Nearly three-quarters of residents surveyed in the Cowichan Valley (74 per cent) report they have good or better health, and 69 per cent rate their mental health as good or better, according to early results from the Our Health, Our Community (OHOC) survey.
These were among findings of the Island Health and Our Cowichan Communities Health Network (OCCHN) joint 2023 survey released in March 2025. The aim of the survey is to help communities and service providers better understand local health and wellness priorities.
Approximately 3,450 residents aged 18 and up from across the Cowichan Valley region – which represents approximately five per cent of the area’s total population, completed the survey between June and October 2023. Analysis of the survey’s full data is underway and expected to be complete by September 2025. These early results provide a regional and local health area snapshot on priority topics including general health, mental health, housing, transportation, environmental health and substance use. The remaining results will be released throughout this year.
“We’d like to thank the residents who took the time to complete this survey. It’s true that knowledge is power,” says Dr. Stéphane Trépanier, medical health officer, Island Health. “Results from similar past surveys and projects have been instrumental in informing program development and delivery, funding applications, and other important actions for local projects like EPIC (Eldercare Project in Cowichan), Cowichan Housing and Homeless Coalition, and the Cowichan Community Action Team.”
“This survey was designed with the direct input from community partners and local governments to get answers to questions that they might otherwise struggle to access,” says Cindy Lise, regional facilitator of the Our Cowichan Community Health Network. “Knowing how our community is thriving and where the gaps are allows us to continue our good work to address complex challenges related to the social determinants of health.”
Highlights of early priority Cowichan Valley Regional District level results
- 37% rated their overall health as very good or excellent, 37% good, 26% rated their overall health as fair or poor
- 38% rated their mental health as very good or excellent, 31% good, 31% rated their overall health as fair or poor
- 84% reported having a regular healthcare provider
- 24% reported having three to six alcoholic beverages a week, 19% report having seven drinks or more
- 29% of homeowners reported spending more than 30% of their income on housing, 55% of renters reported spending more than 50% of their income on housing
- 15% of people who reported currently having stable housing have experienced unstable housing or homelessness sometime in the past
- 58% reported a very strong or somewhat strong sense of community belonging, 42% reported a somewhat weak or very weak sense of community belonging
- 31% reported spending time in nature every day
Based on who responded, survey results were adjusted to reduce bias in the sample to better reflect the demographic makeup of the region.
Read the priority results on the Population Health Statistics & Publications webpage or on the Our Cowichan website at www.ourcchn.ca.