Red Deer’s Vital Signs
Be heard! This is your opportunity to provide input on issues that matter the most that affect our quality of life.
We are pleased to open the 2011 Vital Signs Survey. Click here to access the 2011 Red Deer’s Vital Signs Survey.
The survey will open from July 25-August 31st. Printed copies are also available at the Community Foundation Office or call (403) 341-6911.
Click here for 2009 Red Deer’s Vital Signs Report .
Red Deer’s Vital Signs is an annual community check-up through which the Red Deer & District Community Foundation measures the vitality of our city, identifying significant trends, and compiling grades assigned by members of our community in twelve issue areas critical to Red Deer’s quality of life: Arts and Culture; Belonging and Leadership; Environment; Gap Between Rich and Poor; Getting Around; Getting Started in Red Deer; Health and Wellness; Housing; Innovation; Learning; Safety and Work.
The report card data is a compilation of numerous research sources, much of it local that will help the community make connections between issues and trends in different areas. The findings are presented in a reader friendly format to make them as accessible as possible. The research data is presented to community members in a survey, which solicits public opinion on the various indicators. Community Graders are asked to provide us with their input on how they think our community is doing. Survey results are compiled and included in the report. An expanded, in depth report is also made available on our website, complete with links to original community research.
The Community Foundation works with a wide range of community groups to ensure our indicators capture the area’s unique issues and attributes. Measuring our community’s vitality in critical areas increases the effectiveness of our grantmaking, helps us inform our donors about issues and opportunities in the community, and assists us in making connections between individuals and groups to address those issues. Another benefit of Vital Signs is its ability to draw public attention to the terrific indicator work already taking place in our community. By consolidating new and existing data, Vital Signs makes a wide range of information easier to access. Individuals and organizations interested in detailed analysis of particular areas can simply use our Vital Signs website links to find the in-depth reports they need.
Red Deer’s Vital Signs builds on existing initiatives in four valuable ways:
Collates a broad range of data. A distinctly broad picture of the community is developed using relevant national data and identifying local research on a wide range of subject areas.
Engages the community. Vital Signs effects the community because it involves the community at every level, from determining the report’s indicators and exploring research sources, to assigning grades.
Creating a national report. Because community foundations across Canada are participating in this project, we are able to share results and track local trends at the national level.
Publish research you can read! We are committed to publishing a reader friendly document that appeals to a wide range of readers looking for a snapshot of quality of life and of community vitality.
Vital Signs is coordinated nationally by Community Foundations of Canada. It is based on Toronto’s Vital Signs, an indicator report developed by the Toronto Community Foundation. The Vital Signs trademark is used with permission from Community Foundations of Canada.