Taking the pulse of our town
2013
PARTNERS Wolfville’s Vital Signs® was made possible through the generous support of:
Nova Scotia’s Vital Signs® series generously supported by:
The JSF Fund@CFNS
Vital Signs® is a community check-up conducted by community foundations across Canada that measures the vitality of our communities, identifies significant trends, and supports action on issues that are critical to our quality of life. Vital Signs® is coordinated nationally by Community Foundations of Canada. Wolfville’s Vital Signs® is produced by the Wolfville Community Fund which operates under the auspices of the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia. The Vital Signs® trademark is used with permission from Community Foundations of Canada.
INTRODUCTION Welcome to the Wolfville’s 2013 Vital Signs® Report, a checkup on the vitality of our Town based on multiple indicators across a comprehensive set of issue areas. When we completed Wolfville’s 2009 Vital Signs® Report, we were the first community in Nova Scotia and the smallest municipality in Canada to do so. This new report provides insight as to where and how things have changed since 2009. We would like to thank all of those who were involved in making this report possible. The project was possible as a result of support provided by the Town of Wolfville, the Wolfville Business Development Corporation (WBDC), the Province of Nova Scotia’s Student Career Skills Development Program and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s Summer Jobs Program. Thanks to our Project Manager, Lisa Visentin, the person most directly responsible for pulling this report together. Lisa did a wonderful job collecting data from numerous and varied sources, and then summarizing and organizing the data such that the key indicators reported here could be identified. Fellow members of the WCF board Dick Groot and Macha MacKay provided helpful feedback and guidance throughout the process of producing the report. Lastly, thanks to Allison Kouzovnikov, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia, who played a vital role in all aspects of planning and producing this report. Wolfville’s 2013 Vital Signs® provides information concerning thirteen different, yet interdependent issue areas considered vital to the overall quality of life in our community. Of course, facts and figures alone are insufficient to fully describe the realities of a community in complex issue areas such as health, education, recreation and housing. Yet reporting these indicators is important to trigger civic engagement, ground public discussion, and guide philanthropic resources. In that spirit, we offer this report to the residents of Wolfville with the hope it can help engage the community to actively consider the issues, challenges and successes of our community.
Paul Callaghan Chair, Vital Signs® Committee
Vincent den Hartog, Chair Wolfville Community Fund
TABLE OF CONTENTS Partners 2 At A Glance
4
Getting Started & Belonging
6
Housing 9 Safety 11 Getting Around
13
Environment 16 Arts & Culture
18
Recreation 22 Learning 25 Economy 29 Shared Prosperity
33
Health 35 Contributors 39
AT A GLANCE Population Change 2001-2011
POPULATION SIZE & GROWTH In 2011, the population of Wolfville was 4,269, up 611 from 2001 and a 16.7% increase with 13.2% of the growth happening in the last 5 years. These increases make the Town of Wolfville the fastest growing municipality in Nova Scotia.
Wolfville
16.7%
CAN
11.6% 8.7%
HRM
Kings County 2.9% NS 1.5% Annapolis Valley 0.2%
MEDIAN AGE In 2011, Wolfville’s median age (the age at which half of the population is younger and half of the population is older) was 42.7 years which was below the provincial median (43.7 years) and above the national median (40.6 years). From 2001-2011, Wolfville’s median age increased by 3.4 years, compared to 4.9 years provincially and 3.0 years nationally.
Median Age 2011 Wolfville
42.7 years
NS
43.7 years 40.6 years
CAN
PUTTING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE OUR TOWN
OUR COUNTY
OUR ECONOMIC REGION
OUR PROVINCE
OUR COUNTRY
4,269
60,589
124,634
921,727
33,476,688
Wolfville as a %
7.0%
Population 2011
3.4%
0.5%
0.013%
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION In 2011, 67.4% of Wolfville’s population reported having a religious affiliation, a significantly lower percentage than both the provincial level of 78.2% and the national level of 76.1 %. In all cases these percentages are down from the levels of religious affiliation reported in 2001.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN MOST OFTEN AT HOME In 2011, residents of Wolfville reported the following as their mother tongue: English (93.9%), French (1.3%) and all others combined (4.8%). The comparable provincial numbers were English (94.2%), French (3.5%) and others combined (2.3%), and in Canada the numbers are English (64.3%), French (24.2%) and others combined (11.2%). In Wolfville the top three languages other than English and French were Arabic (2.5%), German (1.0%) & Chinese (0.7%). Like the rest of the province, Wolfville has far less linguistic diversity than the country as a whole.
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FAMILY STRUCTURE From 2001 to 2011, the number of families in Wolfville increased 11.4% (or by 118) from 1,039 to 1,157. Of this total, 65.9% (763) were married families, 16.9% (196) were common-law families and 16.8% (194) were lone-parent families.
ONE TOWN, TWO FACES As a small university town, both the size and demographic profile of Wolfville changes dramatically during the academic year when approximately 3,400 students attending Acadia University join the town’s 4,269 permanent residents.
CHILDREN/TEENS, ADULTS & SENIORS As of 2011, Wolfville had a higher proportion of seniors in the permanent population and a lower proportion of youth (less than 20 years of age) than both the provincial and national averages. CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC: AGE BREAKDOWN WOLFVILLE
58.3%
21.6%
25.0% 25.9% 18.0%
CANADA COOL FACT: In 2011, there were five people over 100 years of age living in Wolfville, all of whom were female.
61.1% 61.1% 60.1% 62.1% 62.0%
21.2% 23.3%
20.4%
2011
2001
NOVA SCOTIA
2001
<20 yrs
22.0% 13.9% 13.0%
2001
2011
16.6% 14.8%
2011 65+ yrs
20-64 yrs
MARITAL STATUS In 2011, Wolfville had a higher proportion of single people (never married) and a lower proportion of married people than both the provincial and national averages. The combined percentage of divorced or separated people in Wolfville of 11.9% is the same as the provincial percentage and marginally higher than the national figure of 11.5%.
SINGLE Wolfville NS CAN
MARRIED 40.9% 33.2% 36.1%
DID YOU KNOW? -
WIDOWED
DIVORCED
38.1% 48.0% 46.4%
SEPARATED 9.0%
2.9%
6.9%
8.2%
3.7%
6.0%
8.5%
3.0%
9.1%
THESE THINGS HAPPENED FIRST IN WOLFVILLE
- 1st town in Nova Scotia to pave its main street in 1911 - Canada’s 1st Fair Trade town - Canada’s 1st town to prohibit smoking in vehicles carrying children - Nova Scotia’s first community to produce a Vital Signs report (2009), and at the time the smallest municipality in the country to do so 5
GETTING STARTED & BELONGING WHY IT MATTERS:
To encourage others to make Wolfville their home, we must offer good employment opportunities and strong social supports.
IMMIGRATION IN 2012 In 2012, Wolfville welcomed 41 new immigrants. Of this total: 80.5% (33) were economic immigrants (skilled workers, investors and similar categories), 12.2% (5) were family class immigrants, 2.4% (1) were refugees, and 4.9% (2) were from other categories.
CITIZENSHIP
In 2011, at 8.5%, Wolfville had a higher proportion of non-Canadian citizens than both Nova Scotia (2.4%) and Canada (6.0%).
80.5% (33) were economic immigrants (skilled workers, investors and similar categories 12.2% (5) were family class immigrants 2.4% (1)were refugees 4.9% (2) were from all other immigrant categories
IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN WOLFVILLE In 2011, 11.0% of the population of Wolfville (440 people) was foreign born, more than double the provincial proportion (5.3%), but less than the national proportion (20.6%).
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FACT
Since 2008, 137 immigrants have indicated Wolfville as their destination upon arrival in Canada.
Proportion of Immigrants 11.0%
2011
Where do our local immigrants come from?
TOP 5 COUNTRIES 33.0% came from the United Kingdom 29.5% came from the United States 6.8% came from the Netherlands 5.7% came from Germany 4.5% came from Iraq
SENSE OF COMMUNITY BELONGING
Sense of Community Belonging 2012
In 2012, 71.5% of residents of the Annapolis Valley District Health Authority (AVDHA), reported a strong or somewhat strong sense of community belonging, down slightly from 74.5% in 2011. The AVDHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2012 level is comparable to the provincial average of 70.9% and higher than the national average of 66.1%.
AVDHA
71.5%
NS
70.9%
CAN
66.1%
VOLUNTEERING AND GIVING
53.0%
In 2010, 53.0% of residents in the Annapolis Valley were volunteers, compared to 55.3% provincially and 46.1% nationally. In the same year, 20.4% of tax filers in Kings County reported making a charitable donation, compared to 22.6% provincially and 23.4% nationally.
Since 2006 the percentage of tax filers reporting charitable donations has declined, but the level of giving has increased. In 2010, the median charitable donation made by Kings County residents was $360, which is $50 above the provincial level of $310 and $100 above the national level of $260. For Kings County this represented a $40 increase from 2006 to 2010, compared to an increase of only $10 both provincially and nationally.
of us volunteer
MEDIAN CHARITABLE DONATION 2010 IN KINGS COUNTY
$360
AVERAGE VOTER TURNOUT FOR ELECTIONS MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2012 MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2012
37.3% TURNOUT IN WOLFVILLE 42.7% TURNOUT IN NS
PROVINCIAL ELECTION 2009: KINGS SOUTH 31.9% TURNOUT IN WOLFVILLE PROVINCIAL ELECTION 2009
57.9% TURNOUT IN NS
FEDERAL ELECTION 2011: KINGS-HANTS
61.8% TURNOUT IN WOLFVILLE
FEDERAL ELECTION 2011
62.0% TURNOUT IN NS
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Organizations doing good in our community BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is the largest mentoring organization in Canada and has grown significantly in recent years in the Annapolis Valley from 12 children served in 2009 to 87 children served in 2012. Approximately 10% of all traditional matches within the Annapolis Valley are from Wolfville.
ROTARY CLUBS IN WOLFVILLE Small Examples of their Big Work: In 2013, the Rotary Club of Wolfville in conjunction with the Rotary Club of New Minas Sunrise and local elementary schools, helped raise $16,500 for breakfast and lunch programs within 6 local schools in the ‘Food for Thought’ program. In November 2012, the Mud Creek Rotary Club presented the Wolfville School with a cheque for $6,000.
A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY: L’ARCHE HOMEFIRES In Wolfville, L’Arche operates five homes and two apartments (located in Greenwich) that support 21 persons. Their 58 employees (38 full-time and 20 part-time) offer three programs supporting a total of 26 persons: Applewicks, a workshop producing candles and weaving, Cornerstone, a program serving people with high care needs, and Discoveries, a retirement program.
THE WOLFVILLE AREA FOOD BANK (WAFB) Established in 2007, the WAFB is open two Thursdays a month. Each client family may visit the food bank once a month where they will receive food that will last approximately 5 to 8 days. In 2012, the Wolfville Area Food Bank provided food to an average of 128 client families each month.
ACADIA S.M.I.L.E. PROGRAM Established in 1982, this program promotes fundamental motor development for children and youth with varying ability levels, while developing leadership skills for Acadia students. In the 2012-13 academic year, 315 volunteers committed over 20,000 hours of their time to serve 230 children and youth in our community.
FACT! In the 2012-13 academic year, over 20,100 volunteer hours were accumulated through the S.M.I.L.E. program!
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HOUSING WHY IT MATTERS:
Shelter is a basic human right. Accommodation for everyone needs to be available and affordable.
HOUSING STOCK Most (46.1%) of the housing units in Wolfville are apartment units found in apartment buildings, followed by singledetached houses (40.8%), apartment units found in duplexes (5.0%), row houses (4.5%) and semi-detached houses (3.3%). Total Units by Type Apartment, Building < five storeys 915 Single-detached House 810 Apartment, Duplex 100 Row House 90 Semi-detached House 65 Total Occupied Private Dwellings 1,985
NEW HOUSING
Proportion of Total 46.1% 40.8% 5.0% 4.5% 3.3%
1 IN 7 DWELLING UNITS HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE LAST 10 YRS
From 2003-2012, 260 housing units were created in Wolfville of which 153 (58.8%) were apartment units (58.8%), 80 (30.8%) were single houses, 20 (7.7%) were semi-detached and 7 (2.7%) were row houses. About 1 in 7 dwelling units in Wolfville has been built in the last 10 years.
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REAL ESTATE MARKET SUMMARY AVERAGE SALES PRICE Year Total Properties Sold Wolfville Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia As of June 2013 22 $253,564 $164,550 $220,643 2012 50 $217,704 $159,777 $217,930 2011 45 $197,650 $155,219 $210,514 2010 55 $227,682 $157,065 $203,355
PROPERTY TAX RATES COMPARISON (PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE)
Residential Rate 2013/14
Commercial Rate 2013/14
Town of Amherst $1.63 $4.45 Town of Berwick $1.51 $3.80 Town of Kentville $1.49 $3.57 Town of Wolfville $1.43 $3.55 Town of Lunenburg $1.28 $3.26 Municipality of the District of Yarmouth
$1.15
$2.15
Town of Antigonish $1.00 $2.53 Village of New Minas $0.43 $0.57 Village of Port Williams $0.36 $0.36 Municipality of Colchester $0.84 $2.25 Note: the Wolfville rate does not include the fire protection rate levied on all tax properties (0.063).
HOUSING ON ACADIA UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS Acadia University’s campus has 12 residences that can house 1,635 students. Total occupancy during the 2012-13 academic year was 1,501, for an occupancy rate of 91.8%. The number of students living on campus has increased 36.2% (399 students) since the 2007-08 academic year.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY- ANNAPOLIS VALLEY CHAPTER In 2011, Habitat for Humanity’s Annapolis Valley Chapter built their first home in Wolfville with the help of 300 volunteers. There are currently two families on the waiting list for the Annapolis Valley chapter.
HOUSING AUTHORITY & PUBLIC HOUSING There are five Housing Authorities in Nova Scotia, each responsible for the administration and management of rental housing units in their regions for both families and seniors. The Western Regional Housing Authority manages the units located in the Town of Wolfville, which include two family houses, 32 rent-supplemented apartments with private landlords, 55 seniors apartments where rent is based on income, and 14 affordable housing units. There is an application process for these units with a waiting list of 1-2 years.
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SAFETY
WHY IT MATTERS:
A sense of security contributes to our quality of life in Wolfville and our ability to enjoy life to its fullest. Personal safety affects how we socialize and participate in our communities. VALLEY SEARCH AND RESCUE Founded in 1972, Valley Search and Rescue is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization serving Kings County. Its 100 members respond to an average of 12 searches each year. They are the only organization to perform lost person searches in the county along with evidence searches for the local RCMP.
KEEPING ACADIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SAFE The Department of Safety and Security at Acadia University provides 24-hour security including active patrols, alarm response, medical response, fire response, a walk-home service, evening shuttle route and medical shuttle service. They also conduct investigations, safety audits and work with both on and off campus resources to facilitate a safe and secure environment for all. The Department of Safety and Security has a total of 55 staff, of which 14 are full-time, 6 are part time/casual, and 35 are Acadia students.
FIRE PROTECTION The Wolfville Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) has been serving the Town and surrounding communities since its establishment in 1890. In 2012, the WVFDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 41 volunteers responded to 104 emergency calls.
FIRE SERVICES PER PERSON Fire services per person indicates the efficiency of fire services and is calculated by dividing the total costs of fire services by population. In 2010, it cost $179 per person to provide fire services to Wolfville.
DID YOU KNOW? There are 226 fire hydrants in the Town of Wolfville:
-1 for every 10 private households -1 for every 19 people -2.6 for every town-owned street
In partnership with two other Departments, the WVFD is responsible for emergency response service for hazardous materials for the western part of Nova Scotia. 11
INCIDENCES OF CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS, PROPERTY AND DRIVING OFFENCES 2011 2012 Difference Crime Incidences against Persons Assault 53 76 +23 Harassment, Threats and Forcible Confinement 37 40 +3 Sexual Offences 9 8 -1 Total 99 124 +25 Crime Incidences against Property Break and Enter 40 65 +25 Theft of Motor Vehicle/Take Motor Vehicle without Consent 1 8 +7 Theft from Motor Vehicle 31 55 +24 Theft (over/under) and Possession of Stolen Property 75 119 +44 Shoplifting 12 22 +10 Mischief 131 108 -23 Other Property Related Crime 31 27 -4 Total 321 404 +83 Criminal Code Driving Offences Impaired Operation 13 7 -6 Dangerous Operation/Fail to stop or remain/Drive while disqualified 9 11 +2 Total 22 18 -4 From 2011 to 2012, crimes against persons increased by 25 incidences, the majority of which were assaults, while crimes against property increased by 83 incidences, the majority of which were theft and possession of stolen property. Criminal code driving offences decreased by four incidences during the same time period.
TOTAL CALLS FOR SERVICE In 2012, the Wolfville RCMP responded to 2,023 calls for service, up 39.4% from 2011 (1,451 calls), but down 49.0% from 2008 (3,968).
CALLS FOR SERVICE 2,023
2012 2011
1,451 3,968
2008
POLICE SERVICES PER PERSON Police services per person indicates the efficiency of police services and is calculated by dividing total costs of police services by population. In 2010, the Town of Wolfville spent $289 per person to provide police services. By comparison, the Town of Kentville spent $383 per person (32.5% more than Wolfville) and the Town of Berwick spent $242 per person (16.2% less than Wolfville) in the same year.
POLICE TO POPULATION RATIO The police-to-population ratio in Wolfville is 1 officer for every 474 permanent residents. The comparable ratio for the province as a whole is 1 officer for every 564 persons.
SPENDING PER PERSON IN 2010 $289
Wolfville
$383
Kentville Berwick
$242
474 PERMANENT RESIDENTS
TRAFFICKING, PRODUCTION AND POSSESSION OF DRUGS In 2012, there were 68 drug-related offences in Wolfville, which was more than double the 32 offences in 2011. 12
GETTING AROUND
WHY IT MATTERS:
The prosperity of the economy, the health of the environment and the productivity of citizens depends upon the availability of strong transportation systems.
HOW DO WE TRAVEL TO WORK? 1.6% Take Public Transit 2.8% Said Other 4.4% Bike
Drive
67.3%
23.9% Walk
(Compared to 84.6% provincially and 79.7% nationally)
(Compared to 6.8% provincially and 5.7% nationally)
PEOPLE IN WOLFVILLE WALK AND CYCLE MUCH MORE THAN THEIR PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL PEERS
TRANSPORTATION & SENIORS As our population continues to age, it is important to have adequate and accessible transportation that meets the needs of seniors in our community. Wolfville seniors report the following as their primary means of transportation: drive themselves (46%), public transit (32%), catch a ride (16%) and take a cab (6%). 13
PUBLIC TRANSIT TOWN SPENDING ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION The Town of Wolfville spent $89,658 on public transportation in 2012 ($21.00 per person), down 26.5% from 2011 levels ($121,958 /$28.57 per person).
KINGS TRANSIT AUTHORITY This is the only public busing system in the Annapolis Valley and is fully accessible. It is funded by the County of Kings and the Towns of Berwick, Kentville and Wolfville. Service Area: Brooklyn (Hants County) to Weymouth (Digby County) Transit Fares: One way from any location â&#x20AC;&#x201C; General $3.50, Children <5 - free, Children 5-11 - $1.75 Most Popular Route: Wolfville - Greenwood Ridership: Ridership on the Wolfville-Greenwood route was 247,953 for 2011-12, up 5.9% from 2010-11 (234,090), although down 6.2% from 2008-09 (264,441).
KINGS POINT-TO-POINT TRANSIT This non-profit organization provides door-to-door transportation services for all Kings County residents who do not have access to transportation. Service Area: Kings County Fleet: 3 wheelchair accessible vans, 2 wheelchair accessible minibuses and 2 passenger vans. Drivers: 7 employed drivers and 5 volunteer drivers. Cost: One-time membership fee of $10, plus per km rates starting at $7 for trips up to 7 kms. RIdership: 16,933 in 2012, up 12.8% from 2011 (15,006) and nearly twice the 2008 level (8,878).
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND ACADIA UNIVERSITY In 2013, Kings Transit proposed a universal bus pass system at a cost of $125 per student for all Acadia students. The proposal was rejected with 81% of students voting against it.
Top Reasons Acadia Students Give For NOT Using Kings Transit In 2011, only 3% of students surveyed used public transportation at least once a month.
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1. 33% own their own cars and drive 2. 32% say that bus routes take too long and are not worth it 3. 30% carpool or get rides with someone else 4. 24% find it too expensive 5. 20% find service to campus is too infrequent
ACCESS TO HALIFAX STANFIELD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Fact: It is approximately 95.1 kilometers from Wolfville to the Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS & COSTS TO THE AIRPORT Transportation Options
2013 Cost
Maritime Bus $23.29 (Regular) , $19.79 (Student) Wood’s Limousine $125.00 CJ’s Taxi $130.00
Walking in Wolfville Wolfville is considered a “walkable” town, where walking specific space is represented by: - 9.5 km of existing trail plus 6.93 km of new trails proposed - 1.77 km of rails-to-trails
Of the 88 streets in Wolfville, 41 (46.6%) now have sidewalks on at least one side of the street, compared to 33 of 82 streets (40.2%) in 2009.
86% of Wolfville residents feel the Town offers enjoyable surroundings and walking routes, compared to only 66% of people in Nova Scotia.
- 1.5 km of woodland trail - 25 km of sidewalks 82% feel safe from becoming a victim of crime on walking routes in Wolfville, compared to only 73% people in Nova Scotia.
75% feel the location of walking routes and proximity to key destinations such as shops, services, work, school, and community facilities in the town are good, compared to only 48% in Nova Scotia.
DID YOU KNOW? On average, there are 306 dwelling units within 400 meters of each bus stop in Wolfville. As of April 2012, there were 995 parking spaces in downtown Wolfville. Excluding Acadia University’s campus, there are no parking meters in the Town of Wolfville. Of the 88 town-owned streets in Wolfville, 41 (46.6%) have sidewalks on at least one side of the street. The total number of town-owned streets have increased by 7.3% since 2009 (from 82), and the total number of streets with at least partial sidewalks have increased by 24.2% (from 33). 15
ENVIRONMENT WHY IT MATTERS:
Clean air and water, uncontaminated soil, and green spaces are essential to healthy living. Preserving and protecting our local environment creates a strong foundation for our childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future. Rich agricultural land and views of the highest tides in the world from the Bay of Fundy make our community a beautiful place.
27% Agricultural
HOW LAND IN WOLFVILLE IS USED The Town of Wolfville covers 664 hectares of land. Of this area, 50% is used for residential purposes, 27% is used for agricultural purposes, 10% is occupied by Acadia University, 5% is occupied by parks and recreation (open space) and the remaining 8% is used for other commercial and institutional purposes (4%), transportation (2%) and central commercial purposes (2%).
50% Residential Acadia University
10%
Parks & Recreation
5%
Other Commercial & Industrial
4%
Central Commercial
2%
Transportation
2%
A VITAL PART OF OUR ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY The Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens is an outdoor classroom for the Acadia community and the public to learn about native plants and ecological gardening and to gain an understanding of ecosystems and the relationships between plants and ecology. The Gardens are home to more than 20,000 plants native to the Acadian Forest Region as well as several hundred nonnative plants that were brought by Acadian and Planter settlers for food or medicinal purposes. 16
WATER CONSUMPTION
AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL DAILY WATER USE
In 2009, each person in Wolfville used an average of 321.4 liters of water daily, down 7.1% from the 2006 level (346.0 L). The 2009 consumption is higher than both the provincial (292.0 L) and national (274.0 L) levels.
Wolfville 2009
321.4 L
Wolfville 2006
346.0 L
NS 2009
292.0 L
CAN 2009
274.0 L
TOWN SPENDING ON GARBAGE, WASTE COLLECTION & REMOVAL In 2012, the Town of Wolfville spent $386,944 on garbage and waste collection and disposal, up 7.1% from 2011 ($361,170).
TOTAL WASTE STATIONS IN PUBLIC AREAS There are 61 recycling and waste stations in public areas within the Town of Wolfville.
WASTE MANAGEMENT From 2006-07 to 2012-13, Wolfville has made marked improvements in the composition of its waste stream. During this time period, the proportion of recyclables increased from 13.3% to 17.2% of the Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total waste while the proportion of organics increased from 19.1% to 27.5%. In turn, this has reduced the residual waste from 67.6% to 55.3% over the same period.
RECYCLABLES 2006-07 13.3%
2011-12
17.2%
ORGANICS
19.1%
27.5%
RESIDUAL WASTE 67.6%
55.3%
DID YOU KNOW? The Robin Tufts Nature Centre in Wolfville has long been home to a species of migratory birds known as Chimney Swifts. These birds migrate from Peru in South America each summer and take shelter in a chimney. Sadly, the Canadian population of Chimney swifts is estimated to have declined by almost 30% in the past 13 years. This decline prompted the NS Department of Natural Resources to classify Chimney Swifts as an endangered species in 2007.
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WHY IT MATTERS:
Arts and culture inspire people and help to fuel innovation.
ARTS & CULTURE EMPLOYMENT RELATED TO ARTS, CULTURE, RECREATION AND SPORT In 2011, 55 people (2.9% of the labour force) in Wolfville had occupations related to arts, culture, recreation and sport, which is an increase from 44 (2.3%) in 2006. Wolfvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2011 level is slightly above the provincial level of 2.4% and is equal to the national level of 2.9%.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE TOWN OF WOLFVILLE TO CULTURE For the 2012-13 fiscal year, the Town budgeted $170,200 for cultural services (or $39.87 per person). Since 2008-09, the Town of Wolfville has increased its cultural services budget by an average of 1.4% annually.
2.9% of occupations in Wolfville are arts related
TOWN BUDGET FOR CULTURAL SERVICES
$39.87 per person
PERFORMING ARTS SERIES A performing arts series has existed at Acadia for over 75 years. From 2010-11 to 2012-13, ticket revenues increased 18.3% (from $79,329 to $93,839), while audience numbers increased 11.7% (3,786 to 4,286). The series also includes workshops and outreach activities that have served more than 1,150 persons since 2010-11.
ACADIA UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY Established in 1978 as a public gallery, the Acadia art gallery has over 2,000 works of art in their permanent collection and shows 6 exhibits annually displaying artistic works from Nova Scotia, Canada and abroad.
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2011
ESTABLISHED IN 1978 2000 WORKS OF ART 6 EXHIBITS ANNUALLY
ACADIA CINEMA CO-OP’S AL WHITTLE THEATRE The Acadia Cinema Cooperative Ltd. opened the Al Whittle Theatre in 2004. As of September 1st, 2013 4,543 shares have been purchased by 731 shareholders, for a total investment of $454,300 in the theatre by individuals in the community. In the 2012-13 season, the Theatre hosted 237 performances and events, with a total audience of 16,999.
NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES/EVENTS AND AVERAGE ATTENDENCE BY TYPE OF SHOW 2012-13 Total: 9,138 people
Total: 3,238 people
114
108 Total: 478 people 80
57
30
MUSIC CONCERTS
37
Total: 149 people 10
LIVE THEATRE
59
Total: 780 people
50
FILM
80
Total: 356 people
Total: 2,860 people
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PRIVATE PARTIES
21
MEETINGS
6 FUNDRAISING EVENTS
6 OTHER (EG. DANCE RECITAL)
FUNDY FILM SOCIETY The Fundy Film Society (FFS) is a nonprofit society and member of the Toronto International Film Festival Group’s Film Circuit. Since 2002, the FFS has screened over five hundred films and, since 2004, it has been the anchor tenant of the Al Whittle Theatre.
THE FEZZIWIG SOCIETY The Fezziwig Society is a non-profit theatre group with a cast and crew of 100 plus. Started in 1995, each year’s production includes four shows at the 500+ seat Festival Theatre which have become a holiday tradition for Wolfville and its neighboring communities.
WOW - WOMEN OF WOLFVILLE WOW began in 2001 when the group joined a world-wide movement to stop violence against women. Each year a diverse group ranging from youth to seniors aim to raise awareness of women`s issues and inequality using theatre as the means to fundraise for relevant charities. Proceeds from WOW shows have raised in excess of $100,000 for over 30 charities that help women and children, both locally and in other parts of the world.
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THE TOWN OF WOLFVILLE’S COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM This Program provides financial assistance to non-profit organizations that provide recreational and cultural services, events or festivals, and support for operators whose facilities are available for use by the community. For 2012-13, the Town of Wolfville budgeted $64,600 for this program, down $4,000 from a five-year high of $68,600 in 2009-10. To date, contributions for 2012/13 have been made to 21 different organizations including: -Festivals & Events: Women of Wolfville, Valley Summer Theatre, Deep Roots Music Festival, Valley Harvest -Marathon, Fezziwig and Acadia Performing Arts Series. -Programs: Tritons Swim Club, Acadia Minor Hockey Association, Wolfville Skating Club, Wolfville Minor Soccer, Acadia Minor Basketball and East Kings Soccer. -Facilities: Acadia Cinema Co-Op, Wolfville Lions Club
RANDALL HOUSE MUSEUM The Randall House Museum reflects the way of life in Wolfville and its surrounding area in the 18th and 19th centuries. From 2009-2011, attendance at the museum has increased an average of 30% compounded annually (from 658 in 2009 to 1,106 in 2011). By comparison, attendance for all community museums in the Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley tourism region declined an average of 17.2% annually, while attendance at community museums across Nova Scotia increased an average of only 3.9% annually over the same two year period.
THE MAGIC WINERY BUS The Magic Winery Bus provides guided tours of local wineries, allowing guests to ‘wine their way through the Annapolis Valley’ on a traditional British double decker bus. During its first season in 2012, the Bus welcomed 2,800 guests.
DEEP ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL Throughout the year the Deep Roots Music Cooperative holds a number of concerts, fund-raisers, benefits and educational events. The largest event is the Deep Roots Music Festival, hosted in Wolfville during the last weekend of September since 2004. In 2012, ticket sales for the Festival totaled 1,164, up 8.6% from 2011 (1,072), but down 32.1% from 2010 (1,714).
VARSITY SPORTS AT ACADIA - STAND UP AND CHEER! Acadia University has 11 varsity sports teams including men’s and women’s basketball, soccer and swimming, men’s football and hockey, and women’s volleyball, rugby, and cross-country. In the 2012-13 year, there were 750 season ticket holders for hockey, 250 for football and 150 for basketball. 20
TOTAL # OF SEASON TICKETS SOLD 2012-13 Total Season Sport Ticket Holders
Hockey Football Basketball
750 250 150
THE WOLFVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET
A Vital Part of Our Community
The Wolfville Farmers’ market is a nonprofit cooperative that operates on Saturdays year-round, and on Wednesday evenings from May to December. Established by 3 vendors in 1992, the market now hosts approximately 60 vendors each week. A community fundraising campaign raised $192,500 to support the investment needed to renovate the DeWolfe building, which became the new home of the market in May 2011. Customer counts indicate the average number of people that went to the Saturday market in 2012 was approximately 790 per week, up from a weekly average of approximately 600 in 2010.
WOLFVILLE MEMORIAL LIBRARY Items Borrowed In 2011-12, 4,911 active members borrowed a total of 80,583 items from the Wolfville Memorial Library, up 4.8% from 2010-11 (76,927 items). This increase is comparable to the increase of 4.5% for all public libraries in the Annapolis Valley, but much higher than the average increase provincially of 0.4% for the same time period. Hours of Public Computer Use In 2011-12, public computer use at the library totaled 6,196 hours, down 35.4% from 2010-11 (9,592 hours). Public computer use declined 10.0% for all public libraries in the Annapolis Valley, compared to a 2.8% increase provincially during the same time period. Programs Offered & Attendance In 2011-12, 209 programs were offered at the library, down from 312 programs in 2010-11. Despite fewer programs being offered, attendance was up 11.1% (from 2,178 to 2,419).
DID YOU KNOW? Active Wolfville library members borrowed an average of 18.9 items in 2011-12! In 2010-11, the number of items borrowed from the Wolfville Memorial Library (76,927) was more than double the number borrowed from Acadia University’s library collection (31,088).
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WHY IT MATTERS:
Be active! Your body, mind and the health care system will thank you.
RECREATION WEEKLY PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Adults In 2011, adults in Wolfville were physically active 4.1 times per week for an average of 48 minutes each time. Wolfvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frequency of physical activity is comparable to both the provincial (4.1) and national (4.0) levels, while its average duration is well below both the provincial and national average (65 minutes per session).
Adult Average Physical Activity Duration Wolfville
48 mins
NS
65 mins
CAN
65 mins
Child Physical Activity Participation Children In 2012, children in Wolfville were active an average of 5.7 times per week, 5.7 times/week Wolfville below the provincial rate of 6.2 times per week and about par with the national 6.2 times/week NS rate of 5.8 times per week. CAN
5.8 times/week
GETTING KIDS ACTIVE The top 5 physical activities children participate in on a regular basis in Wolfville are:
SWIMMING (24%) 22
BASKETBALL (24%)
DANCING (21%)
WALKING (20%)
SKATING (19%)
DID YOU KNOW?
- YOUTH RECREATION HABITS
81% of children watch television almost everyday
VS.
14% use a trail or pathway almost everyday
Since 2008-09, the Town of Wolfville has served over 2,350 kids in their programs of which 70.7% were Wolfville residents.
The Mudley Fund is designed to help children and youth from the Town of Wolfville participate in sport, recreational and cultural opportunities (who could otherwise not do so due to financial limitations).
CONTRIBUTION OF THE TOWN OF WOLFVILLE TO RECREATION For the 2012-13 fiscal year, the Town of Wolfville budgeted $255,400 (or $59.83 per person) on recreation services. Since 2008-09, the Town of Wolfville has decreased its recreation services budget by an average of 2.4% annually. The Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mudley Fund provides financial assistance to enable local children and youth to participate in local recreation and cultural opportunities.
THE TOWN OF WOLFVILLEâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;YOUTH ACTIVITY PROGRAM STATISTICS In 2011-12, the Town offered week long summer camps, after school programs and March break programs for youth with a combined enrolment of 456, down 28% from the average attendance of 633 over the prior three years. The decline in enrolment was more significant for youth living outside Wolfville (51.5% decline). For Town residents, the combined enrolment in the after school and March break programs actually increased 54.7% to 231 in 2011-12, up from an average enrolment of 149 over the prior three years. Only the summer programs declined for Wolfville residents, down to 129 in 2011/12 compared to an average of 286 the prior three years (54.8% decline).
MINOR SPORTS IN WOLFVILLE Wolfville has numerous opportunities for citizens to participate in minor sports. Local organizations include the Acadia Minor Basketball Association, Acadia Minor Hockey Association, Wolfville Soccer Club, Wolfville Tritons Swim Club, Wolfville Skating Club, East Kings Soccer Club, Valley Athletics Club, Wolfville Gymnastics Club and Valley Bulldogs Minor Football.
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SATISFACTION WITH RECREATION FACILITIES A 2011 survey indicated 82% of Wolfville residents are satisfied with the Town’s recreation facilities, a higher satisfaction rate than both the provincial level (63%) and national level (76%).
PARKS & TRAILS IN WOLFVILLE Wolfville has a total of 14 parks and trails, including the Kiernan Pathways / Millennium / McKay Rawden trails, which include the Town’s portions of the Annapolis Valley Trail System, a 200-kilometer trail between Wolfville and Digby.
AVAILABILITY& USE OF TRAILS AND PATHWAYS Compared to provincial levels, a higher proportion of Wolfville residents feel the availability of trails and pathways in the Town is good and a higher proportion use trails and pathways at least once a month.
Recreation & Sports At Acadia University RECREATION ON CAMPUS Acadia University recreation facilities available for use by local residents include two gyms, an Olympic-sized ice surface, 25-metre swimming pool, cardio center, weight room, racquetball and squash courts, outdoor stadium with artificial turf, national standard 8-lane all-weather track, practice fields, tennis courts, jogging paths, walking and hiking trails. As of July 2013, there were 385 people from the community that held facility passes for the Acadia University Athletic Complex and 100 with passes for the swimming pool.
SEATING CAPACITY OF FACILITIES STADIUM GYM ARENA 2,100 1,500 2,100
FACT: In 2011-12, 33.5% of all Acadia student-athletes were recognized as Academic All-Canadians. This rate is above the average of 27.0% for all Atlantic Canada’s universities.
GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED! Each year, Acadia Athletics organizes and facilitates numerous sports camps and clinics led by Acadia varsity coaches and athletes, including: basketball, hockey, volleyball, multi-sport, swimming and soccer camps.
THE VALLEY HARVEST MARATHON In October 2012, the Town and Acadia University hosted the 20th annual Valley Harvest Marathon with 1,688 participants, up 7.6% from 1,569 runners in 2011.
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LEARNING WHY IT MATTERS:
Successful communitites offer residents abundant, affordable and flexible opportunities to learn in formal school settings, at work or online.
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF WOLFVILLE’S POPULATION AGED 25-64 LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL
WOLFVILLE
NS
CAN
6.9%
14.6%
14.6%
12.7%
HIGH SCHOOL
5.8%
21.7%
23.2%
APPRENTICESHIP OR TRADE
COLLEGE OR OTHER UNIVERSITY, BELOW NON-UNIVERSITY BACHELOR LEVEL
4.4%
17.6%
13.1%
12.1%
UNIVERSITY, CERTIFICATE, DIPLOMA OR DEGREE
50.5%
23.1%
21.3%
4.1%
4.9%
23.4%
25.9%
IN 2011 50.5% OF THE POPULATION IN WOLFVILLE AGED 25-64 HELD SOME FORM OF UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE, DIPLOMA OR DEGREE AS THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION COMPLETED, EFFECTIVELY DOUBLE BOTH THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL OF 23.4% AND NATIONAL LEVEL OF 25.9%. 25
EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE IN WOLFVILLE In 2013, there were three licensed childcare facilities in Wolfville in addition to the Fairweather Montessori Private School for children aged 3-6 which opened in September.
FACILITY NAME LICENSED CAPACITY AGE RANGE Building Blocks Pre-School 20 2-5 yrs Wolfville Children’s Centre 15 5-12 yrs Wolfville Children’s Centre (Main Centre) 40 18 months-5 yrs Wolfville Children’s Centre (Main Centre) 10 5-12 yrs
SCHOOL BOARD ENROLLMENTS During the 2012-13 academic year, the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board (AVRSB) served 43 schools and 13,579 students (11.1% of all enrollment in Nova Scotia), down 16.5% or 2,680 students from 16,259 in 2005-06. AVRSB enrollments have declined an average of 2.5% compounded annually since 200506, compared to an average decline of 2.0% for the province.
2012-13 ENROLLMENTS ARE DOWN 16.5% (OR 2680 STUDENTS) SINCE 2005-06
FUNDING PER STUDENT 2012-13 SRSB
$12,578
CSAP
$12,533
CBVRSB
$11,816
SSRSB
SCHOOL BOARD FUNDING
TCRSB
In the 2012-13 academic year, the AVRSB spent $9,593 per student to deliver public education in the area which was 3.5% below the provincial average of $9,936.
NS AVRSB CCRSB HRSB
$10,865 $10,616 $9,936 $9,593 $9,204 $8,966
WOLFVILLE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT In 2011-12, Wolfville School changed from a P-9 to a P-8 school. For this reason, only P-8 grade levels are considered in reporting past enrollment numbers. From 2005-06 to 2012-13, total enrollment in P-8 grade levels at the Wolfville School declined 107 students, from 430 to 323 students. This included a dramatic one year decline of 29 students in 2012-13, with the combined enrollment in the P-2 grade levels accounting for 26 of the overall reduction. This substantial one year decline in P-2 enrollment is inconsistent with attrition rates typical of these grade levels. Combined enrollment in the P-2 grade levels at the beginning of the current (2013-14) school year is 77, an increase of 18 from 2012/13. Enrollment in the primary level is 35, a level that has only been exceeded on two occasions in the last 10 years. Total enrollment in the school (P-8) at the beginning of the current school year is 336 students, an increase of 13 from 2012-13.
PRIVATE SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS Within the Town there are two private schools: New Booker that serves children from primary to grade 8, and Landmark East that serves students diagnosed with learning disabilities in grades 3 through 12. The 2012-13 academic year was the first year of operations for New Booker. It had 19 students from P-6. Landmark East had 53 students, down 13 (19.7%) from 2005-06 (66). Overall there were 392 students enrolled in the six private schools in the Annapolis Valley in 2012-13, down 147 (27.3%) from 2005-06 (539), for an average decline of 4.4% compounded annually.
HORTON HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT There were 996 students enrolled at Horton High School during the 2011-12 academic year, up 51 (5.4%) from 201011 (945). Enrollment has remained in the range of 945 to 1,008 students since 2003-04.
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PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS MEETING EXPECTATIONS IN READING (2011-2012)
PROVINCIAL ASSESSMENT AND EXAMINATIONS
Wolfville School/Horton High HS
AVRSB
NS
94 85 84 85
74 74
READING During the 2011-12 school year, reading scores declined through the grade levels. While Wolfville School students in grade 3 exceeded both the AVRSB and provincial averages for reading, those in grade 6 were on par with both averages and Horton High School students in grade 9 fell below both the board and provincial averages.
GRADE 3
GRADE 9
GRADE 6
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS MEETING EXPECTATIONS IN WRITING (2011-2012)
WRITING During the 2011-12 school year, writing scores declined through the grade levels. While Wolfville School students in grade 3 achieved a perfect score for information writing and a score of 91% for narrative writing, significantly exceeding both the AVRSB and provincial averages, those in grade 6 exceed the Board average and were on par with the provincial average and Horton High School students in grade 9 fell below both the board and provincial averages.
80 76 79
100
91
81
78
88
87
81
83 86
91
60 56
GRADE 3 Narrative
GRADE 3 Information
GRADE 6
GRADE 9
MATH During the 2011-12 school year, Wolfville School students in grades 3 and 8 exceeded both the AVRSB and provincial averages for math, while students in grade 6 fell below both averages.In the same year, Horton High School students taking Grade 12 math exceeded both the AVRSB and provincial averages, while those taking Grade 12 advanced math fell below both averages.
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS MEETING EXPECTATIONS IN MATH (2011-2012)
88 75 74
56
GRADE 3
63 66
GRADE 6
71
63 50 52
GRADE 8
54 56
GRADE 12
64
70 69
GRADE 12 ADV
DID YOU KNOW?
Provincial examinations at the Grade 12 level have been discontinued as of the 2012-2013 school year.
DID YOU KNOW?- FINDING FRENCH IMMERSION Wolfville students wishing to enroll in French immersion must attend New Minas Elementary for the P-5 grade levels and then move on to Evangeline Middle School. In the 2012-13 school year, 23 students from P-5 from Wolfville attended French immersion at New Minas Elementary. 27
Where did Horton Highâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Class of 2012 go? GRADUATION RATES For the 2011-12 academic year, 296 students were enrolled in grade 12 at Horton High School and 271 (91.6%) graduated, up from a graduation rate of 88.0% in the prior year. Graduation rates for Horton were higher than the AVRSB (82.7%) and provincial (86.4%) levels in 2011-12.
Horton High School AVRSB Nova Scotia University 51.3% 38.6% 45.9% Community College 16.6% 21.9% 20.3% Joined the Workforce 1.8% 17.1% 13.2% Other 0% 5.1% 4.9% Unknown 30.3% 17.4% 15.6%
ACADIA UNIVERSITY DID YOU KNOW? Acadia University was ranked 4th out of 19 universities in the primarily undergraduate category by Macleanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Magazine Annual University Rankings. Acadia University has ranked within the Top 3 of this category 19 times in the past 21 years, and 4th the other 2 years. During the 2011-12 academic year, 59.0% of Acadia University students were female. This trend is very similar to that experienced by all Maritime universities over the past 10 years.
ENROLLMENT During the 2011-12 academic year, there were 3,873 students enrolled at Acadia University, up 262 students (7.3%) from 2010-11, and up 423 students (12.3%) from a 10-year low of 3,450 in 2007-08. Full-time student enrollment in 2012-12 accounted for 86.1% of total enrollment, while the remaining 13.9% were part-time students.
Most Popular Programs at Acadia in 2012 by Enrollment 32.5% Other (Independent)
32.5% Arts
37.5% Professional Studies
32.5% Sciences
Where Did Our 2012 Freshmen Come From? United States 2.0% Western Canada 9.0% International 10.0%
Central Canada 16.0%
63.0% Eastern Canada
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT During the 2011-12 academic year, 443 international students were enrolled at Acadia University (372 full time and 71 part time). From 2007-08 to 2011-12, international students accounted for 12.0% of enrolment at Acadia, compared 10.8% for all universities in Nova Scotia and 10.0% for all Maritime universities over the same time period.
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WHY IT MATTERS:
A healthy economy is the engine of prosperity. Quality of life, in all its aspects, is greater for all residents when the economy is strong. Businesses and residents have greater resiliency when the economy is robust and vibrant.
ECONOMY GDP GROWTH (2007 DOLLARS) AND GDP GROWTH RATE In 2012, Wolfville’s GDP was $220 million, or 0.7% of the provincial total ($32.3 billion), which is disproportionate on a population basis as Wolfville makes up only 0.5% of the total population.Since 2006, Wolfville’s compounded average annual GDP growth rate of 1.5% has exceeded both the provincial (0.9%) and national (1.3%) rates.
PRODUCTIVITY: GDP PER WORKER (2007 DOLLARS) In 2012, Wolfville’s GDP per worker was $69,074 or 85.3% of the provincial level ($80,932) and 68.1% of the national level ($101,485). Since 2006, Wolfville’s compounded average annual GDP per worker growth rate of 0.4% has exceeded both the provincial and national rates of 0.2%.
GDP PER PERSON (2007 DOLLARS) In 2011, Wolfville’s GDP per person was $51,066, or 1.5 times the provincial level ($34,071) and 1.2 times the national level ($43,965). Since 2006, Wolfville’s GDP per person has declined an average of 0.8% compounded annually, compared to an average growth rate of 0.9% compounded annually provincially and 0.1% compounded nationally.
ANNUAL GDP GROWTH RATE 2006-2012 Wolfvillle NS
1.5% 1.3%
CAN
0.9%
GDP PER WORKER 2012 $69,074
Wolfville
$80,932
NS CAN
$101,485
GDP PER PERSON 2011 Wolfville NS CAN
$51,066 $34,071 $43,965
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CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY From 2003-2012, 518 building permits were issued in Wolfville with a construction value of $105.2 million. The breakdown of the number and value of permits is as follows:
NUMBER OF PERMITS
% OF TOTAL
TOTAL VALUE ($ MILLIONS)
% OF TOTAL
RESIDENTIAL 416 80.3% $60.25 57.3% COMMERCIAL 78 15.1% $11.26 10.7% INSTITUTIONAL 24 4.6% $33.69 32.0% TOTAL 518 $105.21
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ACADIA UNIVERSITY For the fiscal year end 2012, Acadia University’s total operating expenses were approximately $88.7 million and have averaged $85.7 million per year during the previous five year period. Over that same five year period, Acadia University spent an additional $32.4 million on new capital assets. BUSINESS COMPOSITION 2012
Accommodations 8.0%
BUSINESS COMPOSITION BY SECTOR
28% Professional services
Bar & Restaurant 12.0%
In 2012, there were 157 businesses in Wolfville, represented by the following industries:
25% Services (General)
THE WOLFVILLE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (WBDC)
27% Retail
Established in 1980, the WBDC is an independent corporation that represents the interests of Wolfville businesses and business people. It is funded directly by businesses and works in partnership with the Town of Wolfville, Acadia University and business owners. The WBDC promotes Wolfville through marketing initiatives which create a positive profile for the Town and drive business activity. Community events supported by the WBDC include the Mud Creek Festival, the Wolfville Magic Winery Bus, Painting our Town Red & Blue, the Christmas Campaign, Saltscapes East Coast Expo and the Bloom Celebration. In 2013, the WBDC had 150 members of varying sizes and representing diverse industries.
TOURISM REVENUES AND RELATED MUNICIPAL TAXES TOURISM REGION
TOURISM REVENUES (MILLIONS)
TAX REVENUES (MILLIONS)
Halifax Metro $1,084 (53.7%) $14.5 (59.4%) Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley
$293 (14.5%)
$2.3 (9.4%)
Cape Breton Island $251 (12.4%) $3.2 (13.1%) South Shore $161 (8.0%) $1.8 (7.4%) Northumberland Shore $158 (7.8%) $1.5 (6.1%) Yarmouth & Acadian Shores $43 (2.1%) $0.8 (3.3%) Eastern Shore $29 (1.4%) $0.3 (1.2%) Total $2,019 $24.4 Wolfville is included in the Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley Tourism Region (one of 7 regions in the province). In 2010, tourism revenues in the Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley region were $293 million or 14.5% of the provincial total ($2.091 billion). This is the second highest revenue of the seven regions, ahead of Cape Breton, although well behind the Halifax Metro region’s tourism revenues of $1.084 billion in 2010. 30
TOURIST VISITS TO WOLFVILLE In 2010, 8% of those who visited Nova Scotia stopped in Wolfville. Of this total, 75% made same-day trips (no overnight stay), while 25% made overnight trips. In 2012, 8,794 persons visited the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) in Wolfville. Of those who visited the VIC, 74% were from Canada, with the breakdown among Canadian vistors being 50% from Atlantic Canada, 22% Ontario, 20% Western Canada,7% Quebec, and 1% unknown. For the 26% that came from outside Canada, the top 6 places visitors originated from were Germany (3.2%), England (2.5%), California (1.2%), and Florida, New York and Australia all at 0.9%.
LABOUR FORCE = EMPLOYED + UNEMPLOYED KEY LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS TOWN OF WOLFVILLE NS
CAN
Labour Force Participation Rate
66.0%
54.5% (1,955 people)
63.1%
Employed 86.4% (1,690 people) 90.0% 92.2% Unemployed 13.6% (265 people) 10.0% 7.8%
LABOUR FORCE STATUS In 2011, of the 3,585 Wolfville residents 15 years and older, 54.5% (1,955 persons) were in the labour force. This rate is well below the provincial level of 63.1% and national level of 66.0%. Of the 1,955 persons in Wolfvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s labour force, 86.4% (1,690) were employed and 13.6% (265) were unemployed. At 13.6%, Wolfvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unemployment rate in 2011 was above the provincial rate of 10.0% and the national rate of 7.8%.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT RATE
are self-employed
In 2011, 14.7% of the labour force in Wolfville was classified as self-employed, while 85.3% was classified as employees. The percentage of those selfemployed in Wolfville exceeds both the provincial level of 8.5% and the national level of 11.0%.
PART-TIME VS. FULL-TIME WORKERS In 2010, 77.6% of Wolfville residents who were employed worked full-time, while 22.4% worked part-time. The proportion working part-time was above the provincial level of 19.1% and the national level of 19.9%.
14.7% 85.3% are employed
work part-time
22.4% 77.6% work full-time
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TOP 6 INDUSTRIES IN WOLFVILLE 2011 INDUSTRY # PERSONS
% OF THE LABOUR FORCE WOLFVILLE NS CAN
Educational Services 470 24.0% 8.0% 7.2% Health Care and Social Assistance 260 13.3% 12.3% 10.8% Retail Trade 190 9.7% 12.6% 11.3% Accommodation and Food Services 160 8.2% 6.5% 6.3% Public Administration 130 6.6% 9.7% 7.0% Admin. & Support, Waste Management &
130
6.6%
4.9%
4.0%
Remediation Services
Note: percentages are based on a total of 1,910 persons, as 45 persons in Wolfville’s total labour force of 1,955 had no industry classification. WHERE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN WOLFVILLE WORK
PLACES TO WORK
52.6% Wolfville
Most people (52.6%) who live in Wolfville work in Wolfville, while 25% work in Kings subdivisions followed by 13.4% who work in Kentville. Fewer than 10% of those who live in Wolfville work in Halifax, Middleton or Windsor.
25.0% Kings Subdivisions
13.4% Kentville 9.0% Halifax, Middleton, or Windsor WHERE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN WOLFVILLE LIVE
By comparison, most people (56.9%) who work in Wolfville live in Kings subdivisions, followed by 28.4% who live in Wolfville and 7.2% who live in Kentville. Fewer than 10% of those who work in Wolfville live in West Hants, Windsor or Halifax.
56.9% Kings subdivisions
28.4% Wolfville
7.2% Kentville 7.5% Halifax, Middleton, or Windsor
TOP 5 OCCUPATIONS IN WOLFVILLE 2011 OCCUPATION
# PERSONS
WOLFVILLE
NS
CAN
Education, Law & Social, Community, Government Services
530
27.1%
12.7%
11.5%
Sales & Services
385
19.7%
24.0%
22.6%
Management
220
11.3%
9.9%
10.9%
Business, Finance & Administration
165
8.4%
14.5%
16.1%
Health
165
8.4%
6.9%
6.2%
Natural & Applied Sciences and Related Occupations
140
7.2%
5.8%
6.9%
Note: percentages are based on a total of 1,915 persons, as 40 persons in Wolfville’s total labour force of 1,955 had no industry classification. 32
SHARED PROSPERITY WHY IT MATTERS:
When there is a large gap between the rich and poor in our community, we are all affected. A large gap can lead to social problems, like health disparities and crime. It can also diminish economic growth if it means that we are not fully using the skills and capabilities of all of our citizens.
For a person living alone, the after-tax low income threshold in 2010 was $19,460; for a family of four it was $38,920.
INCOME DISTRIBUTION (2010 AFTER-TAX HOUSEHOLD INCOME) WOLFVILLE KINGS COUNTY
NOVA SCOTIA
less than $20,000
470 (23.8%)
4,275 (17.3%)
62,600 (16.0%)
$20,000 - $29,999
260 (13.2%)
3,195 (12.9%)
47,810 (12.3%)
$30,000 - $39,999
180 (9.1%)
3,370 (13.6%)
50,225 (12.9%)
$40,000 - $59,999
400 (20.3%)
7,255 (29.4%)
84,555 (21.7%)
$60,000 - $79,999
310 (15.7%)
2,010 (8.1%)
61,450 (15.7%)
$80,000 - $99,999
145 (7.3%)
2,300 (9.3%)
37,925 (9.7%)
$100,000 - $124,999
145 (7.3%)
1,320 (5.3%)
24,935 (6.4%)
more than $125,000
65 (3.3%)
985 (4.0%)
20,770 (5.3%)
Total # of households
1,975
24,710
390,270
PREVALENCE OF LOW-INCOME In 2010, 25.2% of individuals living in private households in Wolfville had incomes below the after-tax low income measure, well above the provincial level of 17.4%. For children and youth (less than 18 years) living in Wolfville, 29.3% lived in households below the low-income measure compared to 20.9% for the province. The gap between Wolfville and the province as a whole is more pronounced for individuals aged 18- 64 years; 27.0% of this group living in Wolfville fell below the low-income level compared to 16.3% for the province. Seniors in Wolfville are the only age category where the percentage falling below the low-income measure (16.3%) was lower than the provincial level (18.0%). 33
THE WOLFVILLE AREA FOOD BANK (WAFB) The WAFB is open two Thursdays a month. Each client family may visit the food bank once a month where a family representative will receive food that will last approximately five to eight days.
Average Food Bank Clients Per Month 2012
128 103
2011
In 2012, the Wolfville Area Food Bank provided food to an average of 128 client families each month. This is approximately three times the monthly average of 43 families served during its first year of operation in 2007. This trend of increased dependence on food banks is consistent with data for food bank usage throughout the province. In March of 2012, 23,561 persons were served by food banks in Nova Scotia, representing a 27.9% increase from the 18,471 persons served in March of 2007.
The majority of clients use the food bank infrequently, as temporary help to get through challenging times such as a sudden job loss, reduced hours at work, injury or illness or an expected household expense (e.g. high heating bill). In 2012, about half (53%) of client families used the food bank 6 or fewer times per year, with 40% using it only 1 to 3 times per year. Other clients, at an increasing rate, rely on the food bank much more regularly as their income does not change from year to year and they live in chronic poverty. The percentage of client families using the food bank more than 10 times per year increased from 24% in 2011 to 34% in 2012.
2008 2007
61 43
NUMBER OF TIMES A CLIENT FAMILY USED THE WAFB IN A YEAR
10+ 34%
1-3 40%
7-9 4-6 13% 13%
10+ 24% 7-9 13%
IN 2012
1-3 44%
4-6 19% IN 2011
DEPENDENCY RATIO The ratio of the combined population ages 0-19 and 65+ to the population ages 20-64. The ratio represents the number of dependents for every 100 people in the working-age population. The indicator is used since persons younger than 20 and 65+ are more likely to be socially and/or economically dependent on the working-age population, and more likely to put additional demands on health services.
Dependency Ratio 2011 AVDHA
68.4
NS
59.6
CAN
59.1
In 2011, the dependency ratio for the AVDHA was 68.4, which is higher than the provincial (59.6) and national (59.1) ratios.
COST OF A NUTRITIOUS DIET The National Nutritious Food Basket describes the quantity of approximately 60 foods that represent a nutritious diet for individuals in various age and gender groups.
Cost of A Nutritious Diet 2010 2002
$799.36 $570.48
+40.1%
In 2010, the monthly cost of a healthy diet in the Annapolis Valley District Health Authority (AVDHA) for a family of four was $799.36, which was about $30 more than the provincial average ($770). Costs in the AVDHA have increased 40.1% from 2002 ($570.48), compared to 34.5% provincially.
DOES HEALTH DEPEND ON WEALTH?
According to the Canadian Medical Association, poverty is the number one factor in determining whether Canadians live long, healthy lives. 34
HEALTH
WHY IT MATTERS:
Lifestyle choices, such as what we eat and how much we exercise, can have a greater effect on our mental and physical health than the ability of doctors.
HOW HEALTH SERVICES ARE ORGANIZED
Wolfville is part of the Annapolis Valley District Health Authority (AVDHA), sometimes known as District 3, which serves Annapolis County and Kings County. In 2011, Wolfville's population of 4,269 was equivalent to 5.2% of the regional population served by the AVDHA (82,879).
ANNAPOLIS VALLEY DISTRICT HEALTH AUTHORITY EXPENSES In 2012-13, the AVDHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expenses were $1,663 per person, the second lowest in the province. OPERATING EXPENSES PER PERSON DHA 8 - Cape Breton District Health
$2,431
DHA 9 - Capital District Health
$2,192
DHA 5 - Cumberland Health
$2,117
DHA 7 - Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health
$2,054
NS Average
$2,020
DHA 6 - Pictou County Health
$1,823
DHA 2 - South West Nova District Health
$1,818 $1,704
DHA 1 - South Shore District Health
$1,663
DHA 3 - Annapolis Valley District Health DHA 4 - Colchester East Hants Health
$1,188
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES Newborn babies are considered to be of low birth weight if they weigh less than 2,500 grams (5.51 lbs.). In 2011-12, 5.4% of babies in the AVDHA were low birth weight babies, on par with the provincial level of 5.4%, but below the national level of 6.1%.
LIFE EXPECTANCY At Birth - 80.7 years
Children born today in the AVDHA are expected to live 80.7 years (82.9 years for females and 78.4 years for males) compared to 80.1 years (82.4 years for females and 77.7 years for males) provincially and 81.1 years (83.3 years for females and 78.8 years for males) nationally.
At Age 65 - 84.6 years Those who are now 65 years of age in the AVDHA are expected to live another 19.6 years on average (21.1 years for females compared to 18.0 years for men) compared to 19.3 years (20.9 years for females and 17.5 years for males) provincially and 20.2 years (21.6 years for females and 18.5 years for males) nationally. 35
HEALTH BEHAVIOURS
OBESITY RATES
In 2012, 25.2% of residents of the AVDHA were obese (had a Body Mass Index of 30+), up significantly from 18.5% in 2003. The AVDHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2012 rate is on par with the provincial rate of 25.1% and above the national rate of 18.4%. AVDHA
NS
CAN
SMOKING RATES In 2012, 23.0% of AVDHA residents identified as current smokers, down from 27.7% in 2003. The AVDHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2012 rate is on par with the provincial rate of 23.7% and above the national rate of 20.3%.
23.0%
people who are current smokers
EXPOSURE TO SECOND-HAND SMOKE AT HOME In 2010, 14.6% of AVDHA residents were exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes. This rate was higher than the provincial (13.7%) and national (11.1%) averages. However, residents of the AVDHA had less second-hand smoke exposure in public places (4.3%) compared to provincial (7.7%) and national averages (10.6%).
14.6%
people who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home
HEAVY DRINKING RATES In 2012, 14.7% of AVDHA residents consumed 5 or more drinks on one occasion at least once a month in the last year; below both the provincial rate of 22.3% and the national rate of 17.4%. Over the past 10 years, the local rate peaked at 18.1% in 2010.
14.7%
ARE CONSIDERED HEAVY DRINKERS
FLU SHOTS In 2012, 49.3% of AVDHA residents had received a flu shot within the previous year. This rate is higher than the provincial rate of 42.6% and well above the national rate of 28.6%.
EATING HEALTHY In 2012, 40.5% of AVDHA residents reported consuming fruits and vegetables according to the recommended frequency. This rate is above the provincial rate of 32.9% and on par with the national rate of 40.6%. In terms of seniors, 37.1% consumed the recommended fruits and vegetables in 2012, above the provincial rate of 31.3%, but below the national rate of 42.1%.
BIKE HELMET USE In 2013, 61.5% of cyclists in the Annapolis Valley reported always wearing a helmet, compared to 67.3% provincially and only 36.9% nationally. FACT: In Nova Scotia, helmet use is mandatory for persons of all ages. There is minimum fine of $135.75 for adults caught without a helmet, or parents who knowingly let their children under the age of 16 ride without a helmet. 36
ATE THE RECOMMENDED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES (2012) AVDHA NS CAN
40.5% 32.9% 40.6%
HEALTH CONDITIONS 2011 CONDITION
AVDHA
AVDHA TO NOVA SCOTIA
AVDHA TO CANADA
Arthritis
28.4%
About the same (26.0%)
79.8% higher (15.8%)
Diabetes 11.5% 33.7% higher (8.6%) 88.5% higher (6.5%) High Blood Pressure
21.2%
About the same (21.0%)
24.7% higher (17.0%)
Well-Being PERCEIVED HEALTH In 2009-10, 54.5% of residents of the AVDHA rated their health status as being either excellent or very good, below the provincial level of 58.5% and the national level of 60.3%.
PERCEIVED MENTAL HEALTH Perceived mental health refers to the perception of a person's mental health in general, and it provides a general indication of the population suffering from some form of mental disorder, mental or emotional problems, or distress not necessarily reflected in perceived health. In 2012, 72.7% of residents of the AVDHA rated their mental health status as “excellent” or “very good”. This rate is similar to both the provincial level of 70.7% and national level of 71.7%. FACT: In 2010, fewer adults in the AVDHA consulted a psychologist (3.2%) than those in Nova Scotia (4.2%) and Canada (3.6%).
PERCEIVED LIFE STRESS (15 YEARS AND OLDER) In 2012, 16.2% of residents of the AVDHA reported experiencing quite a lot of stress on most days. This rate is comparable to the provincial rate of 16.6% and well below the national rate of 22.7%.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2010, more adults in the AVDHA suffered from anxiety disorders (8.1%) than those in the province (6.7%) and the country (5.1%).
SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS A 2009 Health Survey conducted by Annapolis Valley Health found 87% of residents of AVDHA have someone available to take them to the doctor (either all or most of the time), but this availability of support diminishes as the level of support required increases. Percent of people who have support to... Take them to the doctor Prepare meals for them if they fell Help with routine chores if they fell Help them if they were confined to bed
187% 178% 173% 170%
37
Health Care Accessibility ACCESS TO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE-LOCATIONS In Wolfville, health care can be accessed from the Eastern Kings Memorial Community Health Centre, the Mud Creek Medical Clinic, and the Student Health Centre on Acadia Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus (for students, faculty and staff). The Valley Regional Hospital is located in Kentville.
TOTAL PHYSICIANS- WOLFVILLE As of July 2nd, 2013 there were fifteen registered general practitioners in Wolfville and two specialists (Psychiatry and Otolaryngology- a head & neck surgeon).
TOTAL PHYSICIANS- AVDHA In 2011, there were 18.8 physicians per 10,000 people in the AVDHA. This rate is lower than both the provincial measure of 24.1 per 10,000 and the national level of 20.9 per 10,000.
NO REGULAR MEDICAL DOCTOR In 2012, 10.6% of the residents in the AVDHA did not have a regular medical doctor. This rate is higher than the provincial rate of 8.9%, but lower than the national rate of 14.9%. Comparable numbers from 2009 were 8.0% for AVDHA, 7.2% for the province, and 15.1 % nationally.
WAIT TIMES (IN DAYS) FOR NATIONALLY-PRIORITIZED PROCEDURES Between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2013, both the AVDHA and the province lagged behind the benchmarks set nationally for the time within which 90% of the patient population should receive certain procedures. The AVDHA fared the worst on cataract surgery where patients waited an average of 107.6 days longer than their provincial peers and 177.4 days longer than the national benchmark.
432
589
502
488
359 182.0
252
182.0 AVDHA
NS National CATARACT SURGERY
AVDHA
NS National KNEE REPLACEMENT
AVDHA National NS HIP REPLACEMENT
182.0
WAIT TIMES (IN DAYS) FOR COMMON PROCEDURES In 2012, patients of the AVDHA generally had to wait a shorter period for common procedures than patients in all of Nova Scotia, with the exception of bone density diagnosis.
28 AVDHA
62
94
131
NS
AVDHA
NS
UPPER GI SERIES
38
ULTRASOUND
66
68
AVDHA
NS
CT SCAN
128
112
AVDHA
NS
BONE DENSITY
27
48
AVDHA
NS
BARIUM ENEMA
CONTRIBUTORS The Wolfville Community Fund and Community Foundation of Nova Scotia are grateful to all of those who helped to make this report possible. Wolfvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital SignsÂŽ Team Lisa Visentin, Project Manager Paul Callaghan, WCF Project Lead
Research Support Andrew Sharpe, PhD Centre for the Study of Living Standards
Editors Paul Callaghan Allison Kouzovnikov Barbara Crowell Carolyn Smedley Beverly Clark Jane Nicholson
Design Valerie Keast
Community Foundation of Nova Scotia Board of Directors Dennice Leahey, CM, Chair Robert Orr, Vice-Chair Ruth March, CA, TEP, Treasurer Dr. Margaret Casey, CM, Secretary Mary Eldridge Jane Nicholson, APR Joe Gillivan Dale Godsoe, CM
Wolfville Community Fund Members Vincent den Hartog, Chair Dr. Ron Stuart, Vice Chair Richard Groot, Past Chair Erin Hennessy, Secretary Paul Callaghan, Treasurer Macha MacKay Geoff Crouse
Sources & Credits Most of the data included in this report was sourced from Statistics Canada. Most of the pictures were provided by members of the Wolfville Community Fund. For a complete source listing, please visit our websites: www.cfns.ca and www.novascotiasvitalsigns.ca
Contact Us 806-1888 Brunswick St. Halifax, NS B3J 3J8 (902)490.5907 infocfns@cfns.ca This report and more is available at www.cfns.ca
Created by and for the people of Nova Scotia, the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia is a public charitable foundation which enables effective philanthropy. We work with private donors, businesses, communities and charitable organizations to build the financial and social capital that our communities need, both today and tomorrow. We do that by stimulating charitable giving, establishing permanent endowment funds and supporting initiatives that make an ongoing difference in communities throughout Nova Scotia. 39
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