CLAYOQUOT SOUND BIOSPHERE REGION’S 2018 Welcome to the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region’s Vital Signs® 2018 Table of Contents From the Vital Signs Research Team About Vital Signs 2 “We hope the 2018 Vital Signs report ¸ Grounded in the Nuu-chah-nulth (nuucaanuł) ¸ ˇ informs and inspires dialogue and principle of hišukniš cawaak, everything is one, Vital Our Region 3 collaboration to further our collective Signs 2018 can help us to understand the complex Cycle of Poverty efforts to build healthy communities and changing systems in which we live and the necessary pathways we need to navigate in order to in Our Region: and achieve sustainable development.” Inspiring Action support sustainable ecosystems and¸ communities. One of these pathways is nuucaanułˇ language for Change 4 Tammy Dorward and Catherine Thicke revitalization. This year, we’ve worked with a regional Co-chairs, Board of Directors Environment 5-6 committee of elders¸ and language keepers to incor- Clayoquot Biosphere Trust porate nuucaanułˇ throughout the report. Climate Change Impacts 7-8 We’ve collected a range of local data to highlight pri- ority areas for community-wide action and listened People & Work 9 From our Executive Director closely to community concerns. We’ve heard that Income Inequality 10 I am pleased to present our 2018 Vital Signs report. our young people are struggling with mental health Vital Signs is a valuable tool for understanding our issues and that they lack youth programs. Families Housing 11 progress toward achieving all aspects of sustainabili- are challenged with rising housing costs and the ty—cultural, social, economic, and environmental. inadequate number of licensed infant care spaces. Safety & Transportation 12 Rising household drug and alcohol use threatens to In 2015, the United Nations launched 17 Sustainable further disrupt our social fabric. However, we have Health 13-14 Development Goals (SDGs) with an ambitious aim to also heard we are working more as a region and our solve the world’s most critical sustainability issues sense of common ground is growing. At hišinqwiił, Youth 15-16 by 2030. The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) is the 2017 regional gathering, local leaders from Nuu- Learning 17-18 making every effort to address these goals both as a chah-nulth nations and local municipalities all had biosphere reserve and a community foundation. This the same message: Together, we are stronger. Belonging & Leadership 19 report is one way that we can track progress on the global goals by bringing together research and com- Vital Signs is a result of great collaboration. Dozens Arts & Culture 20 munity action to share a snapshot of our region. of community members who are experts in their re- , spective fields contributed their knowledge, experi- nuucaanułˇ Language 21-22 Within the CBT, this report informs our grant making ence, and advice, and local organizations generously and allows us to focus our programs and funding shared their research data. To everyone involved, we Sustainable where they will make the biggest impact. We are would like to express our sincere thanks. Together, Development Goals 23 proud to know that our biennial report has become we can rise to these calls to action and celebrate our a tool for linking the local to the global and a part of successes. Giving for Change 24 conversations at all levels of decision-making. We Laura Loucks Faye Missar look forward to continuing the conversation with you. Sources & Research Director Program Coordinator Acknowledgements 25-26 Rebecca Hurwitz Dante Zago Mathieu St. Laurent-Addison Executive Director, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Student Intern ECO Canada Intern 1 About Vital Signs® About the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Your Community Vital Signs is a national program, led by community foundations and The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) is your community foundation. We’re one Foundation coordinated by the Community of 1,800 community foundations worldwide implementing and monitoring the The CBT is one of 191 com- Foundations of Canada, that leverages United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework that explicit- munity foundations across ly sets targets for reducing poverty, ending hunger, ensuring quality education, community knowledge to measure Canada. As a community and restoring ecosystem services. We also uphold the mission and mandate the vitality of our communities and foundation, we champion of the Man and the Biosphere Programme as one of 669 designated UNESCO supports actions that improve issues that matter and direct biosphere reserves. At our core, we build assets, capacity, and trust within our quality of life. The CBT is committed grants to everything from region to strengthen the development of all citizens, communities, and the eco- to a long-term monitoring program research and environment, systems on which we all depend. We strive to build strong relationships across for the region and our communities, to the arts, community communities and organizations, and engage decision-makers and citizens in development, and recreation. and publishes a Vital Signs report meaningful conversations. We are the only organization in Canada that serves We are governed by a board every two years. as a community foundation and oversees the mandate of a biosphere reserve. of directors with representat- clayoquotbiosphere.org/vitalsigns ion from all of our west coast Our Biosphere Region communities. We work with Clayoquot Sound is one of Canada’s 18 UNESCO biosphere reserves. The local governments, organizations, schools, and businesses to identify priorities CBT is the local organization responsible for upholding the spirit and intent in our region and to facilitate collaboration. We also work with donors keen to of the UNESCO biosphere reserve designation. Biosphere sites are places make a difference by matching their resources with local needs. where people share a way of living with nature that builds a future we’re proud of. We model solutions for ecological sustainability, celebrate cultural The Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region and biological diversity, and encourage people to work together for healthi- The Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region, referred to as “our region” in this er communities. Biosphere regions foster and share Indigenous, local, and report, includes Hot Springs Cove, Ahousaht, Opitsaht, Tofino, Esowista, scientific knowledge to balance the health of natural systems with the needs Ty-Histanis, Ucluelet, Hitacu, Macoah, and Area C of the Alberni-Clayoquot of our growing population. Regional District (ACRD-Area C). We often refer to our region as the “west coast” as we are the far western communities of Vancouver Island, BC. Throughout this re- port, information specific to the west coast is used wherever possible, but, given our small OPITSAHT MACOAH population, the best available AHOUSAHT data is often for the entire ACRD, which includes Port Alberni, the HITACU HOT SPRINGS surrounding Alberni Valley, and COVE TOFINO Bamfield. Note that this data TY-HISTANIS ESOWISTA UCLUELET does not always include infor- ACRD mation from all west coast AREA C communities. 2 Our Region Proportion of Population per age group1 Population population under 2006 Our population is growing. Age 2016 25 Group The 2016 915 0 - 14 census 5,505 980 population 4,840 recorded 56% 44% 730 2016 population 15 - 24 the number 2006 Municipalities Outside 615 (Tofino, Ucluelet) Municipalities5 of residents in our region 855 25 - 34 Charlie Melody has increased by 14% since 2006. 1020 Over 1 in 20 residents 745 Youth continue to be a significant 35 - 44 (6%) of our region lived 850 Proportion of component of our region. in a different province, 750 residents that 45 - 54 The number of territory, or country 690 identify as one year ago.3 older adults 525 Aboriginal 33% 55 - 64 West Coast 30% 28% 21% has increased 715 (2016)4 between between between 6% over the 215 ages 15-34 ages 35-54 ages 55-74 65 - 74 last 10 years. 465 8% Vancouver 6% 105 75+ Island British Many west coast communities are remote and often 170 Columbia have a higher number of residents than recorded in the 5% 10% 20% 2016 census. Therefore, we’ve gathered more accurate 15% numbers to better calculate our regional population. Population of west coast communities2 The 2030 Agenda In 2015, the United Nations General for Sustainable Macoah 32 Assembly adopted 17 SDGs designed Development to shift communities, both locally and Hitacu 369 globally, to a sustainable and resilient Ucluelet 1717 pathway known as Agenda 2030.114 The Esowista 129 goals address challenges such as climate change that are Ty-Histanis 302 crucial for humanity and the Opitsaht 155 future of our planet. Yet the Tofino 1932 goals are also locally relevant, setting critical thresholds for Ahousaht 1100 the use of natural resources Hesquiaht 5 Total while recognizing that social Hot Springs Cove 44 6,462 issues, such as poverty, go hand in hand with sustainable ACRD - Area C 677 115 economic development. 0 500 1000 1500 2000 3 SDGs and the Cycle of Poverty in Our Region: Inspiring Action for Change Unemployment rates since 20017 Economic sectors relying on “Poverty is a wicked problem that’s impossible to solve by commercial fishing will con- looking at any one issue on its own. It’s not just about resolving Hot Springs Cove 127% tinue to be vulnerable. Wild housing, food, and income issues as separate factors of poverty. Ahousaht 41% salmon populations have been Rather, poverty arises from the interconnected nature of these Esowista 50% declining for the last 50 years issues and the difficult daily choices individuals have to make due to cumulative pressures. Tofino 29% between basic needs they can’t possibly hope to meet. Think This raises significant con- about living on $710 per month (social assistance). For a job Hitacu 31% cerns for the future cultural, interview, you might need to make a decision between having Ucluelet UNCHANGED social, environmental, and clean clothing or eating that day.