About Social Planning Cowichan

Social Planning Cowichan (SPC) is a registered society founded in May 2004 to provide leadership that brings the community together to create a sustainable quality of life for everyone in the Cowichan Region.

SPC was established by a lengthy community process and accepted the responsibility to carry out the recommendations developed through the Visions 2020 community forums to address social planning concerns in the Cowichan Region.

SPC is comprised of a twelve member volunteer Board of Directors and includes representatives of community organizations, local government, education, First Nations and the community at large. SPC is an affiliate of the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC), the Community Social Planning Network and the Vancouver Island Social Planning Network.


Our Mandate:

  • To conduct research about the social health of the Cowichan Region
  • To educate and inform the Cowichan Region community about social planning issues
  • To facilitate partnerships and community consensus on issues and action plans
  • To recommend action plans and short and long term strategies to improve the quality of life in the Cowichan Region


    Key Accomplishments:

  • Living Wage report (Fall, 2010)
  • Child Care Survey report (Fall, 2010)
  • 3rd Annual Walk of the Nations Festival (Fall, 2010)
  • Regional Affordable Housing Strategy (Fall, 2010)
  • Lake Cowichan OCP participation (Spring, 2010)
  • Status of the Community II report (Winter, 2010)
  • Researchers Round Table (Winter, 2009)
  • 2nd Annual Walk of the Nations Festival (Fall, 2009)
  • Implications of Regional Growth in Cowichan: Part 1 report (Summer, 2008)
  • Katimavik and Canada World Youth Work Host (2008/09)
  • Cowichan Region Affordable Housing Fact Sheet (Summer, 2008; updated Summer 2009)
  • Participation and Presentation to North Cowichan OCP Review (Fall, 2008)
  • Walk of the Nations (Fall, 2008)
  • Cowichan Cultural Connections Council (Fall, 2008)
  • Public Event “Success Starts Early” hosted in collaboration with Success by 6, Early Learning Partnership, and Cowichan Valley Branch of ECE BC (Spring, 2008)
  • Affordable Housing Directorate (Fall 2007)
  • Public Forum on Child Care (Fall 2007)
  • Child Care in Cowichan Region report (Fall 2007)
  • Vancouver Island Social Planning Network (Spring 2007)
  • Housing Resource Centre (Spring 2007)
  • Inadequate Shelter in the Cowichan Valley report (Spring 2007)
  • Status of the Community Report (Fall 2006)
  • Visions 2020 Community Forum (Fall 2006)


    Priorities for the Year Ahead:

    1. Affordable Housing: Ensure the implementation and monitoring of the Regional Affordable Housing Strategy. The goals of the strategy are to: Increase understanding of housing as it relates to overall health, safety and well-being; Build partnerships to see the creation of affordable housing; and Identify options for innovative, adaptive and sustainable housing tailored to the unique needs of the Cowichan Region.
    2. Child Care: The Cowichan Child Care Council will continue to work on the three main areas of priority as outlined in the groups Terms of Reference. The three main areas of priority have been identified as: Staff recruitment and retention, training opportunities, and increasing availability of quality affordable, accessible child care. The group is moving forward with a Cowichan Region child care plan..
    3. Cross Cultural Relations Initiative: In 2008 Social Planning Cowichan convened a partnership of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal leaders in Cowichan to form the Cowichan Cultural Connections Council. This group continues to build on the work of NAIG to celebrate multiculturalism and to build strong cross cultural relationships in Cowichan.
    4. Poverty Reduction: Social Planning Cowichan recently completed a Living Wage calculation and report for the Cowichan area. In the year ahead the organization will be embarking on a Cowichan living wage campaign.