Neighbourhoods on Gabriola

A vision for Gabriola Neighbourhoods —Gabriola is a network of connected neighbourhoods that foster collaboration, communication, celebration, and climate change resilience.

Existing neighbourhoods

Here is a map of Gabriola with organized neighbourhoods shown in colour. Click the image to open a live map (in a new tab), which you can pan, zoom, and click on features to bring up an information pop-up. (Note that the live map is currently in beta, and may not appear or work as intended.)

Here’s the colour key, by name, of the organized neighbourhoods currently on our map.

    Each neighbourhood typically has one or more designated contact people. If you want to contact them, email us at info@SustainableGabriola.ca and we’ll forward your inquiry to the contact.

    Why Gabriola Neighbourhoods?

    Neighbourhoods are key to sustainability and resilience. This initiative came about from the Gabriola Climate-12 project, which has been running since 2023.

    Within the Gabriola Climate-12 project, the importance of small neighbourhoods came up repeatedly; in the context of food and water security, transportation, fire safety, emergency response, health and well-being, and more. Connected neighbourhoods can be one of Gabriola’s key approaches to our adaptation to the climate crisis.

    The Neighbourhoods initiative started in September 2024 with the “Gabr’hoods” event at the Community Hall. At the event, several neighbourhood representatives spoke about how their neighbourhood events and activities created resilience and prepared them for emergencies. At the event, a large map of the island was taped onto the floor and people gathered in their neighbourhood area to discuss next steps.

    Participants emphasized that neighbourhoods, where people know and support each other, are key to surviving disasters like forest fires and earthquakes, or even lesser impacts like a snow dump or extended power outage.

    The Climate-12 Neighbourhood Team is focused on neighbourhood group formation and building communication channels. The formation of neighbourhood groups is essential before other kinds of services and supports can be utilized. So far, about 20 neighbourhood groups have self-organized on Gabriola, and there’s an opportunity for many more.

    Team Objectives

    • Connect with organized neighbourhoods and their primary contact(s), providing support and information.
    • Facilitate the creation of new neighbourhood groups.
    • Add all neighbourhood groups to a Network and incorporate into the Neighbourhood Map.
    • Communicate with the Network via website and neighbourhood contacts regarding funding opportunities, events, and resources (such as C-12 water guide, FireSmart booklet, Emergency muster stations, Small Neighbourhood Grants, etc.).
    • Collaborate with other relevant organizations to provide information and support to neighbourhoods through the Network.

    If you would like more information about building community resilience, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, please contact us at info@SustainableGabriola.ca.

    Resources for Gabriola Neighbourhood organizers

    We are populating this list with more resources.