A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT board messages A community check-up for a healthier future BARBARA JONES CATHERINE CAMPBELL Board President – Huronia Board Chair – United Way Community Foundation Simcoe Muskoka On behalf of the Huronia As a community-building Community Foundation and catalyst that strives for a deep its Board of Directors, I am understanding of the people and pleased to present Simcoe communities across our region, Muskoka’s VitalSigns® – United Way Simcoe Muskoka A Community of Support. The report highlights values the opportunity to partner once again with Who We Are, Arts & Culture, Health & Well-being, Huronia Community Foundation to publish a second Housing & Homelessness, Poverty, Community local VitalSigns® report. Safety and Getting Around in our region. The development of this community report involved VitalSigns® is a national program, led by local more than 30 local organizations contributing community foundations and coordinated by oversight, expertise, data and/or input. On behalf of Community Foundations of Canada, that leverages the project team, I extend my sincere appreciation local knowledge to measure the vitality of our for the time and effort of everyone involved. We communities and support action toward improving also send special thanks to those who also provided our collective quality of life. financial sponsorships – they are listed on the back One of the strategic initiatives of Huronia cover of this report. Community Foundation is to be a Champion Our first VitalSigns® was a powerful tool for for Issues that Matter. We are proud to partner highlighting local research and trends; sparking with United Way Simcoe Muskoka to produce conversations, strengthening engagement and the 2016 VitalSigns® report. We know that the informing funding decisions. Having learned from report will start conversations and identify trends that initial experience, we look forward to employing encouraging us to act on local priorities; and trust this research to increase the support of our regional that it will become a vital part of planning your communities and residents. Your ongoing feedback organization’s work to build better communities (via www.SimcoeMuskokaVitalSigns.ca) is welcome across Simcoe Muskoka. and appreciated. Simcoe Muskoka’s VitalSigns® Project Team Steering Committee Barrie Police Services + Chigamik Community Health Centre + City of Barrie + Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud + County of Simcoe + District of Muskoka + Huronia Community Foundation + Muskoka Pride + North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network + Ontario Provincial Police + Simcoe County District School Board + Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit + Town of Midland + Town of Penetanguishene + United Way Simcoe Muskoka + YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka Data participants (in addition to Steering Committee members) Barrie Pride + Barrie Public Library + Canadian Hearing Society + Catholic Family Services of Simcoe County + Community Connections + CNIB + David Busby Street Centre + Fierté Simcoe Pride + Georgian College + Gilbert Centre + Helping Hands Orillia + Independent Living Services of Simcoe County & Area + Information Orillia + John Howard Society of Simcoe & Muskoka + Midland Police Service + Simcoe Muskoka Workforce Development Board + South Simcoe Police Service CONTENTS methodology Simcoe Muskoka’s APPROACH 1 Board Messages ® VitalSigns report is Our research began with intended to be a community the national VitalSigns® 1 Simcoe Muskoka’s snapshot of our regional database of the Community ® VitalSigns Project Team quality of life and our Foundations of Canada. The community vitality. This specially requested datasets 2 Research Methodology year we had a broad range and publicly available of community members data were both taken into 3+4 Who we are: Muskoka and organizations who consideration. From there, contributed their time, skills our data participants 5+6 Who we are: Simcoe County and expertise to this project. assisted in collecting data. The report begins with a Whenever possible, 7+8 Arts & Culture snapshot of our two larger combined data for Simcoe regional communities Muskoka were used. Given 9+10 Health & Well-being of Muskoka and Simcoe the unique and distinct County, and then leads into 11+12 Housing & Homelessness characteristics of Muskoka the six reporting domains and Simcoe County, we for 2016. 13+14 Poverty separated the data for Our goal is to help particular indicators. In 15+16 Community Safety communities make cross- addition to the Who We Are sector connections between sections, you will also find 17+18 Getting Around issues and trends that are this separated data in the highlighted for our region, Housing & Homelessness Back Across Simcoe Muskoka and to build community and Poverty sections. capacity through shared Most of the datasets were knowledge for improved large enough to allow decision-making. us to compare two time periods (often 2011 and THE PROCESS 2015). Adjustments in the The VitalSigns® project comparative years were team is comprised of made where information VitalSigns® is a community check-up conducted representatives from 35 was unavailable. Numbers by community foundations across Canada that different organizations who were rounded to the nearest measures the vitality of our communities and provided insight, guidance, whole for all infographics. identifies significant trends in a range of areas recommendations and The analysis was mainly critical to quality of life. VitalSigns® is coordinated research to ensure this statistical, with some nationally by Community Foundations of Canada report is a simple yet data- content analysis of existing and with special thanks to the Toronto Foundation rich and highly useful tool. reports, presentations, for developing and sharing the VitalSigns® concept A research consultant was websites, or media stories. For more information, visit: hired to ensure all data The full source www.VitalSignsCanada.ca collected was relevant document is available and accurate. The VitalSigns® trademark is used with permission for download at www. from Community Foundations of Canada. SimcoeMuskokaVitalSigns.ca. PHOTO ESSAY The photos in this report are part of the Visibly Unseen exhibition, a joint artistic project designed to share an intimate glimpse into the lives of individuals who are as unique as their journey. Continued on page 5 WHO WE ARE Focus on Muskoka Natural beauty abounds; so do economic challenges Muskoka, spanning 3,816 km2, is recognized average. Muskoka recently had the highest growth as one of Canada’s premier four-season rate in Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support vacation and tourism destinations. The District Program cases in Ontario, with caseloads higher Municipality of Muskoka forms the upper-tier than the provincial average. Youth experience government, working closely with six lower-tier particular economic challenges, representing a municipalities including three towns and three signifi cant percentage of Ontario Works recipients. townships, each with its own vibrant and unique Muskoka must also adapt to serve an aging community; and two First Nations reserves. population, with the proportion of seniors (65+) In contrast to the tremendous beauty that expected to increase substantially by 2041. draws visitors and cottagers each year, Despite the challenges facing Muskoka, several Muskoka’s permanent residents face unique programs have been developed to serve signifi cant demographic and economic and meet the needs of the vulnerable population. challenges. Twelve per cent of its residents The resiliency of its residents continues to shine live in poverty, and the average employment through as new partnerships are formed to meet income is 17 per cent lower than the provincial the challenges of today and into the future. 3 SIMCOE MUSKOKA’S VITALSIGNS® REPORT // SimcoeMuskokaVitalSigns.ca Generations COMMUNITY PULSE Muskoka In the works… 2011 2015 The Nest is a not-for- Population profit family resource 61,095 62,737 centre in Bracebridge (705-640-6378) and YOUTH (15-24) 11% 11% Gravenhurst (705- 22% 24% 640-0224), with a ADULTS (25-64) Huntsville location SENIOR (65+) 2011 2015 being planned. It sells low-cost baby supplies and gently muskoka used clothing, toys % of Muskoka’s population and equipment for 41 income children (0-19 yrs). is 55 and over. By 2041, It connects families that population is expected to to each other and increase to 50%. community supports. 67% of Muskoka’s economic base is How you population diversity supported by tourists, can help • Support the 7% of the population are immigrants second-home owners, and retirees. !MPACT Café in • 5% of the immigrant population arrived Gravenhurst that, in between 2006-2011 turn, supports the MEDIAN after-tax nutritional, social • 53% of the immigrant population arrived and employment before 1971 household income levels needs of Muskoka’s most vulnerable 2% of the population are of visible minority One Person 2+ Person citizens compared to 26% in Ontario Household Household $24,935 $65,009 • Donate to the 84% of the population are of European Gateway Program, ethnic origin a home-ownership program for families 2% of the population is Francophone MEDIAN after-tax household income levels in need 3% of the population identified as Aboriginal • Volunteer or sign up • 68% First Nation (North American Indian) 2006 88% of for the Fresh Food Basket Program • 28% Métis Provincial average. that’s available in eight communities • 4% Inuk (Inuit), & Aboriginal