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Media Advisory
Oct. 14, 2009

The Community Foundation of Ottawa hosts Checkup 2009: A Community Conversation

Join us for Checkup 2009: A Community Conversation at the Ottawa Public Library Auditorium (120 Metcalfe St.) on Tuesday, October 20 from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. This panel discussion and public dialogue begins where Ottawa’s Vital Signs 2009 left off, taking insight and inspiration from the recently released report.

Moderated by Kathleen Petty, host of CBC Radio’s Ottawa Morning, Checkup 2009 promises to be a lively discussion about Ottawa’s hot topics with:

Caroline Andrew, Professor at the School of Political Studies and Director of the Centre on Governance at the University of Ottawa;
Ken Gray, columnist and Editorial Board editor at the Ottawa Citizen; and
Carl Nicholson, Executive Director of the Catholic Immigration Centre of Ottawa

Released earlier this month, Ottawa’s Vital Signs measures the community’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. Some of the key findings in this year’s report include an increase in mental illness and self-harm incidents among young people in Ottawa, as well as a growing number of working poor and personal bankruptcy claims in the capital.

As a vehicle to engage the entire community on issues of importance, Ottawa’s Vital Signs was designed to stimulate public dialogue on how we can work together to improve the quality of life in our city. “Community engagement has always been a key part of producing Ottawa’s Vital Signs,” says Ms. McInnes, “which is why we’re particularly excited about hosting our first public “Checkup” event next week. We hope everyone who cares about making our city better for the benefit of all will come out and have their say.”

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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