A brief history of GVAT’s beginnings in Victoria, by Peggy Wilmot

• Feb., 2010 Faith in Action (an alliance of faith communities advocating for those in Poverty) holds “Begging for Justice” event on steps of the legislature. 

In the course of preparing for it, a source in Vancouver (BCTF social Justice Chair) suggests that Faith in Action look at Metro Vancouver Alliance (MVA), a model that had very successfully advocated for Social Justice from a much broader base than faith communities only. Faith in Action starts to get interested.

• Feb-March, 2015 Peggy Wilmot travels to Vancouver to meet with MVA organizer Deborah Littman. She brings back a story of organizing across civil society to make significant differences based on local issues and grassroots leadership. Key leaders (Gord Stuart, Michael Purves, Barbara Hansen, Penny Tennenhouse, Philip Symons, Tricia Sanders, Sister Joyce Harris) are enthusiastic, and support FIA inviting Deborah to hold an information session for folks in Victoria. Peggy uses the FIA networks and mailing list and sends out an invitation to local leaders. 

• April 14, 2015 Deborah Littman from MVA holds an information session in Victoria for anyone interested in learning more. 75 people attend!

• October, 2015 Deborah Littman offers a 2-day workshop in Victoria and 30 people attend. It is hosted by Fairfield United and Faith in Action.

• Feb., 2016 Peggy Wilmot, Gord Stuart and Patricia Lane attend a 5-day IAFNW regional training in North Vancouver.

• Feb- November 2016, A steering committee is formed, a not for profit certification obtained and an organizing strategy mapped out and implemented. Key leaders in addition to Patty, Gord and Peggy include Joe Barrett, Tricia Sanders, Eric Doherty, Sister Joyce Harris, Marion Pape.  

The Sisters of St Ann and an anonymous donor agree to provide our first funding tranche; Community and Social Services Credit Union provides our second donation. By the end of the year we have raised pledges for $300,000 over the next 3 years.  Sierra Club of BC, the BCTF and the BCGEU are early joiners and major financial contributors. Faith In Action provides much needed behind the scenes help ranging from financial commitments, to relationship building, to helping to cater events. 

20 house parties, 4 lunches and dinners with community leaders and countless coffee meetings are held. Attendees experience relational organizing, strengthen their own networks and learn about the history of IAF organizing and the theory of change for Victoria. Joe Chrastil and Maribeth Larkin from IAFNW are often guest speakers. Patricia remarks that the worst thing that will happen is that we will have met the nicest people in Victoria. 

GVAT workshop at Camosun College, organizer Flossie Baker on far left

• Fall, 2016 We begin to share an “intern” organizer with Metro Vancouver Alliance, Flossie Baker. We have a small, but mighty Board with a very involved steering committee. 

• Spring, 2017  Flossie joins us full time in Victoria, and things really take off! Flossie’s strong relationship skills and vision for justice draw more and more members. House meetings happen frequently. We hold our own leadership training sessions, using local leaders. 

•  May, 2018 GVAT hosts its first  civil society learning event, “Destigmatizing the Opioid Crisis” to deepen understanding of the overdose challenges facing Victoria. This is attended by many decision makers including Judy Darcy, Minister for Mental Health and Addictions, who shared a very moving personal story with us.

• June, 2018 GVAT hosts the first major event, a launch of our Listening “season”. Representatives from all our member orgs attend, as well as many regional mayors and councilors, eager to learn more about this emerging alliance!

Indigenous drummers at a 2018 GVAT event

• November 2018  GVAT now has 22 dues paying member organizations including front line service organizations, unions, environmental advocacy groups, not for profits, student societies and faith groups. The first GVAT Delegates Assembly is held at Cadboro Bay United Church, with over 100 people in attendance and 30 groups represented as either members or seriously considering membership. Together they represent more than 50,000 people in the Greater Victoria Area.  This Assembly discerns the shared priorities as homelessness and the lack of affordable housing, addictions and the lack of adequate affordable mental health care, and a GVAT wide concern for action on climate. 

• December, 2018 Flossie sadly, must return to the UK, as her visa could not be renewed.

• January 2019-July 2019, GVAT continues to grow, while searching for a new Lead Organizer. Joe Chrastil provides needed support to the volunteer team leading through this challenging time.

• July, 2019 Chet Phillips is hired as Lead Organizer. He quickly lends his many skills to the continued growth of GVAT. There are soon three Action Research Teams (Housing, Mental Health and Addictions, and Climate). 

• Feb. – March 2020. Plans are well underway for our Founding Assembly, when the pandemic is declared. All in person meetings are cancelled. We all become “experts” on Zoom, membership reaches 32 organizations representing 70,000 people.

• In 2021, GVAT created a new website with a blog. You can read more about our recent work and wins at www.gvat.ca/blog