Approximately 88 per cent of respondents to the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s latest Community Satisfaction Survey have indicated that their overall quality of life is good or very good.
But that’s lower than other satisfaction surveys in the CVRD that have been held in recent years, in which 95 per cent of respondents indicated in 2016 that their overall quality of life was good or very good, and it was 94 per cent in 2019.
However Leger Marketing, who conducted the survey, pointed out that while the survey, the fourth of its kind held in the district, found that the number of satisfied people in the district is dropping, the fact is a large majority of residents still feel their quality of life is good.
“A lower proportion (84 per cent) of central/east area residents (Duncan, North Cowichan, Cowichan Bay, Cowichan Station/Sahtlam/Glenora) rate the quality of life as at least good, and they also have the highest proportion (16 per cent) giving a poor or very poor rating,” Leger said in its report.
“Older or retired residents tend to rate the quality of life higher, with 94 per cent of those who are retired feel it is good/very good, and almost half (47 per cent) of those aged 55 and up are more likely to give a very good rating.”
The survey found that the unhoused population in the CVRD is the top critical issue residents believe should get the greatest attention from local leaders, followed by housing availability/affordability and infrastructure maintenance.
“The regional district may consider initiatives addressing the most important issues, such as the unhoused and housing availability/affordability, to help bring perceptions back up to previous levels,” Leger concluded.
“The unhoused are especially important to the residents of Duncan, North Cowichan, Cowichan Bay, and the Cowichan Station/Sahtlam/Glenora electoral area, and this may have had an impact on the lower quality of life rating from these residents.”
Following up on previous surveys that were held in 2019 and 2016, the 2025 satisfaction survey aims to provide the CVRD with current insights into residents’ perspectives, including views on regional services and preferred methods of engagement.
The data was collected from approximately 1,000 randomly selected residents from Feb. 25 to March 13 through phone and online surveys.
At 76 per cent, the district’s parks and trails stand out as both the most valued CVRD service and one of the highest-rated in terms of resident satisfaction.
“While water and sewer services and emergency management are also seen as important, only around 50 per cent of residents are satisfied, suggesting there is still work to be done to raise satisfaction levels,” Leger said.
“Generally, there is lower satisfaction with CVRD services among non-municipal residents (those who live outside of Duncan, North Cowichan, Lake
Cowichan, and Ladysmith), and especially in the South area (Cobble Hill, Mill Bay/Malahat, Shawnigan Lake). Potential improvements to these services
may be focused in these areas.”
CVRD chair Kate Segall said the district appreciates the time that residents took to participate in this important community survey.
“This comprehensive feedback clearly shows us where we can continue to improve on our service delivery,” she said.
“This is excellent data that will help us with our developing future budgets and for our staff to prioritize their work and determine areas of focus.”
