Zac de Vries Commits to Doubling Funding for Saanich Neighbourhood Place

Key facts

• Zac de Vries, Saanich councillor and candidate for Mayor of Saanich in the October 17, 2026 election, will double District of Saanich funding for Saanich Neighbourhood Place from $45,000 to $90,000.

• Saanich Neighbourhood Place is a non-profit family resource centre founded in 1993, offering child care, youth outreach, parenting support, and food programs at three Saanich locations.

• De Vries will also move Saanich Neighbourhood Place to multi-year funding and direct staff to work with Saanich Neighbourhood Place on opportunities for another neighbourhood house.

SAANICH, B.C. – Mayoral candidate and Saanich Councillor Zac de Vries announced today that if elected, he will bring forward a plan to double the District of Saanich's funding for Saanich Neighbourhood Place, the non-profit family resource centre that has been a landing spot for Saanich families for more than thirty years.

Saanich Neighbourhood Place runs prenatal and postnatal support, parenting programs, playgroups, youth outreach, community dinners, cooking classes, food access, and licensed child care for kids from twelve months to five years. It operates out of three locations: Pearkes Recreation Centre, Broad View United, and the Child and Family Centre. A fourth, Royal Oak Neighbourhood House, closed in 2023 and has been looking for a home ever since.

"Saanich Neighbourhood Place has been there for families in our community for more than 30 years," de Vries said. "Whether it's a parent looking for support, a child joining a playgroup, or a family needing access to food programs, they're providing practical help every day. In the current system, they've had to apply for funding year to year. I don't think families should have to wonder whether the supports they rely on will still be there next year. I want to make sure Saanich Neighbourhood Place has the stability to plan ahead and keep being there for families when they need them."

The commitment covers the District's grant support to Saanich Neighbourhood Place, moving it from roughly $45,000 a year to $90,000. De Vries said he would also push to move from a grant adjudicated yearly to a five-year funding agreement so the organization can plan and hire beyond the end of each budget cycle, rather than reapplying every spring.

He will also ask Council to go further. As part of the commitment, de Vries would direct staff to work with Saanich Neighbourhood Place on opportunities for another neighbourhood house, including evaluating District-owned facilities and/or partnerships that could provide dedicated space in new development.

"There is a growing need for neighbourhood houses to support families and youth in Saanich," he said. "That's a gap we have to close. Families across Saanich deserve fair access to the incredible services and programs offered by Saanich Neighbourhood Place."

De Vries said the announcement is also about value for money, by supporting families before challenges become more difficult to address. Family resource centres provide practical, community-based support when families need it most.

"Supporting families early is a smart investment," he said. "Saanich Neighbourhood Place provides practical support that helps families stay connected, access resources, and navigate challenges. A weekly dinner, a playgroup, someone who picks up the phone. These seemingly small interactions are the kind that build a community and keep people from falling through the cracks. It's the kind of support that can make a meaningful difference in people's lives."

Saanich Neighbourhood Place began in 1993 as a citizen and parent-led effort, and was formally incorporated as a registered non-profit family resource centre in 1997. It has operated continuously since, adding locations in 2018, 2019, and 2021.

De Vries has served on Saanich Council since 2018 and chairs the Capital Region Housing Corporation Board and the CRD Planning and Protective Services Committee.

He is running for Mayor of Saanich in the October 17, 2026 general local election.