My Great Neighbourhood Grant Program

The My Great Neighbourhood Grant program is all about community.

The program helps residents animate public space, develop and enhance a sense of community and leave a positive legacy in our neighbourhoods. You are invited to apply!

My Great Neighbourhoods Grants

The My Great Neighbourhood Grant Program is now closed.  Please check back in the spring for updated application documents and timelines.

In 2020, in addition to Placemaking and Community Activity categories, we introduced a new category called Community Recovery and Resiliency.

What qualifies as a good project for this grant program?

Qualifying Projects:

  • Are initiated and implemented by local residents
  • Help animate community spaces
  • Create gathering spots or provide activities that bring people together
  • Contribute to neighbourhood pride and enhance quality of life
  • Promote community development and community programming
  • Could serve as a neighbourhood improvement campaign
  • Can be a pilot project
  • Must be completed within one year upon receiving funding

The City will provide up to $5,000 for placemaking projects and community recovery and resiliency projects and up to $1,000 for activities. The community must match the funding, which can be a combination of volunteer labour, donated services, donated materials and other funds raised. Any not-for-profit organization, school or ad hoc groups of residents can apply, although a sponsor must be found for those without not-for-profit status.

Important Documents:

Please note that these documents will be updated in the spring of 2021.  You can learn about what is required here, but please wait for the 2021 documents to be available before you complete them.

Additional Resources

Placemaking projects may include:

  • Community garden enhancement
  • Boulevard enhancement
  • Neighbourhood gathering place (e.g. seating areas)
  • Community pathway
  • Decorative lighting display
  • Community art display
  • Neighbourhood branding initiative
  • Interpretive signage
  • Community lending projects (e.g. seed libraries and tools)
  • Playground enhancement
  • Playable spaces

Neighbourhood Advisors:

Your Neighbourhood Liaisons are available to assist you in working through your ideas and questions.

Burnside-Gorge, Oaklands, Quadra-Hillside, Rockland

Gary Pemberton: gpemberton@victoria.ca 

Downtown-Harris Green, Fernwood, North Park, Vic West

Michael Hill:  mhill@victoria.ca 

Fairfield, Gonzales, North Jubilee, South Jubilee, James Bay

Kimberley Stratford: kstratford@victoria.ca

Looking for ideas? Read about some great ideas on the following links: 

Placemaking resources
Resilient Neighbourhoods
Lighter Quicker Cheaper
Placemaking in a Canadian Context
Creative City Network of Canada Toolkits
11 Principles of Placemaking
Placemaking Ideas
Creative Placemaking around the World
The Better Block Foundation
City Repair