What Have We Accomplished So Far?
We have described Living in Niagara in 2008 in a written and sharable document. We have identified 11 key areas [...]
What Gaps in the Data Need to be Addressed for the Future?
Information needs to be gathered on the variability across the region in regards to literacy, low income, poverty, education, health [...]
What are the Next Steps in the Process?
Involve interested Niagara stakeholders in the analysis of the data and in the development of improvement action goals for each [...]
How can Individuals and Groups Get Involved?
1. Use the information and indicators to stimulate discussion at work and in the community. 2. Join with others in the region [...]
Introduction to Getting Started
A region or city is enhanced when a new child, a new graduate or a new immigrant makes a start [...]
Starting Out as a Refugee or Immigrant
Refugees enter Canada at the Fort Erie Peace Bridge point of entry to seek asylum from war, persecution of genocide [...]
Starting Out as a Child
The presence of child care services and supports for children and their parents or caregivers is a measure of the [...]
Starting Out as a Youth and Graduate
The prevailing belief is that many of our young people leave the region for a post secondary education and many [...]
Leadership Diversity
A community thrives if there are opportunities for leadership at all levels and involving the diversity of voices and ideas. [...]
Net Migration
Net Migration data about the rate of migration per 1,000 population was derived by comparing the addresses supplied on personal [...]
Introduction to Belonging & Leadership
A community builds what is called social capital when its citizens have a well developed sense of civic responsibility and [...]
Volunteering in Niagara
Volunteering enriches the volunteer and contributes much to the community, the local economy and the non-profit sector to build the [...]
Charitable Giving
Niagara residents have increased the amount they give to charity each year from 2001 to 2006. The median charitable donation [...]
Political Involvement
Civic participation builds the capacity of a community and a nation. One way to exercise civic participation is through engaging [...]
Sense of Community Belonging
In 2005, 69.9% in Niagara reported they had a very strong or somewhat strong sense of belonging to their local [...]
Trust in Others
It takes trust in one another to build a safe community where everyone feels comfortable to engage with others and [...]
Participation in Social Networks and Social Activities
Being socially connected with families, friends and with community contacts through social institutions, clubs and organizations fosters social interaction, increases [...]
Having a Religious Affiliation
Having a religious affiliation is believed to be of benefit to the individual, but also to support building social networks, [...]
Introduction to Income, Prosperity & Poverty
Economic development in a region needs to be enjoyed by all of its citizens. Regional development involves creating a place [...]
Overall Economic Development
The CIBCWM Metropolitan Economic Activity Index (2007) is a measure designed to rank economic development in Canada’s largest CMAs. Nine [...]
Income and Earnings
Niagara had the lowest median, after tax employment income in all of Ontario at $23,396 in 2005. In 2005, in [...]
The Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO) Poverty Measure
The Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) is a measure based on total income before or after tax and is expressed as [...]
The Gap Between the Rich and the Poor and for Different Groups
The gap between the rich and the poor is widening in Niagara, as in all parts of Canada. According to [...]
Market Basket Measure
The Market Basket Measure (MBM) includes the cost of food, shelter, clothing, transportation and other costs of living related to [...]
Food Bank Use in Niagara and The Hunger Count Survey
The annual Hunger Count Survey provides a national snapshot of food bank use in Canada. The total number of individuals [...]
Social Assistance
Children and their families make up 52% of the people receiving social assistance in Canada. […]
The Number of Personal and Business Bankruptcies
The number of personal consumer and business bankruptcies in a region are a measure of whether individual or business finances [...]
Introduction to Employment & Work
Having opportunities to work, contribute and earn a living wage are important to the well being of a family, an [...]
Employment Rates
The employment rate for Niagara went down slightly from 60.7% in 2005 to 59.0% in 2007. In 2007, Niagara’s employment [...]
Unemployment Rates
The unemployment rate for Niagara increased from 6.1% in 2005, to 6.2% in 2006 to 6.6% in 2007 (6.4% in [...]
Employment for Specific Groups
In Niagara, as in the rest of Canada, employment opportunities and earnings are different and more challenging for women, immigrants, [...]
Work and Employment Sectors
Having sustainable employment that provides living wages for residents of an area is an indicator of individual and regional success. [...]
Jobs Lost in Niagara
Niagara has lost an estimated 4,400 jobs from August 2002 to January, 2005, mostly in the manufacturing, goods producing sector [...]
Largest Employers
In 2008, the employers who employ 1,000 employees and over in Niagara include: Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort (4,279), Niagara Health [...]
Places Where People Do Their Work
In Niagara (2005), 13,670 reported they worked at home (.06%), 2,135 worked outside Canada (.01%), 18,505 (.75%) worked at no [...]
Introduction to Health
The health of individuals is affected by physical factors, lifestyle behaviours, genetics, environment and psycho-social determinants. The health of a [...]
Health Indicators
According to our Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN, 2005) that includes Niagara, female life expectancy at birth is 81.5 years [...]
Prevalence Rates of Chronic Conditions
Our LHIN rates in 2005 are higher for arthritis and rheumatism (21.5 compared to 17.5), heart disease (8.4 compared to [...]
Obesity Rates
The Niagara Region is noted for having high obesity rates and there is a growing concern about obesity in the [...]
Mental Health
Health Canada reports that 1 in 5 will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime including depression, anxiety, substance [...]
Cancer Rates
Niagara’s incidence of invasive primary cancer per 100,000 persons from 2001-2003 was below Ontario’s rate, reaching its highest in 2001 [...]
Low Birth Weight of Babies
Low birth weight refers to the percent of babies born weighing less than 2,500 grams. Low birth weight is an [...]
Emergency Response Times and Rates Per 100,000 Population
Niagara EMS dispatch center was the first accredited centre in Ontario, in 2006 and one out of three in Canada [...]
Wait Times for Diagnostic Scans and Cancer Surgeries
Waiting for cancer diagnosis and surgery can affect health, stress levels and treatment outcomes. […]
Mortality and Hospitalization Rates Per 100,000 Population
From 2000-2001, the mortality rates for HNBN LHIN (including Niagara) were higher than provincial rates (629.9 vs 602.6 per 100,000), [...]
Number of Physicians
While physicians are not the only professional group involved in primary care and nurse practitioners are increasing at the community [...]
Presence of Hospitals and Community Health Care Facilities
Community Health Centers are being developed to offer comprehensive primary health services in parts of the region. Four Centers have [...]
Introduction to Crime, Safety & Security
Citizens can fully participate in a community and enjoy their lives when they feel safe and secure in their homes, [...]
Feeling Safe and Secure
The General Social Survey (2004) asked those over 15 in Niagara about their feelings of staying home alone in the [...]
Overall Crime Rates and Violent Crime Rates
Crime rates for Niagara went down from 2002 to 2007, for overall crime per 1,000, violent crimes, other criminal offences, [...]