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The Comox Valley is going to get a report card later this year.
The United Way and Comox Valley Community Foundation are teaming up to prepare a “Vital Signs” report. “Vital Signs” is a project of community foundations across the country.
But first, the local organizations need to gather data.
Representatives are making the rounds of local governments and other agencies to make requests for data that would have a bearing on quality of life issues in the Valley.
Jody MacDonald, of United Way, and Harry Panjer of the CV Community Foundation, outlined the project Monday night for Courtenay council.
The “Vital Signs” initiative started in Toronto 10 years ago and has since spread. Reports have been done on the Island in Nanaimo, Victoria and Port Alberni.
The local report will tackle 10 “issue areas” including health and wellness, economy and work, arts, culture and recreation, civic engagement and “belonging”.
The Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC) has been contracted to prepare the data analysis and “data mining”.
The two local groups will also be preparing an online survey for “subjective” data from citizens. That’s coming in the middle of May.
The data is being assembled from now until June. The report will be prepared throughout the summer, and then the official launch is set for Oct. 4 at a special event.
Jody MacDonald said the aim is to make the final report “fun to read and interesting … actionable for everyone.”
“We hope it’s really a platform for ‘vital’ conversations,” she said.
For more information on the ‘Vital Signs’ nation-wide project go to www.vitalsignscanada.com.
