1983 – 1988
Incorporated in 1983, the Vancouver Island Head Injury Society (VIHIS) was established to improve the lives of brain injury survivors and their families through support, advocacy, and community. Five years later, a cross-Canada bus tour helped bring national attention to the need for better brain injury services.
1988 – 2000
Working alongside Gorge Road Hospital, VIHIS helped bridge the gap between rehabilitation and community living. New funding allowed the organization to broaden its services, supporting brain injury survivors and their families with education, counselling, and ongoing community-based programs.
2008
The Vancouver Island Head Injury Society became the Victoria Brain Injury Society, reflecting its growing role in the community. A move to a larger, more accessible space allowed VBIS to expand its programs, while the inaugural An Evening of Black and White…Because Gray Matters Gala marked the beginning of a long-standing tradition of community fundraising.
2014 – 2024
VBIS partnered with Island Health, strengthening its ability to connect individuals affected by brain injury with support, resources, and services across the region. The organization continued to grow, introducing new services and programs.
2025–Today
In March 2025, VBIS expanded from its Victoria office to a second location on the Westshore, while its annual gala raised a record-breaking $167,000 to help make brain injury support more accessible across the region. Looking ahead, a new Strategic Plan launching in October 2026 will help guide the organization’s next chapter.
