Photo: Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.0Victoria’s public library works from 3 branches
By name: GVPL: Central Branch, GVPL: sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ James Bay Branch and Library Lounge. Its libraries report as part of a wider system, so there are no figures for Victoria in particular.
ACivic life#1 of 254 in British ColumbiaBehind Victoria’s civic life grade
With a A, Victoria ranks #1 of 254 British Columbia towns on civic life. Victoria has charities and volunteering for a civic life grade, though not library visits, and two of the three are enough.
Informal groups and mutual aid go uncounted.
Sources: provincial statistics, the CRA, Statistics Canada.
727 registered charities give a Victoria mailing address
It works out to 7 per 1,000 residents, where the typical British Columbia town has 1.2 and Canada’s 1.4. Charities are placed by mailing address, which flatters service towns whose post office serves a region and undercounts suburbs and rural municipalities.
36.9%
One figure covers all of British Columbia: in 2023, 36.9% of its people gave time to an organization (between 35.2% and 38.7%), against a provincial range of 25.2% to 40.3%.
Statistics Canada, table 45-10-0039.
3 public libraries in Victoria
Closest first, each distance a straight line from the centre of Victoria.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Library locations. Only public libraries are mapped: OpenStreetMap and Statistics Canada’s 2020 list, with school and university libraries removed.
Questions about the library and civic life in Victoria
Does Victoria have a public library?
Yes, 3: GVPL: Central Branch, GVPL: sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ James Bay Branch and Library Lounge.
Library locations: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Statistics Canada, Open Database of Cultural and Art Facilities (2020). Charities: Canada Revenue Agency, List of charities (2024), charitable organizations only.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).