The first time I donated to The Victoria Foundation, they sent back a letter claiming that I had…read morenamed the fund incorrectly in the re line on the cheque. They also spelled my first name incorrectly on the receipt. I wrote a polite letter back, explaining that I was a little surprised at the mistake they were claiming and that I would like their office to correct the receipt. A copy of the incorrect receipt was enclosed. The corrected receipt came back with no apology and a demand for the incorrect original - asap! The second time I donated to The Victoria Foundation, I got a sloppily written, unsigned thank you letter, which I didn't think was very acceptable. My second complaint, enclosing a copy of their "thank you" letter, was not polite. I got back a thank you note and apology with my last name spelled incorrectly. I doubt The Victoria Foundation means to be tiresome towards donors. It's probably just that people are endlessly cosying up for funds and that becomes the comfort zone. Fortunately it doesn't matter.

OK with a few faults…read more Kids seem to be happy, and secure however they have a bad tendance to close services without much advance notice at the first sign of a snowflake. If schools are open so should they. It's incredibly disruptive to working parents to have to rearrange their day at moment's notice.

Several friends of mine have benefited greatly from the compassionate and personal care of the…read morestaff at the Cridge Centre. I cannot speak highly enough of the commitment and love that is evident to those they serve including their childcare services, refugee care, abused women and their families, the seniors that are residents with them and those who suffer from brain injury. This family focused centre is outstanding in its service to all of Victoria.

My experiences at Rainbow Kitchen have been nothing short of dismal. Not only are the staff…read moreunwelcoming, but the quality of the meals is questionable, with incidents of plastic contamination reported. Furthermore, there appears to be a blatant favoritism, where certain individuals receive preferential treatment, while others are subjected to mistreatment, such as receiving smaller portions and being scolded for taking socks. Additionally, the appalling lack of security measures led to a violent assault on January 26, 2024, where I, recovering from surgery and merely seeking sustenance for my brain-injured wife, was attacked and subsequently banned from the premises for reporting the incident. It's evident that other organizations, such as the Society of St. Vincent De Paul (superb), Esquimalt Neighbourhood House (excellent) and Mustard Seed, (great) provide superior services with better organization and food selection. For those seeking assistance, I strongly advise steering clear of Rainbow Kitchen. Police assault file#: VI24-2986 Officer Tyler Porteous Assault video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTcN_AmgHjU

Worth the 12 dollar admission. Visited on a warm October morning. Met by an attendant who was so…read morewilling to help because as usual I looked lost. He went on to explain that the place is not an exhibit and that it is not like butchart garden. He was sandbagging the place. Yes, it's a place to get ideas on what to do in your own home. Yes, you can buy potted plants but the plants, trees and flowers are set up like an exhibit and we're ready to impress. I fell in love with the Mediterranean garden, winter garden and the Japanese garden. The Japanese garden by far is one of the best Japanese garden I have visited and the fall colors are not even in full bloom. I can only imagine the colors during fall and the mood of the place in winter. Oh they also have a great collection of bonsai trees. A must visit and support.