• We have described Living in Niagara in 2008 in a written and sharable document.
• We have identified 11 key areas to monitor in Niagara with indicators in each area and criteria for their inclusion in a description of Niagara. Read the rest of this entry »

• Information needs to be gathered on the variability across the region in regards to literacy, low income, poverty, education, health and employment in each municipality and even broken down further into how neighbourhoods are doing. Read the rest of this entry »

• Involve interested Niagara stakeholders in the analysis of the data and in the development of improvement action goals for each of the measures as the next phase of this initiative. Read the rest of this entry »

1. Use the information and indicators to stimulate discussion at work and in the community.
2. Join with others in the region to take regional action.

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A region or city is enhanced when a new child, a new graduate or a new immigrant makes a start in their community. How we welcome them, help them to get established and include them and their contributions is a measure of our community’s vitality, inclusiveness and future sustainability and success. Read the rest of this entry »

Refugees enter Canada at the Fort Erie Peace Bridge point of entry to seek asylum from war, persecution of genocide or to flee famine and natural disasters. Other immigrants enter to reunite with families and to seek new opportunities. Read the rest of this entry »

The presence of child care services and supports for children and their parents or caregivers is a measure of the success of a region in giving children an early good start. Read the rest of this entry »

The prevailing belief is that many of our young people leave the region for a post secondary education and many do not return to the region because they find employment and opportunities using their education and skills in larger urban areas. Read the rest of this entry »

A community thrives if there are opportunities for leadership at all levels and involving the diversity of voices and ideas. Read the rest of this entry »

Net Migration data about the rate of migration per 1,000 population was derived by comparing the addresses supplied on personal income tax returns filed in the spring of 2005 and 2006. Read the rest of this entry »

A community builds what is called social capital when its citizens have a well developed sense of civic responsibility and generosity that is expressed through their voluntarism and involvement in the community. Read the rest of this entry »

Volunteering enriches the volunteer and contributes much to the community, the local economy and the non-profit sector to build the overall social capital of a region. Niagara has a rich array of human and cultural services that actively engage volunteers on their boards of directors and in aspects of their fundraising, public awareness campaigns and direct services. Read the rest of this entry »

Niagara residents have increased the amount they give to charity each year from 2001 to 2006. The median charitable donation per year reached $290 per person in 2006; lower than the $310 Ontario median, but higher than the $250 median giving for all Canadians. Read the rest of this entry »

Civic participation builds the capacity of a community and a nation. One way to exercise civic participation is through engaging in political activities, leadership and voting. Read the rest of this entry »

In 2005, 69.9% in Niagara reported they had a very strong or somewhat strong sense of belonging to their local community, higher than 62.9% in Waterloo Region, 65.5% of those in Ontario and 64.1% in Canada. Read the rest of this entry »

It takes trust in one another to build a safe community where everyone feels comfortable to engage with others and to turn to neighbours and officials when help is needed. Trust is also required to participate in shared community activities and to share resources and ideas. Read the rest of this entry »

Being socially connected with families, friends and with community contacts through social institutions, clubs and organizations fosters social interaction, increases a sense of belonging and inclusion, provides emotional support and builds possible networks for positive action. Read the rest of this entry »

Having a religious affiliation is believed to be of benefit to the individual, but also to support building social networks, civic engagement and voluntarism in a region. Read the rest of this entry »

Economic development in a region needs to be enjoyed by all of its citizens. Regional development involves creating a place for individuals, companies and families to prosper. The gap between the rich and poor is widening and broadening in many communities, including Niagara. Read the rest of this entry »

The CIBCWM Metropolitan Economic Activity Index (2007) is a measure designed to rank economic development in Canada’s largest CMAs. Nine macroeconomic variables and drivers of economic growth comprise the index: population growth, employment growth, unemployment rate, full-time share in total employment, personal bankruptcy rate, business bankruptcy rate, housing starts, MLS housing re-sales, and non-residential building permits. Read the rest of this entry »

Niagara had the lowest median, after tax employment income in all of Ontario at $23,396 in 2005. In 2005, in Niagara, the median earnings of those employed full-time for a year was $41,807. Read the rest of this entry »

The Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) is a measure based on total income before or after tax and is expressed as the percentage of families or persons 15 years and over who live below the LICO level and live in poverty. Read the rest of this entry »

The gap between the rich and the poor is widening in Niagara, as in all parts of Canada. According to the National Council of Welfare (2006), in 2004 for every $1 earned by the poorest 10% of families with children, the richest 10% of families with children earned $14.48. Read the rest of this entry »

The Market Basket Measure (MBM) includes the cost of food, shelter, clothing, transportation and other costs of living related to a household and recreation and what proportion of the market basket that an individual living on Ontario Works is able to afford. Read the rest of this entry »

The annual Hunger Count Survey provides a national snapshot of food bank use in Canada. The total number of individuals who receive groceries from food banks and other agencies are recorded during the month of March. Read the rest of this entry »

Children and their families make up 52% of the people receiving social assistance in Canada. Read the rest of this entry »

The number of personal consumer and business bankruptcies in a region are a measure of whether individual or business finances are healthy and able to withstand difficult times.
Personal bankruptcies were up 10% in Niagara from 2006 to 2007. Read the rest of this entry »

Having opportunities to work, contribute and earn a living wage are important to the well being of a family, an individual and a community. The sustainability of a community is reliant on the employment of its citizens and putting their talents and human capital into creative and purposeful work. Read the rest of this entry »

The employment rate for Niagara went down slightly from 60.7% in 2005 to 59.0% in 2007. In 2007, Niagara’s employment rate was lower than that of Ontario (63.6%) and Canada (63.5%). Read the rest of this entry »

The unemployment rate for Niagara increased from 6.1% in 2005, to 6.2% in 2006 to 6.6% in 2007 (6.4% in Ontario and 6.0% in Canada). In May of 2008, the unemployment rate was 7.2% compared to 5.6% in Kitchener and 7.2% in London. Read the rest of this entry »

In Niagara, as in the rest of Canada, employment opportunities and earnings are different and more challenging for women, immigrants, the Aboriginal population and those with disabilities. Read the rest of this entry »

Having sustainable employment that provides living wages for residents of an area is an indicator of individual and regional success. Read the rest of this entry »

Niagara has lost an estimated 4,400 jobs from August 2002 to January, 2005, mostly in the manufacturing, goods producing sector — General Motors small engine block (600 jobs lost); GM Axle (750 jobs lost); Read the rest of this entry »

In 2008, the employers who employ 1,000 employees and over in Niagara include: Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort (4,279), Niagara Health System (4,200), General Motors of Canada (3,999), Read the rest of this entry »

In Niagara (2005), 13,670 reported they worked at home (.06%), 2,135 worked outside Canada (.01%), 18,505 (.75%) worked at no fixed address and 177,940 (84%) worked at a usual work place. Read the rest of this entry »

The health of individuals is affected by physical factors, lifestyle behaviours, genetics, environment and psycho-social determinants. The health of a community is influenced by the overall health of its citizens. Access to appropriate and timely primary health care, health promotion, disease and risk prevention, health education and acute care can assist citizens to maintain or restore their health.

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According to our Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN, 2005) that includes Niagara, female life expectancy at birth is 81.5 years in HNHB and 82.1 years in Ontario. Read the rest of this entry »

Our LHIN rates in 2005 are higher for arthritis and rheumatism (21.5 compared to 17.5), heart disease (8.4 compared to 7.2) and high blood pressure (15.8 to 14.7) than those of the province. Our rates for diabetes (4.2 compared to 4.6) and asthma (8.4 to 7.2) are slightly lower than that of Ontario. Read the rest of this entry »

The Niagara Region is noted for having high obesity rates and there is a growing concern about obesity in the younger population. An estimated 51.5% of adults are reported to be in the obese or overweight Body Mass Index (BMI) categories in our LHIN (16% obese and 39% overweight) (55% in Niagara in 2004). Read the rest of this entry »

Health Canada reports that 1 in 5 will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime including depression, anxiety, substance abuse or other challenges. Read the rest of this entry »

Niagara’s incidence of invasive primary cancer per 100,000 persons from 2001-2003 was below Ontario’s rate, reaching its highest in 2001 at 388.9 per 100,000 of the population. Read the rest of this entry »

Low birth weight refers to the percent of babies born weighing less than 2,500 grams. Low birth weight is an indicator of the general health of newborns and a key determinant of infant survival and development. Low birth weight infants are at greater risk of dying in their first year and of developing chronic health problems. Read the rest of this entry »

Niagara EMS dispatch center was the first accredited centre in Ontario, in 2006 and one out of three in Canada to be officially recognized as an Accredited Centre of Excellence by the Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch. Read the rest of this entry »

Waiting for cancer diagnosis and surgery can affect health, stress levels and treatment outcomes. Read the rest of this entry »

From 2000-2001, the mortality rates for HNBN LHIN (including Niagara) were higher than provincial rates (629.9 vs 602.6 per 100,000), especially for circulatory system diseases. Read the rest of this entry »

While physicians are not the only professional group involved in primary care and nurse practitioners are increasing at the community level, it is important to have enough physicians and specialists in Niagara to provide care. According to the Niagara Health System (NHS) Report (2005) there were 560 physicians with admission privileges in Niagara and according to the LIHN report there were 502 physicians in Niagara in 2007 (278 physicians; 224 specialists). Read the rest of this entry »

Community Health Centers are being developed to offer comprehensive primary health services in parts of the region. Four Centers have been approved for Niagara and 2 are in operation. Read the rest of this entry »

Citizens can fully participate in a community and enjoy their lives when they feel safe and secure in their homes, neighbourhoods, public places or workplaces. We can live more fully when we and our loved ones are not at risk of harm. Read the rest of this entry »

The General Social Survey (2004) asked those over 15 in Niagara about their feelings of staying home alone in the evening or at night.  In 2004, 19% said they felt worried and 80% were not at all worried. Of the Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) reporting, the lowest ratings were from Saint Johns (14% worried; 85% not at all). Read the rest of this entry »

Crime rates for Niagara went down from 2002 to 2007, for overall crime per 1,000, violent crimes, other criminal offences, homicide, robbery, break and enter and motor vehicle crime. They were all below the OMBI average, except for property crimes that remained much higher than the OMBI average in all 5 years. Read the rest of this entry »