What is Vital Signs?
Vital Signs 2011
The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan is very excited to launch Vital Signs 2011!
Vital Signs is a program of the Community Foundations of Canada and is produced annually by between 15 and 25 Community Foundations across Canada. In 2011, 22 community foundations are producing Vital Signs.
The goal of the program is to “take the pulse” of our community; to provide citizens with a sense of where we’re at… and where we might be going.
Vital Signs is unique in its approach by combining community collaboration with statistical analysis. We have partnered with other community foundation’s in BC to hire SPARC to gather and help interpret local and regional statistics. Nationally gathered data will be supplied through our contract with Community Foundations of Canada.
The end result is a very readable, highly engaging, report to the community which will be widely distributed throughout the region. We will also include an expanded report on our website.
What does Vital Signs measure?
Community Foundations of Canada requires that we use a minimum of five of ten common national issue areas. The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan (CFSO) will likely use all ten of the issue areas detailed below. Using common issue areas across the country allows for a national report to created.
- Arts & Culture
- Belonging & Leadership
- Environment
- Gap between rich & poor
- Getting started in our community
- Health & wellness
- Housing
- Learning
- Safegy
- Work
What communities will be included?
This first Vital Signs report will focus on Penticton, but we will be working very closely with the Central and North Okanagan Foundations to provide a complete picture of the health and vitality of our communities and the Okanagan Valley as a whole.
How does it work?
In addition to detailed statistical analysis of key data, the Community Foundation will also engage the community in a consultative process that will provide a more personal sense of our community’s health as it relates to each of these issue areas.
What makes Vital Signs different?
The power of this report is in its accessibility. We will be hiring research experts for the statistical analysis, but the final report will be written in a way that makes it interesting, understandable, engaging, and above all, actionable for everyone living in our community.
How is it used?
Experience in other communities has shown that the Vital Signs report is an important discussion piece for the community and provides much needed clarity around the current, potential, and perceived issues facing our citizens. It invariably becomes a key tool for many different groups working for the betterment of our community.
When is it published?
Penticton’s Vital Signs will be published on October 4, 2011 as part of a nationally coordinated launch event. Approximately 2,500 copies will be distributed throughout the South Okanagan.
