The Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria is reigniting a province-wide movement to use Community Asset Mapping (CAM) tools with their project Creating Common Ground: Building Inclusive Communities through Community Asset Mapping.
“This is about elevating voices that matter. We’re not just collecting data—we’re creating belonging,” shares Executive Director Shelley Cook.
What is Community Asset Mapping and why is it important?
Community Asset Mapping helps advance connection and inclusion by identifying and mapping community strengths. These community building tools help share knowledge and connect people to inclusive places, people, and partnerships in their community.
Sponsored by the CLBC Community Inclusion Innovation Fund, this aims to support the population CLBC serves – helping to undo the social impacts of COVID-19 that intensified the isolation already faced by people with developmental disabilities. As communities rebuild and reconnect, projects like this one are not only including people with disability but making sure they are leaders in this important work.
The project team hopes that this project will provide an accessible tool that can be expanded and used for community building across the province.
Community collaboration behind the project
This work is part of reviving a broader provincial effort that started in 2017 by a network of CLBC Community Councils, family and self advocacy leaders, CLBC staff and community partners like the Greater Victoria Public Library. Together, they asked: What if we could map and share the places in our communities that truly feel welcoming for everyone? With the help of the Family Support Institute of BC, they created the myCommunity BC mapping platform.
Meet the self advocate leading the way
Jeremy Chester, Victoria Common Ground Community Mapper
At the heart of this local project is Jeremy Chester, a local self advocacy leader who brings lived experience, curiosity, and a deep love for community spaces like the Victoria Commonwealth Pool. “I like the wave pool, the gym, and the library,” Jeremy says, “Everything is awesome.” His enthusiasm makes him the perfect ambassador for inclusion.
Over the last year Jeremy has been working with mapper Sam Mason to visit welcoming spaces across the Victoria region and document why people feel included there. “Jeremy has been amazing in leading the charge,” says Sam. “He ensures we’re asking the right questions—the real ones that people with disabilities want answered.” Their videos, stories, and maps are available on the BC Community Asset Mapping Network website, here.
Want to learn how to start your own mapping project?
Join one of the upcoming Creating Common Ground webinars!
📅 April 22 | 🕔 5PM–6PM (PST)
📅 April 23 | 🕦 11:30AM–12:30PM (PST)
📧 To register, email: CLBC.Connect@gov.bc.ca