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Media Release

Oct. 7 , 2008

Ottawa's Vital Signs Report released today

Annual community checkup raises key quality-of-life issues among election-bound Ottawa residents

Did you know that:

more than 5,000 women and children fleeing domestic abuse were turned away from Ottawa shelters last year;
the average income of Ottawa artists was just over $28,000 in 2005 – a little over 60% of the income earned in all other occupations;
the most recent federal election had a voter turnout rate of 73.1% in Ottawa, close to seven percentage points higher than the provincial rate, and nine percentage points higher than the national rate;
there were 3,000 injection drug users in the city in 2006, among whom there was a 19-20% prevalence of HIV, and a 76% prevalence of the Hepatitis C virus;
over the last four years, Ottawa high-school students have scored 80% or higher on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test?

These are among the key findings in the 2008 annual report card on the health of the community released by the Community Foundation of Ottawa today. Ottawa’s Vital Signs measures the city’s quality of life in 11 key areas, including: the Gap between Rich and Poor; Safety; Health and Wellness; Learning; Housing; Getting Started in the Community; Arts and Culture; Environment; Work; Belonging and Leadership; and Getting Around. A compilation of data from numerous research sources, Ottawa’s Vital Signs is a comprehensive annual checkup that identifies significant trends and issues in our community.

“The report raises some key issues for the residents of Ottawa to consider as they make various important decisions, whether they’re thinking about making philanthropic donations, volunteering in the community, or preparing to vote in federal, municipal or provincial elections,” said Barbara McInnes, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Ottawa. “The goal of producing this report each year is to learn, share and inspire community conversation and debate, and this year’s report certainly provides plenty to talk about.”

In its third year, Ottawa’s Vital Signs has become a galvanizing force in the community, bringing together a wide range of community organizations and individuals from the earliest planning stages. Extensive community consultations helped to shape the content of the 2008 report, and more than 800 community graders were invited to rate the city’s performance in each issue area. “The report rates indicators that cover a broad range of issues, which, taken together, provide a snapshot of how well the community is doing in ensuring a good quality of life for its citizens,” said Ms. McInnes. “Ottawa’s Vital Signs is designed to help the community get to know itself a little better, and the report is proving to be a valuable tool for many of the people and organizations addressing issues on the ground.”

The Ottawa’s Vital Signs report is published each fall by the Community Foundation of Ottawa. For an extended version of the 2008 report with links to original data, visit www.ottawavitalsigns.ca. Ottawa’s Vital Signs is part of a national initiative led by Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) through which 15 communities across the country released their own Vital Signs reports today. These include Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Toronto, Oakville, Guelph and Wellington, Waterloo, London, Sudbury, Ottawa, Montreal, Fredericton, and Saint John. CFC’s national Vital Signs report will be released October 16. All Vital Signs reports will be available at www.cfc-fcc.ca.

Established in 1987, the Community Foundation of Ottawa is a public, non-profit organization created by and for the people of Ottawa. It connects donors who care with causes that matter and serves as a trusted resource for addressing issues and leveraging opportunities in the community. It attracts and manages a growing endowment, the invested earnings of which provide grants to charitable organizations.

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