Eleven years ago, the sa国际传媒 welcomed the first Victoria鈥檚 Vital Signs report. 鈥淭he report card should be an important annual milestone for the community, a measure of our shared successes,鈥� our editorial said. But the report is useful only if it leads to change, it added.
That first report card gave high marks for arts and culture, charitable donations and number of volunteers, but failing grades for affordable housing and the widening gap between rich and poor. Rising housing costs and homelessness were growing concerns.
And those challenges are a central focus of this year鈥檚 report, as well.
But that is neither surprising, nor a indication that the community has not made progress. It does show how critical those issues are, how challenging it is to devise solutions and how important it is to commit to long-term strategies involving all the players. Housing affordability, for example, is not an issue that can be resolved at a community level, and any solution will include all levels of government, the private sector and community groups.
But the report cards have also shown some remarkable progress. In 2006, the report noted that only 30 per cent of people felt connected to their community. This year, 82 per cent say they feel connected. Grades for arts and culture and sports and recreation have stayed high over the years 鈥� and recognizing successes is just as important as identifying problems.
The report cards also highlight emerging problems 鈥� this year, the overdose crisis, for example.
The Vital Signs report has another important use. The Victoria Foundation uses the annual report to guide its funding to charitable organizations working in the region 鈥� $15.5 million last year. The report, based on research and a survey of residents, provides a sense of the community鈥檚 priorities and the issues that matter to our collective future. The foundation supports initiatives that address those priorities.
That鈥檚 a good model for the foundation, and for individuals. This year鈥檚 report notes that 24 per cent of tax filers in Greater Victoria made charitable donations last year, with the median amount being $430 鈥� well above the national median of $300. The report is a useful guide to ensure your donations are being used to address the region鈥檚 most pressing issues.
We tend to think we have a good sense of the issues facing our community. But our experiences are all different, and our perspective easily distorted. A homeowner might not understand the huge challenge facing young families seeking housing. A retired person might not be aware of the issues in finding and paying for child care.
Which is why the Vital Signs report is so critical.
Our editorial ended with a reminder that the goal was action.
鈥淣ow the work begins,鈥� it said.
Eleven years later, the work is just as important.
