SAVE THE COMMONS SURVEY

Thank you to everyone who filled out our survey! We were blown away by the response.

SURVEY RESULTS

The Save the Commons Survey was open from September 13 to October 4, 2024. 

Completed surveys: 955

1. Number and percentage who answered questions about:

852 or 89% Qualicum Commons 

632 or 66% Craig Street Commons 

2. How important do you believe it is to maintain Qualicum Commons as a community space?

6% said important

92% said very important

3. How often do you or your family use the facilities or services provided at Qualicum Commons?

49% Frequently (weekly or more)

24% Occasionally (monthly)

19% Rarely (a few times a year)

8% Never

4. How important do you think it is to have these types of services at Qualicum Commons?

5. What other types of programs or services would you like to see at Qualicum Commons (building or grounds)? 

Responses have been summarized into key themes.

Community Programs & Support Services

• Expansion of existing programs and services for all ages, particularly for teens, young adults, and seniors.

• Programs that foster community interaction, like those currently offered by SOS and Munchkinland, should continue.

• New services such as counselling, youth programs, and mental health support are requested.

Outdoor Spaces and Facilities

• Many respondents emphasized the need for better use of outdoor spaces, including revitalization into community parks, upgraded playgrounds, and fields for sports like soccer and frisbee golf.

• Requests for outdoor fitness stations, picnic areas, and performance stages were common.

• A desire for pickleball, basketball courts, and well-maintained fields emerged as popular suggestions.

Arts and Cultural Spaces

• Arts rehearsal spaces, particularly for dance, were mentioned as crucial due to the specialized needs (e.g., floors and space).

• Exhibition spaces for arts and culture events, community movie nights, and opportunities for seasonal events and performances are desired.

Childcare and Family-Oriented Services

• Expanded before/after-school care, more daycare facilities, and family programs like parent meetups with interactive spaces were commonly requested.

• Several responses emphasized the importance of maintaining and expanding programs that benefit children, such as playground upgrades and summer camps.

Health and Fitness Services

• Increased availability of fitness classes (e.g., yoga, Zumba), adult recreational activities, and health-related services like a walk-in clinic, mental health support, and childcare were mentioned.

• Requests for more affordable, accessible fitness options, including a community fitness center and additional gym use, were frequent.

Community Hub and Gathering Spaces

• Many people want the space to function as a community hub where groups can gather for events, meetings, and social activities.

• The idea of creating spaces that promote intergenerational interaction, such as gardens, coffee shops, and open spaces for family events, was suggested multiple times.

Preservation and Expansion of Current Services

• Many respondents value the existing services and believe they are well-utilized, but they also see the potential for expansion.

• There is strong support for keeping the current tenants and ensuring the space remains available for community use.

6. How important do you believe it is to maintain Craig Street Commons as a community space?

6% said important

91% said very important

7. How often do you or your family use the facilities or services provided at the Craig Street Commons?

41% Frequently (weekly or more)

21% Occasionally (monthly)

26% Rarely (a few times a year)

12% Never

8. How important do you think it is to have these types of services at Craig Street Commons?

9. What other types of programs or services would you like to see at Craig Street Commons (building or grounds)? 

Responses have been summarized into key themes.

Community and Family Programs

• Respondents emphasized the need for a variety of community programs that cater to different age groups, including children, teens, adults, and seniors. Examples include childcare, children's summer camps, after-school care, adult fitness classes, teen activities, and senior programs. There's strong support for current services like Coast Karma and Bonaventure, with requests to expand these types of programs.

Educational and Recreational Spaces

• There is significant interest in maintaining and improving educational and recreational spaces, including playgrounds, sports fields, and indoor gym spaces. Many respondents suggested using the fields for community sports, upgrading playgrounds, and creating additional space for outdoor activities.

Health and Wellness Services

• Many respondents expressed a need for health services such as a walk-in clinic, therapy services, or fitness programs. Mental health and homeless supports were also highlighted as essential for community well-being.

Multi-Use Spaces

• Several respondents suggested the creation of multi-use spaces that could serve various community needs, such as renting spaces for meetings, events, fitness classes, and arts programs. These spaces could host activities like repair cafés, theatre performances, or drop-in gym programs.

Outdoor and Environmental Improvements

• There is a desire for enhanced green spaces, including fields, community gardens, and eco-friendly projects. These improvements would make outdoor spaces more usable for family activities, sports, and environmental education.

Preservation of Existing Services

• Many participants expressed satisfaction with the current programs and services, emphasizing the importance of retaining them. Respondents highlighted the value these services bring to the community and urged against reducing or displacing them.

Housing and Facility Development

• Some feedback suggested using the space for affordable housing, reflecting concerns about housing shortages in the area. Others recommended developing the property to meet the growing community’s needs, such as building a new school or additional infrastructure.

Arts and Culture

• There is support for introducing or expanding arts programs, including performing arts, dance, fitness, and creative classes like sewing or woodworking.

Special Needs and Inclusivity

• Respondents highlighted the importance of inclusive services, particularly for neurodiverse children and individuals with special needs. Existing programs like Coast Karma and Bonaventure were praised, with calls for more resources and spaces for these groups.

Community Events and Gatherings

• There is enthusiasm for more community events and seasonal gatherings that bring people together, including fairs, fundraisers, town halls, and markets.

10. Do you support this idea of a society entering into a long-term lease with the Qualicum School District to manage both the Qualicum Commons and Craig Street Commons? 

64% Strongly Support

23% Support

6% Neutral

1% Oppose

1% Strongly Oppose

5% Not Sure

11. What are your thoughts on a society managing the Qualicum and Craig Street Commons? 

Responses have been summarized into key themes.

• Positive reception and support: Many respondents view a society as a great idea, especially if it maintains the current services and keeps the spaces open. The management by a society is seen as an opportunity to keep costs down, generate revenue, and foster community involvement.

• Governance and accountability: Several respondents expressed the need for transparent, equitable governance, and wanted to know more about the board members and how decisions would be made. They emphasized the importance of accountability to the community and a well-managed society with capable leadership.

• Community management: A number of respondents expressed support for the idea of a society managing the Commons, as long as it is run by responsible, experienced individuals. Some mentioned concerns about financial management, transparency, and ensuring that the board has the right skill set to maintain and improve the buildings.

• Concerns about maintenance and finances: Some respondents are worried about how building maintenance would be handled and whether the society could secure necessary funding through grants and other sources to keep the properties in good condition.

• Community value and continuity: A recurring theme is the importance of these buildings as vital community hubs, particularly for families, children, and special needs services like Coast Karma Learning Centre. Many believe the society must preserve these services and programs to maintain the commons' essential role.

• Collaboration and inclusivity: Respondents suggested a collaborative approach, involving local governments and stakeholders, to ensure the society meets the diverse needs of the community. Inclusivity and ensuring access for all age groups were highlighted as priorities.

• Skepticism and caution: A minority expressed concern about the feasibility of long-term financial sustainability and wanted more clarity on how the society would operate.

12. What would be the impact on you or your family if Craig Street Commons or Qualicum Commons are sold or closed and the current service providers are no longer operating at these sites? 

We received 681 personal stories. Here are some of them.

“We would personally lose an accessible location for our daughter to attend dance classes, social and educational groups, and other resources we've only just learned about. Our 6 year old is neurodiverse and these programs, which offer a comfortable, safe place for her to meet with familiar faces, routinely, are often the only way she feels comfortable to connect with other children. This change could be devastating for her. I do not always have a reliable vehicle, so if not offered at the current location, I am not certain I'd be able to have her attend.” 

“My child attends Coast Karma and we wouldn’t have the same support in the public schools." 

“I would be devastated. My daughter has suffered moving here during covid and schools could not meet my child's needs in IEP and we had to homeschool. Tried Ballenas and it just did not have enough EAs and staff were spread so thin. The bullying was heartbreaking. My daughter has finally felt SAFE to go to school. It would honestly destroy her ability to be functional as an adult. There is NOTHING like Coast Karma and these buildings house hope and services for families, single parents, teens, school for neurodiverse children. Childcare and referral services, summer camps and dance. How do you put a price on children's future, tomorrows leaders?

The commons in Qualicum needs more infant toddler swings, rubber play area, logs, nature play too. It's used by kids daily and my autistic daughter uses the swings daily to regulate. I feel for families sitting outside cafes while other parent runs errands like QF, haircut etc. The children could be happy active, not stuck in a stroller unable to regulate their emotions. If parents could sit on a bench, meet others, hub for families, sipping coffee. Parent's need respite IN their neighbourhoods. The Q Commons is sunny, grass area for events, picnics. Other playgrounds are not central and helpful to draw people, customers to shop in our Community.” 

“My kids currently attending a childcare facility which reside in Craig street common. And we have been going to the Qualicum common for munchinkinland and SOS programs since my oldest was born. Both places mean so much to my family. We want to see it being used for community and have organizations continuously provide their service and running those awesome programs for families need them. We met many local families through these program and events. Can't think of better way to utilize a building like this.” 

“It could be devastating for the Qualicum Weavers and Spinners guild. The Qualicum Commons provides us with a secure space to learn, socialize and to teach others - our mandate is to pass on our knowledge and expertise to all who are interested, in particular the young in our community. Our guild members are a wealth of creativity and knowledge and are eager to share with others in this easily accessible space. Since moving into the Qualicum Commons our membership has grown, which proves that we have a valuable convenient space.” 

“The Qualicum School of Dance is an organization that provides a creative outlet for community youth and adults alike in their musical productions. At the core they offer exceptional leadership and training in dance that's difficult to access anywhere else. Losing just this would be disappointing enough, but also losing access to summer camps and the long list of other activities offered here would leave a very large hole in the Qualicum and Oceanside communities.” 

“I would feel profound sadness as I have watched so many children, including my own, feel the benefit of the facility. It was built as a schoolhouse, a safe central community place for growth and learning experiences for children. Wonderfully it still exists as such. Be it dance, gymnastics, or other community programs, kids hurry to get inside. Including this older one. What exists there is a hearth fire for the spirit of children and the arts. In such situations the best practice is noninterference, leave it alone, let it just be” 

“HARDSHIP! Undue hardship!!” 

“It will be a very sad day in Oceanside if these areas are not allowed to continue to enhance our communities.” 

“Our child is autistic and goes to Coast Karma for behaviour intervention and social groups. They practice different skills they are working on through play after their class is dismissed from one of the local elementary schools. The space is working to help many children and a large percentage of them are thriving. So many of these kids have been bullied and were slipping through the cracks in our local public schools. I’ve heard from so many parents how much happier their kids are and from a couple of the kids themselves. The kids deserve this space.” 

“We have a 3 year old daughter attending daycare at Craig Street Commons. It's wonderful for us to be able to walk to daycare and see other children of various ages using the space in different ways. Kids are playing outside and in the gym, and others use it as a bus pick up and drop off site. It has a wonderful energy; it is a lively, safe space for kids to play, gather, and learn.”

“The services that enhance our lives would not be available and this would negatively affect the Oceanside area.” 

“There is a huge lack of activities for teens to do in Qualicum or Parksville.” 

“Recreational and community facilities are hard to come by. Affordable space for providers of community programs should be available in these times.”

“I used the Qualicum commons much more when my children were small. We did gymnastics, dance, pottery and home alone classes. At the moment my oldest daughter goes once a week for free tutoring through the SOS. I also don’t want to forget the preschool programs we took part in! 

I’m also a spinner and weaver and although I am not a member of the guild I support these very generous Women whenever I get the chance, like their annual sales!! I just cannot stress enough how important the Qualicum Commons has been for myself and my children. In a town that sometimes feels like it does not cater to familiar at all please consider this the huge asset it is!!” 

“I am part of QWSG and it would be a great shame to not have this support as an artist hoping to branch out in this area” 

“Close proximity for my children to go to work and partake in after school programs (both hosted at Qualicum commons) near Kwalicum secondary school, because we live rurally and my children do not yet drive and the city bus service is insufficient to our Area H. They would not be able to access work and recreation if it was not in walking distance to central Qualicum beach during weekdays.”

“We initially bought our home, many years ago when the Commons was still the elementary school, we were so excited at the prospect that our daughters could walk to school, sadly only a year into my eldest daughter' education the school was closed. Qualicum Commons was opened in its place, and we have taken part in many family and youth programs out of this space. The SOS has been an amazing help to our family, with their youth programs. It would be a shame to lose these supports, and that future families of Qualicum Beach are not able to share in that generosity from programs from the SOS.” 

“Integrated Fitness Society is one of the service providers in Qualicum Commons. It is vital for use by elderly people and people with disabilities. They are providing support to clients in the Oceanside area. In particular, Oceanside stroke survivors are now able to use adaptive equipment for exercise and are making significant inroads in their recovery. Prior to this there was no place locally with the necessary adaptive equipment that the elderly and people with disabilities had access to.” 

“My daughter taught at the Qualicum Dance school when she first graduated from school. It gave her an opportunity to continue with an activity that she loved, tapping, and what she realized too, was how much she loved working with all of the different ages of kids who took her classes, along with the adult class. Dancing is a healthy and fun activity for all ages and can create a strong sense of pride in oneself. The Qualicum Dance school is a much needed place for many families.” 

“Having seen many School Board sites sold off on the mainland, I would urge QBSB and PSB to keep the Commons and lease them to the newly formed society for the benefit of the wider community. Property costs are the number one barrier to many small organizations: don't be like the big city--keep your community hubs and invest in them for everyone's benefit. My family (3 generations) recently moved to QB from Vancouver and we are all working on developing new networks of friends and finding activities that we enjoyed in the big city where there are many more options to choose from. Personally, I have been dancing for many years and it is a vital activity for me. Dance classes for adults can be hard to find and QB School of Dance provides exactly this (along with a full program for children and teens).” 

“Senior citizens at Berwick. Services not used. But I believe it serves an important role for many others.” 

“I live very close to the Craig street commons and I have joined a group that was working out of there. I found it such a relief that I could walk over to my group in the evening. I also enjoy hearing and seeing the children on the grounds laughing and playing. I enjoy the wonderful green space that surrounds The Commons. I think it would be a waste of beauty to build living space at that location.” 

“I have kids ages 7 and 9 and this would be a huge loss for the community and especially young families. Oceanside is already lacking on facilities for youth so closing down both of Commons would be a huge blow. Some things are not easy, but our youth and children deserve a solution to keep these facilities alive and running, especially in a small community where there are not a lot of other options.” 

“As a home schooling family, the programs that run within these buildings are helpful and a great support. Our family would greatly miss the buildings and the opportunities they provide us as a family.” 

“Devestating for the seniors and health of our community, the programs offered are irreplacable.” 

“I have no personal story but I  have heard that these services give wonderful and vital support. It would be a terrible loss if they were no longer available.  I have taken my daycare kids to Munchking Land in the past with great benefit to the children. I have friends who grow their food at the gardens. We need these gardens to stay available! We have a neighbour whose special needs daughter is finally progressing because of her educational support. So many stories of ones who would be devastated if these 2 places are shut down.” 

“I would lose my space of work and my community of students would not have access to the fitness class I’ve been offering there for 7 years.” 

“We rely on the commons for rdn activities and camps. I need the camps so I can work. Through this process I just learned there are more organizations that I should check out.” 

“Integrated Fitness Society is one of the service providers in Qualicum Commons.  It is vital for use by elderly people and people with disabilities. They are providing support to clients in the Oceanside area. In particular, Oceanside stroke survivors are now able to use adaptive equipment for exercise and are making significant inroads in their recovery.  Prior to this there was no place locally with the necessary adaptive equipment that the elderly and people with disabilities had access to.” 

“Currently I work within the Craig Street Commons , my day to day has been in this building for the last 3 years . The closing or selling of the building would greatly impact the way I get to serve the community . There are many import programs that reside within the Craig Street Commons, including programs for diverse abilities . This space offers a safe space for our people and taking that away from them would be a great loss. We are able to support our people in this space, which allows them to achieving new goals and doing things they never thought they would be able to do . The closing of this building would be a great loss to the community.” 

“Immense impact!!! I could not imagine life without Bonaventure and the high caliber of support workers they employ.  My son relies on them for his physical and emotional well being.” 

DEMOGRAPHICS

Which age group do you belong to?

2% 12 and under 

3% 13-18 

7% 19-29 

38% 30-44 

21% 45-59 

28% 60+

Where do you live? 

31% Parksville 

38% Qualicum Beach 

4% Nanoose Bay 

2% Coombs 

5% Errington 

2% Whiskey Creek 

1% Hilliers 

6% North Qualicum (Dashwood, Meadowood) 

2% Bowser 

9% Outside of Oceanside 

Other ways you can help

• Share information about Save the Commons with your friends and neighbours!

• Send a letter to school trustees!

• Sign up for emails to stay up to date on our progress and ways to help.