
- Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria
- La Societe Francophone
- Men’s Trauma Centre
- Pacific Centre Family Services Association
- Seniors Serving Seniors
- United Way of Greater Victoria
- Vancouver Island Crisis Line
- Vancouver Island Health Authority
- Victoria Disability Resource Centre
- Victoria Women’s Transition House Society
- Volunteer Victoria
- YM-YWCA of Greater Victoria
Podcasts
Here are some episodes of The Military Lifestyle podcast that might be of interest.
Military Family Financial Planning
Military life is different and so are your finances. There are deployments, postings, you might not have family close by and you might have businesses willing to give you a “great” deal. Let’s examine financial planning from a military perspective. Special guest: Suzie Fines, SISIP Financial Services.
The Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman
The military is a complex system. There are a lot of policies that govern the way it operates and that system can be complex for even the most experienced person. If you ever feel like the system’s failed you, that you’ve got a complaint and think you’ve been treated unfairly, there’s a formal way to move forward. Special guest: Greg Lick, CAF Ombudsman.
Kim Mills from She is Fierce
Kim Mills is a writer that’s been living the military lifestyle for close to 20 years. Through her writing or storytelling and sharing her personal experiences, military families everywhere have connected to her work at She is Fierce. She speaks about deployments, anxiety and what she has learned from living the lifestyle. Special guest: Kim Mills.
Diversity and the Canadian Military
In Canada’s Defence Policy, it says the Canadian Armed Forces must reflect the diversity of the country that we defend, and that we need a military that looks like Canada. You often hear the phrase “stronger together” here in the military family community. If the military wants to reach its goal, families will be a big part of the process. Dr. Lisa Gunderson discusses privilege, bias, and a few things for the military community to consider.
