Who We Are

About

The Oaklands Community Association's vision is to provide a welcoming, engaging, sustainable community where all members can live, learn and thrive. We are proud to serve Oaklands, which is bordered by Cook Street, Haultain Street, Shelbourne Street and North Dairy Road. If you live in Oaklands, we are your Victoria neighbourhood association.

The OCA humbly acknowledges the privilege of serving our community on the unceded ancestral territories of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, in particular the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.

Services

Between our three locations, Oaklands Community Centre, Oaklands Neighbourhood House and Hamilton Park, we offer a summer and winter farmers market, a wide range of recreation programs, childcare programs  for ages 6 months to 5 years old, out-of-school care, camps, youth drop-in programs, community services, events, and learning workshops for everyone - from newborn to 99!

History

The Oaklands Community Association was established in 1995 by a group of committed citizens.  Our first facility, the Oaklands Community Centre opened it's doors to the public in 2000.  As a major employer within the neighbourhood, Oaklands Community Association has approximately 14 full-time and 57 part-time employees as well as a number of contract instructors and over 100 volunteers.

The Neighbourhood

Oaklands is approximately 175 hectares (430 acres), located in the northeast corner of Victoria. The population was approximately 7,120 in 2016. The Hillside Shopping Centre is located in the northeast corner of Oaklands. The remainder of the neighbourhood is mostly residential, with many single family homes and apartment/ condominium buildings along Hillside Avenue. Oaklands has the second largest household size (2.7 persons per household) in the City and has the second highest percentage of home ownership (58%). Oaklands is one of the eight neighbourhoods with a community centre.

Residents enjoy a great deal of parkland in a variety of city parks. Oaklands Elementary School, originally opened in 1913, continues in its role providing education to young children and serving as a resource to local community groups. The landmark Cridge Centre for the Family, BC's oldest registered non-profit society, is located in Oaklands.

Oaklands has other heritage features including a number of residences, structures, and the Jewish Cemetery which was established in 1860 and sits atop Fernwood Hill.

More information in the City of Victoria's Neighbourhood Snapshot.