FERNIE LIVABILITY REPORT DECEMBER 2014 Prepared by: Whistler Centre for Sustainability Acknowledgements The Community, City staff and Official Community Plan Implementation Committee (OCP-IC) input and contributions were invaluable in the drafting and illustration of the second Quality of Life Index and the first Livability Report. The team is indebted to those volunteers, contributors and staff who made this process possible. The Official Community Plan Advisory Committee (OCP-AC) input on the second Livability Report was critical in assessing progress and future actions to improve results. The financial support of the BC Healthy Communities program (who provided funding for the Quality of Life initiative through their seed grant program) and that of the Columbia Basin Trust (who provided funding for the Community Survey) is gratefully acknowledged. We thank and acknowledge the citizens, organizations and businesses that contributed so greatly to the Livability Report documents and look forward to their continued participation. We are also grateful for the generous contribution of professional photographs by Kyle Hamilton. Contribution of photographs from other community members is also greatly appreciated and acknowledged. FERNIE’S LIVABILITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Demographics .............................................................................. 1 Economic Development ................................................................ 4 Housing ........................................................................................ 9 Accessibility and Transport ........................................................ 16 Learning and Wellness ................................................................ 23 Natural Environment .................................................................. 24 Recreation .................................................................................. 37 Sense of Community and Identity ............................................... 42 Introduction FERNIE’S LIVABILITY The Community Livability Report sets out performance results against the indicators Intended as a long-term initiative, the Fernie listed in the Quality of Life Index. Successive Quality of Life and Livability initiative is reports will track trends over time in an effort embedded in the City’s Official Community to identify changes occurring within the Plan (OCP) Vision Statement which is: community. The Livability Report is intended to provide a means to monitor and evaluate City To work toward a sustainable population who policies and strategies to facilitate informed will enjoy a quality of life that is planned and and transparent decision-making. managed in a manner compatible with the surrounding natural environment. This quality The quality of the information and data in the of life will be based upon employment and report is dependent upon the level of social opportunities for all skill levels in all community engagement and participation in sectors, affordable housing, quality education, the Quality of Life process. This report is the a convenient and efficient transportation first attempt to summarize performance network, enhanced cultural and heritage against indicators that community members amenities, and optimal recreation find important and we expect that with opportunities. increased community involvement and capacity over time, the information will be The Quality of Life Index improved and refined. This Livability Report builds upon the Fernie 1 The Quality of Life Index and the Livability Quality of Live Index which is composed of indicators most valued by the Fernie Report cover the Greater Fernie Area (GFA) as community. The Index is designed to measure defined by the ‘Fernie Area Land Use Strategy’ performance of those key qualities and is developed by the Regional District of East intended to assist the City to monitor its Kootenay. This encompasses the developed progress toward the achievement of its OCP area of Fernie, its surrounding area, and Vision. includes the City of Fernie, West Fernie, Dicken Road, Cokato and Fernie Alpine Resort. The reporting year for this Livability Report is Photo credit: Raven Eye 2013/14. Where data for 2013/14 is not Photography 1 The Quality of Life Index is a standalone report which available, other data from earlier years is used sets out indicators, data sources and replicable to provide an indication of trends. methodologies which can be employed in ongoing Quality of Life assessments. Page i Introduction Community Engagement A quick guide to this Livability Report is set out below. A colour coded Community engagement is central to the quality of life process and is directory has been employed to improve accessibility: enabled through: THEME Issue Page 1. Community involvement in Defining Quality of Life Demographics Population of Fernie 1 The Quality of Life Index was developed in conjunction with the Fernie OCP Population Stability Economic Diversity of the local economy 4 Implementation Committee (OCPIC) and representatives of the Development Well-paying jobs community. Community members participated in two workshops January Business activity 21 and May 17, 2010, defining what quality of life means to them. They Place of work prioritized these qualities and assets which they most value and wish to Housing Occupied dwellings 9 protect, particularly in the light of changing conditions and policy Diversity of housing options decisions. Housing tenure Housing affordability 2. Community Survey Access to amenities The Livability Report includes quantitative as well as qualitative data. The Accessibility and Travel modes 16 latter is based on community opinion gained through a Community Survey Transport Availability of alternate transport options undertaken in an online and paper format. A total of 496 survey responses Disabled access Winter accessibility and snow removal were received from members of the community. Although the sample size Learning and Secondary school pass rates 23 is not statistically randomized it provides a snapshot of community Wellness Satisfaction with learning and education opinions and priorities in Fernie, and as such is valuable. It is intended that opportunities community views are tracked by means of regular surveys conducted on an Local availability of health care services ongoing basis. The Livability Report is also illustrated with anonymous Natural Fernie’s development footprint 27 community quotations, gleaned from commentaries submitted by Environment Waste generation and management community members during the past report. Drinking water quality Water consumption 3. Building Community Capacity Greenhouse gas emissions The Quality of Life Index and Livability Report are intended to develop Other environmental impacts community capacity, by improving community knowledge and the Recreation Availability and diversity of recreational facilities 37 Usage of recreational and sporting facilities transparency of decision-making. The Quality of Life Indicators and Satisfaction with recreational and sporting methodologies are intended to be non-technical, easily understood and facilities straight forward to use. Thus, it is intended that community members and Visitor numbers working groups will themselves be involved in the preparation of future Sense of Cultural activity and engagement 42 Livability Reports, a process which will reinforce community commitment, Community and Volunteerism sustainability and identity. Identity Charitable donations Pride in community and sense of belonging Crime rates Popsicle Index Page ii Introduction Format Key Quality of Life Themes are noted on the page headers, and are highlighted in different colours. Indicators are set out under each theme. Following the format of the State of the Basin Report, a consistent approach has been taken to reporting in respect of each indicator. What does this measure? - setting out a short definition of the indicator Why is this important? – briefly describing the relevance of this indicator to quality of life in Fernie What are the trends and the conditions? – interpretation of available data, using text and graphics; incorporating trend data from previous years as well as benchmarks from elsewhere and comparison with Provincial performance For each indicator, references and data sources are set out at the end of each section. In most cases these include published sources. Note that where data is unavailable or incomplete, this has been supplemented by data obtained via the Quality Life Community Survey. Where applicable, relevant comments drawn from the Community Survey have been included in quotations. These anonymous quotes are the view of individuals’ from within the community, and are intended to provide more detailed commentary on the particular indicator being assessed. Data Quality Notes In some cases 2001 and 2006 Statistics Canada Census data is compared to 2011 data from the National Household Survey (NHS) instrument. These comparisons should be approached somewhat cautiously due to the significant methodological change in capturing data. The Census data is based on a mandatory survey instrument whereas the National Household Survey is a voluntary survey instrument. Some populations may be less likely to respond to a voluntary survey. Indicators using NHS data are indicated by an asterisk*. Photo credit: Fernie Trails Alliance Page iii Executive Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A traffic light system is used to aid This Livability Report builds upon the Fernie