Vital Signs 2014 reveals key concerns and strengths for Boundary

By Michelle Croissant

It was a full house last Tuesday night as local government officials, service organization representatives, business owners and other community leaders, along with members of the general public, gathered at gallery 2 to hear the Boundary Communities Vital Signs report for 2014. 

Vital Signs is a periodic check-up that provides a "snapshot" of a region's vitality, gives clarity around the current, potential and perceived issues facing local communities and identifies opportunities for action.

"Vital Signs is a national program of Community Foundations of Canada [which] represents all of the community foundations across Canada," explained Project Manager Karly Olson, M.P.H., "So it is a national program, but then each community foundation undertakes their own Vital Signs process, identifies what we want to report on, what we want to include in the report, where data comes from, what's our process."

The 2014 report builds on the 2009 Boundary Communities Vital Signs project. 330 citizens from across the Boundary participated in the survey this year, along with 83 youth who took part in facilitated forums.

Olsen explained that outreach was done for the community survey. For example, a steering committee member went to the Canada Prenatal Nutritional program to reach out to young mothers in order to include their voice.

"So we tried to hit organizations and groups that may not always be the typical ones to respond to and participate in this types of initiative,” said Olsen. “That's why we did the youth forums too, right? Because youth are not typically the population or the demographic that will engage in this kind of process, and that's why we made a conscious effort of going into the schools and asking youth, "What is it like for you to live here, what would make it better, and how do you feel about it?" and that's why we included the youth voice right along with the community survey."

Phoenix Foundation Chair Christine Thompson, Vice Chair Doug Lacey and Grants Committee Chair George Langden began the evening with their report-out.

Lacey said that Vital Signs kept coming up during strategic planning sessions last fall. "In all of the different areas we can look at in the West and East Boundary, how do we know how we're doing? When we have conversations with...community members and other organizations, through what lens do we look? And when it comes to our Grants Committee, what lens should they use to decide on where the grants should go?"

According to Lacey, their new strategic plan Vital Signs - The Why addresses the important role the project plays in the Foundation's big goal to grow the fund $1.8m by 2018. "What does the data tell us about the Boundary and how can we use that information to grow the Boundary, to grow the Phoenix Foundation, to make this a better place for all citizens to live. And from there, how can Vital Signs spur more interest in many different sectors to be an agent of change, or an agent to move forward?" 

Vital Signs Co-Chair Maxine Ruzicka gave a brief introduction to Vital Signs 2014 before turning things over to Olsen, who summarized the methodology.

The Phoenix Foundation conducted the community survey this past August with citizens providing an informed rating—based on a 5-point scale—in 11 key areas, based on the research data provided, as well as their perceptions. In addition, citizens also identified their top priority for improving life in the Boundary. The 15-18 year olds who participated in the youth forums were asked to give similar input.

Due to a high non-response rate in West Boundary for the voluntary National Household Survey, some indicators were presented as a regional average, not according to individual community.

Steering Committee members took turns presenting the findings in each of the Vital Signs areas, accompanied by a PowerPoint of the final printed report, which was available for attendees to take home. The 11 key areas were addressed in order of highest priority to least priority, as determined by the findings:

1. Work
2. Health & Wellness
3. Gap Between Rich & Poor
4. Arts & Culture
5. Housing
6. Transportation
7. Learning:
8. Belonging & Leadership
9. Environment
10. Safety
11. Food Security

Small group discussions followed, with participants being asked to talk about what findings, if any, surprised them, what they could do personally to improve the Boundary, and what energized them to act.

Eleven sheets of paper were taped to the wall, with a key area written on each. Individuals and organizations were encouraged to write their contact info under areas they were interested in discussing further. A twelfth sheet provided opportunity to indicate interest in a grant-writing workshop that will be offered in January at Selkirk College.

It was also announced that an initiative is going forward that will see a Community Learning Garden developed behind the aquatic centre. It is still in the early planning stages, with signage going up in the next couple of months. The garden itself should be functional within the next year. 

Olsen, who was project assistant in 2009, says they will conduct the process again in five years. She hopes to be involved. "It's been a really fun process. I've learned a lot about the community...it's been a really great learning process, I think, for everyone. There's always something new to learn about your community."

"There were tons of things that surprised me," she said. "I mean, in the safety issue area, I do have particular concern about the unintentional injury deaths. Our unintentional injury death rate is 2-3 times greater than the BC average, and that is reflective not of deaths occurring in the Boundary—it's residents of the Boundary, so...we are a population that is at higher risk than the province." These stats only pertain to local residents and do not include accidental deaths of visitors to the area. "So that's one area that I found particularly alarming."

Due to confidentiality reasons, individual means of death were not available, but motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause. This could tie in to the higher alcohol consumption rate in the Boundary compared to provincial and national averages. 

Olsen is also concerned about the gap between rich and poor. "Our low income statistics are very alarming. That 33% of West Boundary residents are living in low income households is...something we need to be aware of." Though perhaps not as visible a gap as can be seen in bigger centres, "It exists—it absolutely exists."

In discussing possible reasons for the gap, Olsen said, "I think that is an excellent question for some of the groups that are going to convene as a result of this. I really hope that that question of "Why is this?" comes up at that table of those who are interested in the gap between rich and poor." She speculates that it is likely a combination of work, health factors and transportation. 

Olsen agrees that most, if not all of the key areas are correlated. "Many of the issue areas, if not all of them are interconnected and you can't really separate one from the other. It's absolutely right. Food security is directly related to housing and to the gap between rich and poor, if families have to make the decision whether to pay rent this month or buy [nutritious] food. I mean...you cannot separate them."

Transportation also factors in to the cycle of poverty. Says Olsen, "If you are a person who, you know, lives up the North Fork or someone who lives in Beaverdell, or lives in rural Christina Lake or even rural Grand Forks, if you don't have access to transportation, how do you meet your basic needs?"

Ironically, an area Olsen felt stood out was food security—not as a concern, "but as a moment to be proud of is...our food security—how much our community gives to others in need. I mean, I think it is a signal to say there are a lot of people in need who access food hampers, emergency hampers...on a monthly basis. Look how amazing the response is!"

"So there are a number of issues that are of concern, “ she noted, “but there are also some really great strengths to celebrate. We have a lot of strengths."

They are just getting started. "The way that I see it," commented Olsen, "is this is not the end. This is just the beginning." Lacey jumped in, "So what we're going to do is at the next Phoenix Foundation Board [meeting] we'll get on the agenda to talk about how do we go about the convening of these on the top three issues, take the names, have a conversation [about] what that can look like." They will then come up with a plan and some funding to put it into action.

Both Olsen and Lacey promised that the Vital Signs report would not end up gathering dust on a shelf somewhere. "No it won't," vouched Olsen, "Not with the Phoenix Foundation—you can count on that not collecting dust!"

You can check out the full report online at http://www.phoenix-foundation.net/?q=boundary-communities-vital-signs

Two presentations were included in the evening’s agenda. Phoenix Foundation Director Linda Mazon was honoured for her years of service on the board. She has completed her current term and is now stepping down. Founding member, long-time Director and former Foundation Chair Maxine Ruzicka was also publicly honoured for her contribution. She continues to remain active with the organization in various capacities.

Thompson would like to "thank those who have provided financial and in-kind contributions and those community groups and organizations who helped us engage with the citizens and youth of the Boundary in order to share information and hear their voice."