Our Place

The kitchen at Our Place has served up an average of more than 1,000 meals per day so far in 2022. With food costs continuing to rise, the charity is concerned about meeting the demand. (Photo by Derek Ford/Our Place Society)

Rising food costs, hike in demand cause for concern at Our Place in Victoria

‘We are struggling this year to make ends meet’: Our Place CEO

 

Our Place Society offered vulnerable women donated cosmetics, costume jewelry, nail polish, hair accessories and cosmetic bags and the handiwork of volunteer hairdressers and estheticians for its 13th annual Beauty Day on May 20. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Beauty Day at Our Place allows women to shine

Event returns after COVID-hiatus to make female ‘oasis of beauty,’ says program manager

 

The 260 workers at Our Place Society have voted to join the B.C. Government and Employees’ Union. (Black Press Media file photo)

Workers at Victoria’s Our Place Society vote to unionize

The 260 employees working at 10 sites across Greater Victoria join the BCGEU

 

Oak Bay student Ella Hostad sorts donations gathered by her peers at Monterey Middle School ahead of packing bags of comfort to give out to people experiencing homelessness. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Oak Bay students pack bags of comfort for those experiencing homelessness

Monterey community donates more than 100 packages to Our Place Society

Oak Bay student Ella Hostad sorts donations gathered by her peers at Monterey Middle School ahead of packing bags of comfort to give out to people experiencing homelessness. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
On an already frigid Feb. 22, Penny Tennenhouse, of team Avodah, dons her Coldest Night of the Year merch outside of her home in Fairfield. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Freezing temperatures won’t stop Greater Victoria residents from raising funds for shelter spaces

Coldest Night of the Year walkathon to blend individual, group participation

On an already frigid Feb. 22, Penny Tennenhouse, of team Avodah, dons her Coldest Night of the Year merch outside of her home in Fairfield. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Camosun College massage therapy students Nicole Ross, Jessica Marks, Amanda Dowie, Taylor Wall-Baker, Beth Langdon stand outside the teaching clinic at the school’s Interurban campus. The school has partnered with the New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community in View Royal to provide massages to men undergoing addiction recovery treatment. (Photo courtesy of Camosun College)

Camosun College partners with View Royal recovery community to offer massage therapy

Students gain real-world experience, residents gain access to treatment, often for first time

Camosun College massage therapy students Nicole Ross, Jessica Marks, Amanda Dowie, Taylor Wall-Baker, Beth Langdon stand outside the teaching clinic at the school’s Interurban campus. The school has partnered with the New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community in View Royal to provide massages to men undergoing addiction recovery treatment. (Photo courtesy of Camosun College)
Outreach workers Kia and Kim in front of Our Place Society’s new mobile Dandelion Street Outreach van. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Victoria’s Our Place Society takes service on the road, honours Dandelion Society

New van helps continue outreach work of retired street community advocate Rev. Al Tysick

Outreach workers Kia and Kim in front of Our Place Society’s new mobile Dandelion Street Outreach van. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
The site of the Capital City Center Hotel at Douglas and Discovery streets, along with the closed White Spot restaurant and parking lot next door, are part of a new development proposal by BC Housing to provide a variety of housing types. (Black Press Media file photo)

BC Housing presents vision for major redevelopment of downtown hotel property

Site of Capital City Center Hotel, former White Spot, targeted for various levels of rental housing

The site of the Capital City Center Hotel at Douglas and Discovery streets, along with the closed White Spot restaurant and parking lot next door, are part of a new development proposal by BC Housing to provide a variety of housing types. (Black Press Media file photo)
Our Place Society volunteers serve up Christmas lunch at the downtown service provider’s Dec. 22 event. (Photo by Grant McKenzie/Our Place)

Our Place Society dishes up holiday cheer at annual Christmas lunch in Victoria

COVID-19 restrictions don’t stop celebratory event from providing a hearty meal for the hungry

Our Place Society volunteers serve up Christmas lunch at the downtown service provider’s Dec. 22 event. (Photo by Grant McKenzie/Our Place)
Students from Camosun College’s criminal justice program, pictured alongside an Our Place volunteer (centre), gathered donated clothes for the organization. (Our Place Society/Twitter)

Our Place Society receives ‘truckloads’ of clothing from Camosun group

College’s criminal justice students collected donations as part of curriculum

Students from Camosun College’s criminal justice program, pictured alongside an Our Place volunteer (centre), gathered donated clothes for the organization. (Our Place Society/Twitter)
Heavy November rains have made living outdoors an even bigger challenge for those experiencing homelessness. Victoria’s Our Place Society helped dozens of people dry out and get warm after Monday’s storm. (Photo courtesy Grant McKenzie/Our Place Society)

Record rain, pandemic staffing, mental health issues compound on Victoria’s homeless

Monday’s storm exposed gaps in support system for those facing homelessness

Heavy November rains have made living outdoors an even bigger challenge for those experiencing homelessness. Victoria’s Our Place Society helped dozens of people dry out and get warm after Monday’s storm. (Photo courtesy Grant McKenzie/Our Place Society)
Warm clothes can become lifesaving items for at-risk residents when winter weather strikes. (Black Press Media file photo)

Clothing donations needed across Greater Victoria

Warm outerwear most requested for those in need, as winter looms

Warm clothes can become lifesaving items for at-risk residents when winter weather strikes. (Black Press Media file photo)
Ashley MacDonald, manager of Our WorkPlace, is excited about the organization’s receipt of $180,000 in provincial funding that will help more people retrain to get back into the workforce. (Black Press Media file photo)

Funding for Victoria’s Our Workplace to help up to 32 people re-enter workforce

Province announces $180,000 for the People in Progress project

Ashley MacDonald, manager of Our WorkPlace, is excited about the organization’s receipt of $180,000 in provincial funding that will help more people retrain to get back into the workforce. (Black Press Media file photo)
Only about half a dozen staff members each of Our Place Society and Victoria Cool Aid Society do not yet have a COVID-19 vaccine, following a mandate by both organizations that staff receive it. (Black Press Media file photo)

Staff vaccination mandate has high success rate for Victoria’s Our Place, Cool Aid

COVID-19 vaccine requirement similar to that for provincial healthcare workers

Only about half a dozen staff members each of Our Place Society and Victoria Cool Aid Society do not yet have a COVID-19 vaccine, following a mandate by both organizations that staff receive it. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Victoria Police Department is asking for $63 million for their 2022 budget. (Black Press Media file photo)

Downtown Victoria businesses and non-profits sign off on 7% police budget increase

Officials with variety of agencies draft joint letter calling on city hall to approve VicPD budget

The Victoria Police Department is asking for $63 million for their 2022 budget. (Black Press Media file photo)
Clothing donations can be dropped off at 919 Pandora Ave. any time. (Black Press Media file photo)

Our Place Society seeks underwear, sock donations

Centre serving unhoused residents asks for local support

Clothing donations can be dropped off at 919 Pandora Ave. any time. (Black Press Media file photo)
Our Place Society volunteers and cooks Liina Mynttinen and Mike Radovanovic with one of their Thanksgiving meals for their clients. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Our Place Society Thanksgiving meal creates bonds of family, despite lack of volunteers

Meals were served cafeteria-style by a team of six kitchen staff

Our Place Society volunteers and cooks Liina Mynttinen and Mike Radovanovic with one of their Thanksgiving meals for their clients. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Gordy Dodd has been hosting special dinners for vulnerable members of the community for more than two decades. His company is doing so again for Thanksgiving, in Victoria on Oct. 8 at Our Place (shown here during a previous dinner), and in Nanaimo and Campbell River, also next week. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria-based merchant hosting 23rd annual Thanksgiving dinners

Those in need can dine in Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River, courtesy Dodd’s Furniture & Mattress

Gordy Dodd has been hosting special dinners for vulnerable members of the community for more than two decades. His company is doing so again for Thanksgiving, in Victoria on Oct. 8 at Our Place (shown here during a previous dinner), and in Nanaimo and Campbell River, also next week. (Black Press Media file photo)
Our Place Society has seen increased non-compliance towards mask wearing and more violent incidents in the area, amid a backdrop of higher numbers of COVID cases within the community that uses its drop-in centre. (Black Press Media file photo)

Our Place Society in Victoria sends strong message by closing drop-in centre for a day

CEO cites need to ‘regroup’ amid rising levels of COVID, mask non-compliance and violent incidents

Our Place Society has seen increased non-compliance towards mask wearing and more violent incidents in the area, amid a backdrop of higher numbers of COVID cases within the community that uses its drop-in centre. (Black Press Media file photo)
Staff unload donations of bottled water that will be handed out to Chilliwack’s homeless community. Our Place in Victoria is seeking public donations of reusable water bottles to supply the city’s homeless population. (Black Press Media file photo)

Our Place Society seeks donations of reusable water bottles during heat wave

Those experiencing homelessness in downtown Victoria are at special risk in warmer weather

Staff unload donations of bottled water that will be handed out to Chilliwack’s homeless community. Our Place in Victoria is seeking public donations of reusable water bottles to supply the city’s homeless population. (Black Press Media file photo)