London, ON - 2008 by Community Foundations of Canada

LON D O N C OM M U N I TY F O U N D A TI ON

Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership

where do

we go from here

Where do we go About London Community Foundation

Table of contents Message from the CEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Why Vital Signs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Our Sense of Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Your Community. Your Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Indicators Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

London Community Foundation has been a leader in philanthropy since 1979. In that time, our endowment has grown to over $40 million. What drives us is the goal to create a positive and lasting impact in London and Middlesex County through knowledge, networks and philanthropy. London Community Foundation is an organization created by and for the people of London and Middlesex County. We bring together donors – large and small, individuals, groups and corporations – and link their contributions to important work that addresses the needs and improves the lives of many. Since 1979, London Community Foundation has distributed over $13 million in grants to hundreds of local charities serving the following areas: • Arts and Heritage

Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

• Community Services

Public Opinion on Quality of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

• Environment

Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Gap Between the Rich and Poor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Health and Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Getting Started in our Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Arts, Culture and Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Belonging and Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

• Education • Health • Recreation By giving through London Community Foundation, donors are able to provide for their favourite charitable cause or take advantage of our vast experience in ensuring that their gift supports our community’s most pressing needs and challenges. We are proud to say that a gift of any amount creates a lasting legacy that not only addresses the needs of today, but the needs of our community tomorrow.

from here Message from the CEO Welcome to London Community Foundation’s first annual Vital Signs report. The Foundation has prepared this report for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it will assist us in our focused and strategic grant making, while optimizing the support we can offer the community. It will also help us to identify areas where we can bring other civic-minded groups together to create a meaningful and productive partnership. Perhaps most importantly, it is intended to Martha Powell, CEO serve as a beacon for the people of London and Middlesex County, drawing attention to the issues we must address to ensure the vitality of our community. The intent of this report is not to compare London and Middlesex to other municipalities, but to raise awareness within our own vibrant city. Our objective is to focus the community around issues, spark dialogue and serve as a call to action. This report owes a great debt to the input of many individuals and organizations across the community. It is the collective goodwill of these experts who generously gave of their time and knowledge that is the foundation of this report. Still, we know that there is much more information out there that would add to our collective knowledge. So, throughout the coming year, we will continue to gather additional data around issues not covered in this report to have it available for next year and for continued updates to our website: www.londonvitalsigns.ca. London’s Vital Signs has been a valuable learning experience for London Community Foundation. The knowledge that we have gleaned will serve as an important reference point for our own work in the months and years to come. We thank the many contributors and volunteers. We hope that you find this report informative and useful. We welcome your feedback and would be pleased to assist you if you have any questions.

Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and W Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and R Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and th Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between th Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Starte and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting S Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Lead Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Hous Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belongi Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness L in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment B Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellne Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environ Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and W Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and R Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and th Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between th Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Starte and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting S Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Lead Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Hous Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belongi Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness L in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment B Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellne Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environ Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and W Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Housing Getting Started in our Community Arts, Culture and R Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between the Rich and th Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Community Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Between th Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Started in our Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Gap Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting Starte and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership Work Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Getting S Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Leadership and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Housing Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belonging and Lead Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness Learning Hous Community Arts, Culture and Recreation Environment Belongi Between the Rich and the Poor Safety Health and Wellness L

London’s Vital Signs 2008 London’s

Glossary of terms Census The Census gathers information on the population, both individuals and businesses, through Statistics Canada in five-year intervals. Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) A CMA is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centred on a large urban area (known as the urban core). The census population count of the urban core must be at least 100,000 to form a census metropolitan area. Median The Median represents the middle point of a data listing where one-half the data falls above and the other half falls below the median estimate. Aboriginal Used within census data and refers to a person of aboriginal ancestry or who identifies as aboriginal, mixed aboriginal or aboriginal and non-aboriginal ancestry. Low Income Cut-offs (LICO’s) Low income cut-offs (LICO’s) are income thresholds, determined by analyzing family expenditure data, below which families will devote a larger share of income to the necessities of food, shelter and clothing than the average family would.

Why VitalSigns® : Taking the Pulse of Our Community Vital Signs is a community checkup conducted by London Community Foundation that measures the vitality of our city and the surrounding county. The Report identifies significant trends and assigns grades in ten separate areas that are critical to the quality of life in our community. It is not intended to be a comparator to other communities, but a snapshot of London and Middlesex County. London Community Foundation has placed the emphasis of the Vital Signs report on the City of London. In some instances, the data presented represents the City of London and Middlesex County where possible. Conversely, some data estimates in the report use the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) that includes the City of London along with the townships of Central Elgin, Southwold and Strathroy-Caradoc and surrounding areas of Middlesex and Thames Centres (Statistics Canada CMA definition, 2001). It is important to note the data source when reading through the report for clarity on the geographical area. Vital Signs is based on a project developed by Toronto Community Foundation in 2001. It has become a nationally coordinated initiative by Community Foundations of Canada and adopted by 15 community foundations across the country.

Immigration Refers to people who are, or have been, landed immigrants in Canada.

London’s Vital Signs 2008

Our Sense of Place Our People • London is a vibrant community. According to recent Census data, the total population in London and Middlesex County in 2007 was 421,419. Population has grown by 21% between 2001 and 2007. • In 2001, 10.9% of London’s population was comprised of visual minorities. • Median age for residents in London and Middlesex is 38.2, compared to 36.6 in 2001. • Foreign-born population of London & Middlesex is 75,620, or 21.7%. • Immigration in London has grown by 16% in the last five years.

Our Environment • Our city has over 280 parks and open spaces. There are in excess of 2,000 hectares and a public pathway that exceeds 60 km. • Over the past several years, the City of London has focused its energy and resources into developing a strategy for improving the health and well-being of our children and youth; along with parks and recreation within all community neighbourhoods.

Our Economy • Steady economic growth over many years. Evidence of continuing to attract new industry. • Statistics Canada estimates that there are approximately 25,000 businesses in London. • In London, the most recent period of growth in small business start up activity was between 1995 and 2000. There is evidence that this trend is repeating itself.

Our Health and Education • Recognized as a centre for health care excellence, London has a strong collaborative health research community (RRI/UWO; Lawson Health Research Institute, the research arm of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Centre). It is home to several national academic health Centres of Excellence. London’s hospital catchments include approximately 50% of patients from across SWO and often beyond. • London is home to a leading university and expansive community college. Annually, over 44,000 full-time students are enrolled.

London’s Vital Signs 2008

Your Communi It is the sincere wish of London Community Foundation that this report encourages even greater community involvement. We hope you will become more informed about London and Middlesex Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic well-being, educational prosperity, health, safety, environment, arts and culture and more. Perhaps it will spark dialogue, discussion and debate amongst people who care about community issues and want to act upon them. Ideally, it will help you identify an area where you would like to make a positive difference and get involved.

Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital Signs 2008

Compiling The Information

Finding Out More

London’s Vital Signs focuses on ten key issue areas. For each of the issue areas, we have collected information and reported on the key contributing factors for that issue. One indicator was agreed upon by all participating Community Foundations. The remaining indicators were deemed important by local experts. It is important to note this report is based on secondary data, that is, data that already exists. This includes recent Canadian Census data, as well as the results of local researchers and organizations.

Space consideration in this publication prevents us from including all of the data we collected. However, there is a lot of interesting support material available on our website. This report – along with an expanded version that includes additional links – is available on our website at:

Consequently, Vital Signs should not be viewed as a formal academic research report. The reader should consider it to be a snapshot of how well we are doing at this point in time using common and accessible measurement data.

www.londonvitalsigns.ca

London Community Foundation held a series of community consultations with experts from across all issue areas. We asked these experts to tell us what they believe is important information to share with the community. Over 70 individuals gave of their time and talent to help us compile the indicators.

Making The Grade Nearly 200 Londoners gave their views on how well we are doing in London and Middlesex in each of the ten issue areas we have measured. These grades are reflective of the perceptions of those surveyed, not of the actual data itself. This process provided graders the opportunity to consider where we are doing very well, and what needs attention. The grades in this report reflect the collective sentiment of all individuals who participated in this survey. The five-point scale the graders used was:

A: Awesome! We’re the tops! B: We’re doing well and headed in the right direction. C: Progress is being made. D: Of concern, needs attention. F: In dire need of corrective action.

They were also asked to identify one or two priorities where they felt the community should focus its attention.

ty. Your Report. where do

we go from here

• Understand the challenges we face • Focus our resources • Invest in the most appropriate areas London’s Vital Signs 2008

Environment 6

London’s Vital Signs 2008

Known for years as “The Forest City”, London has experienced a decline in natural tree cover and protected woodlands. It is home to several Environmentally Significant Areas (ESA) such as the Coves and Meadowlily Woods, natural settings of unique plant, tree and water life. Good progress is being made to enhance and protect our natural forest cover; however, London struggles with a poor air quality index that is inferior to other areas in southwestern Ontario. Though progress is being made, much needs to be done to begin to improve the air we breathe for a healthy environment for future generations.

Thames River Water Quality Two specific indicators are used to measure the Thames River water quality, total phosphorous and benthic analysis. The total phosphorous concentration data demonstrates that concentrations of phosphorous in the Thames River on average are in excess of the Provincial Water Quality Objectives of 0.03 mg/L of total phosphorus both entering and leaving the city. Compared to 1999, it appears that the general trend of phosphorus concentrations has been stable. When comparing results with additional historic records dating back to 1978, the past 5 years have seen slightly lower concentrations that are likely attributable to improvements in pollution control plants efficiencies and to changes in farming practices. Source: The CLEAR Network, 2006. http://www.clear.london.ca/Thames_River_Water_Quality_Total_Phosphorus.html

Air Quality In 2006, the number of days of above threshold levels of 8h Ozone was 11, down from 23 days in 2001. The 2001-2006 period average was 19 days. The number of days with Particulate Matter of 2.5 concentrations above threshold levels was three, down from five days in 2001. The 2001-2006 period average was eight days. Over the 2001-2006 period, London ranked fourth worst of the 15 Vital Signs Communities for the first indicator and third worst for the second indicator.

Air Quality in the City of London, Days above Threshold Levels, 2001-2006: London, City Days With Daily Maximum 8h Ozone > 65 ppb

TEOM Number of Days with PM25 Concentrations > 30 (ug/m3)

N/A

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Average: 19.333

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is committed to encouraging a healthy environment through programs such as forestry and soil conservation. Reforestation positively impacts air quality, improves crop yields and ensures habitat for our wildlife. The total number of trees planted in 2006 by the UTRCA equalled 159,870.

Recycling Rate

Reforestation

Source: City of London as part of the Mayor’s Sustainable Energy Council, 2004.

Source: Upper Thames River Conservation Authority; 2007 Report Card.

Total greenhouse gas emissions in London, including those associated with electricity use, were 3.64 million tonnes per year or 10.5 tonnes per year per person. In London, cars and trucks account for 32% of all energy consumed, primarily through personal use. Overall, energy use is responsible for approximately 95% of all greenhouse gas emissions from human activity.

35 30

Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GGE)

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Average: 8.4

In London in 2006, 94% of households had access to a recycling program, 1.1% above the rate for all CMAs (93%). Of the households that had access to a recycling program, 97% participated, a proportion that was identical to the rate for all CMAs (97%). Source: Statistics Canada.

Source: Environment Canada.

where do

we go from here

• Improve recycling and waste disposal programs • Improve air quality • Enhance public awareness and education of environmental issues

London’s Vital Signs 2008

B 8

Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital Signs 2008

Safety People cannot enjoy life if they feel their safety and security are at risk. Safety issues, such as property crime, violent crime, traffic safety and level of policing, all impact residents of our city. London scores well with respect to violent and property crime. However, instances of intimate partner abuse see many women and children vulnerable and in crisis. The protection and safety of this population is paramount to the future well-being of our community.

Criminal Traffic Crime Rate

Intimate Partner Violence

At 324 per 100,000 persons in 2007, the traffic crime rate (e.g. impaired driving, dangerous driving) in London was 19% below the national average (400 per 100,000) and 28% above the provincial average (253 per 100,000). The rate, which increased 4% in 2007, was up from a low of 312 per 100,000 in 2005. The rate was down 65% from 918 per 100,000 in 1991, the earliest year for which data are available.

Women’s Community House provides emergency housing, second stage housing and transitional support for abused women and their children. They have 67 beds and two shelter facilities that saw an 87% occupancy rate in 2007. In that time, they also fielded over 4,000 crisis calls and another 560 informational calls.

Source: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.

Motor Vehicle Collisions In the City of London during 2007, there were 7 fatalities as a result of motor vehicle collisions, which is a 59% decrease from the previous year. Similarly, injuries from motor vehicle collisions also decreased by 5% between 2007 and 2006.

Source: Courtesy of Women’s Community House, London.

Property Crime Incidents In the Municipality of London since 1997, London’s property crime rate decreased by 26.2%. From 2006 to 2007, London’s property crime rate decreased by 12.5%, due to a significant decline in motor vehicle thefts of 30%. At 4,343 per 100,000 in 2007, the property crime rate in the municipality of London was 31% above the national average (3,320 per 100,000) and also 65% above the provincial average (2,635 per 100,000).

Municipality of London – Property Crime Incidents per 100,000 population (1997-2007)

Source: London Police Services.

6,000

Violent Crime Incidents

5,000

In the City of London since 1997, London’s violent crime rate decreased by 0.4%. From 2006 to 2007, London’s violent crime rate decreased by 2.4%, which is partly due to a decrease in robberies of 29%. At 806 per 100,000 in 2007, the violent crime rate in the municipality of London was 13% below the national average (930 per 100,000) and 10% above the provincial average (734 per 100,000).

4,000

-26%

3,000 2,000 1,000 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Percentage Change 2006-2007 -12.5%

Source: Statistics Canada.

2007 Property Crime Rates (per 100,000) Canada

3,320

Ontario

2,635

London

4,343

Source: Statistics Canada.

where do

we go from here

• Improve downtown safety • Institute more neighbourhood safety programs • Reduce traffic crime and improve road safety London’s Vital Signs 2008

B 10

Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital Signs 2008

Learning London is home to one of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distinguished universities as well as a top regional college. Our city is widely recognized as a leader in the health and research sector. The local high school completion rate compares well with both provincial and national averages yet our community panel perceived this as an area where we could continue to improve. Despite these factors, literacy remains identified as a concern and requires our attention and resources, particularly among our younger population. A large percentage of our children and youth do not score well when tested for literacy skills and their readiness to learn.

Population without a High School Education

Aboriginal High School Completion Rates

In 2007, 17.5% of people aged fifteen and over in London had not graduated from high school. This was down 14.1 percentage points from 1990. The London rate in 2007 was 3.1 percentage points below the rate for Ontario and 4.7 percentage points below the Canada-wide rate.

The aboriginal high school completion rate for those aged 15 and over in London was 66.4% in 2006, having increased 4.1% from 63.8% in 2001. The rate in 2006 was 17.9% higher than the national rate for Aboriginals (56.3%) and 6.4% higher than the rate for Ontario (62.4%). Source: For 2001 data: Statistics Canada.

Source: Statistics Canada.

Child Readiness to Start School

Population with a Post-Secondary Education

The ‘Best Start’ initiative is a commitment by the province of Ontario intended to have our children ready to learn when they begin Grade 1. In order to accomplish this goal, the focus is on children’s health, early learning and child care in the earliest years of their lives.

In London, 50.4% of the population (15 years and over) in 2006 had completed post-secondary education (university degree, post-secondary certificate or diploma), 0.5% lower than the national average (50.7) and 1.1% lower than the provincial average (51.0).

London Children in School: State of Affairs Grade 1

• 27% of children in senior kindergarten are not ready to start Grade 1

Grade 3

• O ur students in Grade 3 scored 32% and 42% below standard for math, writing and reading on the provincial literacy and numeracy tests

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey.

• By the time they reached Grade 9, 61% of students taking applied math were scoring below standard

Adult Literacy Scores The average adult literacy score for prose in London was 266 in 2003. This was 2.3% lower than the national average of 272 and 1.6% lower than the provincial average of 270.

Grade 10

• 17% of high school students in London did not pass the Grade 10 literacy test and had to rewrite

Source: Children and Youth Agenda, 2008: Courtesy of the City of London.

Source: Statistics Canada.

Adult Literacy Score Mean Estimates for London, Ontario and Canada, 2003 Source: Statistics Canada.

350 300

Level 3 Proficiency 276-325

250 200 100

Canada Ontario

London

150

Prose Score

where do

we go from here

Document Score

Numeracy Problem Solving Score Score

• Highlight the importance of literacy and education • Improve high school graduation rates • More education programs focused on trades and apprenticeships

London’s Vital Signs 2008 11

Work Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regional economy is highly based on manufacturing, with a significant percentage of this employment being within the St. Thomas area. The majority of business in London proper is service based. There is a growing trend in the number of small business start-ups; however, this may be due to a downturn in the economy, specifically within the automotive sector as those laid off are turning to self-employment. Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unemployment rate is slightly above the national level, but lower when compared to the provincial estimate.

Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital Signs 2008

Employment Growth

Building Permits: Non-Residential

With employment growth of 0.7% in 2007, London saw growth of 1.6 percentage points below the national rate (2.3%) and 0.8 percentage points below the provincial rate (1.6%). The 1987-2007 period saw an average annual employment growth of 1.3% , below both the provincial rate (1.5%) and the national rate (1.6%).

The number of building permits issued provides information regarding the level of construction in a city. Specifically, non-residential building permits (all permits issued that do not include residential construction) indicate the amount of activity across commercial, industrial and investment areas. This type of activity is associated with job development and economic prosperity. In London, the percentage of non-residential building permits in London was slightly lower than the median for other similar municipalities (for more detailed information go to www.london.ca/City_Council/pdfs/26066-COLCommReport.pdf).

Source: Statistics Canada.

Unemployment Rate 15 Years of Age and Over In 2007, the unemployment rate in London was 6.1%. This was slightly above the national level (6.0%) and slightly below the Ontario provincial level (6.4%). Since 1987, the unemployment rate in London has decreased 1.0 percentage points from 7.1%.

Building Permits: Non-Residential Census Metropolitan Area (CMA)

% Non-Residential Building Permits (2005)

London

42%

Median

44%

Source: BMA, Municipal Study courtesy of City of London Economic Prosperity Report Card 2006.

Source: Statistics Canada.

Unemployment Rate 15 to 24 Years of Age In 2006, the youth unemployment rate for London was 11.0%, 2.0 percentage points below the provincial rate (13.0%) and 0.2 percentage points below the national rate (11.2%). The rate in London is down 2.4 percentage points from 13.4% in 2000. Source: Statistics Canada.

The Impact of Child Care Wait List on Employment On January 1, 2007, the City of London implemented the new Provincial Income Test to determine eligibility for the Child Care Fee Subsidy Program. From January 2007 to January 2008, the demand in London for fee subsidies increased by more than 12%. Currently, there are approximately 7,900 licensed childcare spaces available in the City of London. This is insufficient to meet demand and a wait list policy has been implemented to aid families seeking childcare. The current budget cannot support the demand. Source: Neighbourhood and Children Services, courtesy of Kelly Smith Manager, Children Services.

where do

we go from here

• Focus on industrial diversification and attracting new business • Support and encourage small businesses and entrepreneurs

London’s Vital Signs 2008 13

Friendly People 9%

Recreation Facilities/Activities 11%

Cultural/Entertainment Events 22%

Good Schools & Education 6%

Safety/Police Services 6% 1%

27%

Lower Our Taxes 9%

69%

Lower the Crime Rate 7%

Very Good

Poor

Good

Very Poor

Clean up Graffiti & Litter 5%

Change in Quality of Life in the Past Three Years for London and Middlesex (n=306) Improved 19%

59%

22%

Stayed the Same Worsened

Public Opinion Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital Signs commissioned Insights Inc., a local market research firm to conduct a survey of adults living in London and Middlesex to learn more about their opinions regarding the quality of life in our community. A random sample of 306 was drawn to match the age and gender of London and Middlesex as of the 2006 census. A sample of this size has a range of error of plus or minus 5.8% , 19 times out of 20.

Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital Signs 2008

Economic Opportunity 10%

Lots of Trees and Parks 19%

Diversity of People 6%

Good Health Care 10%

Legend Total unaided mentions of what contributes – in a positive way – to the quality of life in London and Middlesex (Multiple Mentions Allowed)

Convenient Shopping 5%

Total unaided single most important issue respondent would like to see addressed, to improve the overall quality of life in London and Middlesex

Improve Road & Transit Systems 25%

Overall Rating of the Quality of LIfe in London and Middlesex (n=306)

27%

69%

Very Good

Poor

Good

Very Poor

on Quality of Life where do

we go 19%

from here

• Overall, Londoners believe we enjoy a good quality of life Improvedwe do well • Most are aware that there are many things Stayed the Same • At 59% the same time, our city 22%faces some key challenges Worsened

London’s Vital Signs 2008 15

C 16

Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital Signs 2008

Housing While London has enjoyed a steady trend in housing starts and our real estate market continues to grow, affordable housing remains an issue for many London and area residents. We continue to experience an increase in homelessness, and the use of emergency shelters is on the rise. Although our city has 11 long-term care homes, the average time people wait for a long-term care bed is between 12 and 24 months. The wait times are being addressed with recent approvals for more long-term care facilities.

Social Housing

Rental Vacancy Rates

Social housing is the responsibility of municipalities and is authorized under the legislation known as the Social Housing Reform Act (SHRA), Bill 128, which has been in effect since 2000. The Act is mandated to provide individuals, who face financial difficulty finding adequate housing in the private rental market, with alternatives such as rent geared to income housing options. The common marker for the amount of income suitable to pay for shelter costs per month is approximately 30% of the household’s gross (before tax) income. As of January 2007, current statistics report that the City of London had 3,440 households on the rent geared to income waiting list.

In London in 2007, the rental vacancy rate of two bedroom apartments was 4.3% , 72.0% higher than the average for all CMAs (2.5%). The rental vacancy rate was up 7.5% from 4.0% in 2006.

Source: Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association.

Municipality of London: A Summary of Social Housing

Housing Cost In 2005 in London, the proportion of households spending 30% or more of their income on gross rent was 44.0%, 9.2% higher than the national average (40.3%). The proportion of households spending more than 30% of income on owner’s major payments on shelter was 16.1%, 9.6% lower than the national average (17.8%). Source: Statistics Canada.

2005

2006

Percentage of Social Housing Waiting List Placed Annually

31%

32%

Total Social Housing Cost per Social Housing Unit Per Year

$3,150

$3,470

Number of Social Housing Units per 1,000 Households

Source: Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation.

Source: 2006 Performance Benchmarking Report.

Long-term Care • In the City of London, there are 11 long-term care homes with a total of 1,938 beds • In the Municipalities of Middlesex County, there are seven long-term care homes with a total of 681 beds • The average time people waiting for a long-term care bed spend on the wait list is between 12 and 24 months • Recently, 3 new long-term care homes were approved for London and are scheduled to be ready for occupancy in 2009/2010

Homeless Beds On June 1, 2008 in London, the number of beds in homeless shelters was 517, broken down as 425 emergency beds and 92 transitional beds. The total number of beds was up 6.6% from the June 1, 2007 estimate.

• The most important issue regarding long-term care is our aging population and having enough beds available to those who will need them both now and in the future Source: South West Community Care Access Centre.

Source: Homeless Individuals and Families Information System.

where do

we go from here

• Provide affordable and adequate housing • Support the homeless • Increase population density to avoid urban sprawl London’s Vital Signs 2008 17

Gap Between 18

London’s Vital Signs 2008

Overall, London enjoys a sense of prosperity. Our city has experienced tremendous growth in residential development. However, overall levels of poverty are on the rise across vulnerable communities. “London has a higher proportion of residents below the low-income cut off (LICO) than many other Canadian cities, and one of the highest low-income rates in Ontario”, as reported in the City’s current agenda for children, youth and families. We have experienced an increase in the number of single-parent families in comparison to both provincial and national levels; thereby, adding to the issue of child poverty.

Child Incidence of Poverty

Proportion of Single Parent Families

In 2006, the incidence of child poverty in London was 11.9%, down 17.4% from 14.4% in 2000. The rate was still above the provincial level (11.8%) and the national level (11.3%).

In 2006 in London, 16.6% of families were single parent families. This compares to 15.9% at the national level and 15.8% at the provincial level. The rate was up from 16.2% in 2001.

Source: Statistics Canada.

Proportion of Economic Families in Income Brackets In 2005, 9.3% of families in London had annual incomes lower than $25,000, compared to 9.5% in Ontario and 10.5% in Canada. There was a 17.5% fall in the proportion of families in London making less than $25,000 (2005$) between 2000 and 2005. In 2005, 27.4% of families in London had annual incomes of over $100,000, compared to 30.5% in Ontario and 25.5% in Canada. There was a 10.1% increase in the proportion of families in London with incomes above $100,000 between 2000 and 2005. Source: Statistics Canada.

Overall Incidence of Poverty for the Elderly In 2006, the incidence of poverty for the elderly in London was 2.3%, down from 5.2% in 2000. The rate was below the provincial level (4.0%) and below the national level (5.4%). Source: Statistics Canada.

Overall Incidence of Poverty for all persons based on LICO in London CMA, Ontario and Canada after Tax In 2006, the overall incidence of poverty in London was 11.4% , up from 10.9% in 2000. The rate was above the provincial level (10.3%) and above the national level (10.5%). Source: Statistics Canada.

Canada

Ontario

London

1980

11.6

12.9

1985

13.0

10.4

7.8

1990

11.8

9.2

1995

14.6

12.3

2000

12.5

10.8

10.9

2001

11.2

9.3

9.6

2002

11.6

10.7

12.9

2003

11.6

10.4

11.9

2004

11.4

11.0

12.2

2005

10.8

10.3

11.2

2006

10.5

10.3

11.4

% Change 1980-2006

-9.5

-11.6

% Change 2000-2006

-16

-4.6

4.6

Source: Statistics Canada.

the Rich and Poor where do

we go from here

• Develop child poverty initiatives • Create more effective community programs • Affordable education for low-income families London’s Vital Signs 2008 19

B 20 Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital Signs 2008

Health and W London enjoys a prominent reputation for excellence in health care, home to several teaching hospitals. However, the overall health of our residents suggests a growing level of health concerns related to inactivity and the effects of poverty on health. Many of our children are vulnerable and require intervention from social service agencies. Finally, other areas of concern such as mental health and an aging population are important health topics to residents of our City.

Children’s Aid

Obesity Rates In 2007, the obesity rate for the population aged 18 and over in London was 15.3% , 4.4% lower than the national average (16.0%) and 5.0% lower than the provincial average (16.1%). The rate was down 7.8% from 2005.

Obesity * Rates for London and Middlesex, Ontario and Canada, 2003, 2005 and 2007 Percentage of Age

14.9 14.8 14.2

15.5 15.1 16.6

Canada Ontario

London 2003

2005

• received 8,435 inquiries and referrals in 2007-2008 • completed 2,950 investigations of child abuse and neglect • opened 668 new protection cases and closed 594 protection cases

16.0 16.1 15.3

For the year 2007 – 2008 The Children’s Aid Society:

2007

Source: Statistics Canada. *Note: Self-reported adult body mass index 30.0 or higher.

• provided investigation and protection services to 1,600 families in the community • admitted 355 children into substitute care and discharged 358 children • finalized 37 adoptions • it had 869 children and youth in its care on March 31, 2008 Source: Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex, courtesy of Diane Cresswell, Director of Communications and Information Management.

Physical Activity In 2007, 50.3% of the population aged 12 and over in London reported being physically active or moderately active. This represented a decrease of 2.7 percentage points from 2005. The 2007 level was 1.5 percentage points higher than the provincial level (48.8%) and 1.3 percentage points higher than the national level (49.0%). Source: Statistics Canada.

Smoking Rates 19.6% of the population aged 12 and older have been identified as current smokers in 2007, London has experienced a 10.1% increase from 17.8% in 2005. The rate in 2007 was 10.5% below the national rate (21.9%) and 4.9% below the provincial rate (20.6%).

Mental Health In 2007, 73.0% of respondents in London rated their mental health status as “excellent” or “very good.” This represented a decrease of 0.9 percentage points from 2005. By comparison, the proportion of respondents rating their own mental health as “excellent” or “very good” in 2007 was 72.6% in Ontario and 72.7% Canada-wide. Source: Statistics Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), Indicator Profile, for Canada, Provinces and Health Regions.

Source: Statistics Canada.

ellness where do

we go from here

• Recruit more family doctors • Improve mental health and addictions services programs • Develop more obesity reduction initiatives London’s Vital Signs 2008 21

C 22 Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital Signs 2008

Getting Started London is home to a relatively large multicultural and multilingual population. Our population is made up of almost 22% of foreign born residents and of this, 16% have made London their home over the past five years. Getting started in a new community, a new culture and a new country can be challenging. Accessible employment, adequate job training and learning a new language are a major undertaking for many newcomers.

Immigration

Unemployment Rate

As published in the 2006 Snapshot of London’s Children and Youth, the London Cross Cultural Learning Centre reported: • London has the highest per capita population of refugees in Canada and receives approximately 2,000 immigrants each year. • The London Cross Cultural Learning Centre provided service to nearly 3,400 immigrants who represented 107 countries. • Colombia was the most common country of origin, followed by China and India. • Over one quarter of the nearly 2,000 immigrants in 2003 were children aged 0 to 16; among those 17 years of age and over, 30% had little or no English and/or French ability.

In 2006, the unemployment rate of recent immigrants (i.e. entered the country within the last five years) was 12.4% in London, 107% above the non-immigrant rate. The unemployment rate of recent immigrants was down from 19.3% in 2001 (201.6% above the nonimmigrant rate), (as of July 11th).

Source: Courtesy of London Cross Cultural Learning Centre.

Source: Statistics Canada.

Migration On a net basis (gross inflow minus outflows) London gained 2,511 people due to international migration. Overall, London gained 3,137 people when accounting for intraprovincial, interprovincial and international migration which represented an increase of 0.68% in total population. Source: Statistics Canada.

Income The median total family income of recent immigrants (arrived between 2001 and 2004) in 2005 in London was $43,157, up 15.6% from $37,332 in 2000 (in 2005 dollars). In 2005, the median income of recent immigrants was 41.0% lower than the median income of non-immigrants, compared to 46.9% lower in 2000.

Median Total Income for Economic Families by Immigrant Status and Period, for London CMA, Ontario and Canada 2000 and 2005 (2005 Dollars) 2000

Canada

Ontario

London

2005

Canada

Ontario

London

Median Total Income

64,004

71,717

68,105

Median Total Income

66,343

72,734

70,223

Non-immigrants

64,483

74,068

70,264

Non-immigrants

67,874

76,761

73,094

Immigrants

62,889

67,395

61,946

Immigrants

62,242

66,204

62,285

43,932

46,222

43,157

64.7

60.2

59.0

Recent immigrants (between 1996 and 1999)

45,380

49,342

37,332

Recent immigrants (between 2001 and 2005)

Recent immigrants income as a share of non-immigrant income

70.4

66.6

53.1

Recent immigrants income as a share of non-immigrant income

Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2006.

in our Community where do

we go from here

• Create immigrant education and employment programs • Increase recognition of foreign credentials • Develop overall awareness of cultural diversity and importance of community inclusion

London’s Vital Signs 2008 23

B 24 Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vital Signs 2008

Arts, Culture & Arts enrich the quality of life of any community. Research has demonstrated that children exposed to an arts education throughout their academic years tend to thrive and have positive outcomes in their life beyond scholastic achievement. London is home to a rich and diverse arts and cultural community, and Londoners enjoy a broad-spectrum of arts, culture, recreational and sports activities. Apparently, there is a desire for even more with many Londoners suggesting the need for improved facilities for performing arts.

Employment

Household Spending

In London in 2006, 5,970 persons were employed in occupations related to arts, culture, recreation and sports, up by 8.6% from 2001. Employment in these cultural industries accounted for 2.42% of total employment in London. By comparison, these industries accounted for 3.10% of total employment in the province as a whole and 2.98% of employment Canada-wide.

In 2006, 49.8% households in London reported spending on the live performing arts, which is 20% higher than the provincial estimate. Similarly, 30.5% stated they spend money on admissions to museums and other activities. Finally, over 80% of households reported spending on reading materials and other print matter. This is very close to the national estimate of 80%. There are no comparable estimates for previous years.

Source: Statistics Canada.

Earnings At $44,732 in 2005, median earnings of full-time, full-year workers in professional occupations in arts and culture in London were 1.6% above the national level ($44,010) and 4.2% below the provincial level ($46,717). Median earnings for that occupational category were up 0.7% from $44,442 (2005 dollars) in 2000. Source: Statistics Canada.

Source: Statistics Canada.

Time Allocation for Arts Programs: Thames Valley District School Board as of August 2008 Kindergarten 10%

Half Day Program

Primary 10%

6 Day Cycle

Junior 13%

6 Day Cycle

Intermediate 13%

6 Day Cycle

180

230

500

900

1000

1500

1800

2000

Time Allocation (% in minutes of Programming) Source: Thames Valley District School Board courtesy of Kate Young, Manager Public Affairs and Community Relations.

Library Use At 43.6% in 2006, registered borrowers as a per cent of the population in London has increased 16.1% from 37.6% in 2000. Circulation per registered borrower was 22.2 items in 2006, from 27.7 in 2000. Library expenditures per capita were $47.03 in 2006, up 63.8% in nominal terms from $28.72 in 2000. Source: Statistics Canada.

Recreation where do

we go from here

• Develop a state-of-the-art facility for performing arts • Increase financial support and funding • Increase accessible and affordable events London’s Vital Signs 2008 25

C 26 London’s Vital Signs 2008

Belonging and A sense of community is giving of one’s time, talent and treasure. Importantly, a sense of community is indicative of a city’s vitality. Over half of London’s population reports being engaged in unpaid volunteer activities, higher than both provincial and national averages. Over 66% of Londoners feel a sense of belonging and being part of what makes London a vibrant and healthy place to live.

Sense of Community

Voter Turnout Voter turnout for the 2006 Federal Election in London was 66.4%. This turnout was 2.6% higher than the national average (64.7%) and 0.3% lower than the provincial average (66.6%). Conversely, data presented for municipal voter turnout in the City of London shows an increasing trend from the years 2000, 2003 and 2006 with respect to the percentage of individuals who participated in municipal elections.

In 2007 in London and Middlesex, 66.1% of the population 12 years and over reported a strong or somewhat strong sense of community belonging. Compared to the national and provincial estimates (62.0% and 63.0%), the estimates for the London area are slightly higher.

Percentage Voter Turnout for 2000, 2004, 2006 Federal Elections for London CMA, Ontario and Canada

Source: Statistics Canada.

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10

Charitable Donations Canada Ontario London

2000

2004

2006

Source: Elections Canada.

With the median charitable donations of donors amounting to $300 in 2006, donations in London were 20.0% higher than the national level ($250) and 3.2% below the provincial level ($310). Median donations have increased 42.9% from $210 in 1997. Source: Statistics Canada.

Volunteer Rate In 2004 in London, 52.1% of persons aged 15 years and older were engaged in unpaid volunteer activities. This is slightly above the provincial volunteer rate of 50.4% and well above the national rate of 45.3%. Source: Canadian Council on Learning, based on Statistics Canada.

Leadership where do

we go from here

• Improve youth involvement in leadership programs • Encourage involvement from London communities • Promote volunteerism and philanthropy throughout the community

London’s Vital Signs 2008 27

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS London’s Vital Signs report would not be a reality without the working support and contributions from countless individuals, organizations and businesses from across the community. We would like to offer our sincere gratitude to all for making London’s Vital Signs 2008 a success.

LONDON’S VITAL SIGNS INDICATOR ACTION TABLES: Andrea Halwa, London Arts Council Anita Gilvesy, Investing in Children Anne Langille, WIL Employment Connections Betty Dore, London and St. Thomas Association of Realtors Brett Stein, City of London Brian Meehan, Museum London Catherine Finlayson, Fanshawe College Foundation Cheryl Smith, City of London Cindy Howard, City of London Deborah Harvey, The Grand Theatre Diane Cresswell, Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex Evelyn Crosse, Middlesex London Health Unit Dr. Evelyn Vingilis, The University of Western Ontario Dr. Graham Pollett, Middlesex-London Health Unit Dr. Iris Gutmanis, Parkwood Hospital Jane Fitzgerald, Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex Jane Lucas, Thames Valley District School Board Dr. Jason Gilliland, The University of Western Ontario Jay Stanford, City of London Jennifer Foster, City of London Jennifer Sarkella, Ontario Telemedicine Network Joan Atchinson, London Police Service Johnny Fansher, Johnny Fansher Financial John White, The Grand Theatre John Winston, Tourism London Judith Rodger, McIntosh Gallery Kate Wiggins, Women’s Community House Kate Young, Thames Valley District School Board Dr. Kathleen Hartford, The University of Western Ontario Kelly McManus, United Way of London and Middlesex Kelly Smith, City of London Kevin Bice, The River Project Laverne Foran, Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex Lynne Livingston, City of London Marie Nother, Women’s Community House Dr. Momodou Jeng, City of London Pat Donnelly, City of London Dr. Piotr Wilk, Middlesex-London Health Unit Ross Fair, City of London

28 London’s Vital Signs 2008

Rob Gloor, Orchestra London Ruth Young, United Way of London & Middlesex Sarah Merritt, Old East Village, BIA Steve Cordes, Youth Opportunities Unlimited Susan Ryans, Childreach Teresa Hollingsworth, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Terry Greene, Insights Inc. Tim Kelly, Changing Ways Wendy Richardson, Investing in Children Dr. William Avison, The University of Western Ontario Wilma DeRond, London District Catholic School Board

LONDON’S VITAL SIGNS EXPERT RESOURCE GROUP Bob Adams, United Way of London & Middlesex Brad Duncan, London Police Service Evelyn Crosse, Middlesex-London Health Unit Dr. Evelyn Vingilis, The University of Western Ontario Dr. Graham Pollett, Middlesex-London Health Unit Helen Connell, The University of Western Ontario Jennifer Sarkella, Ontario Telemedicine Network Joan Atchinson, London Police Service Kapil Lakhotia, London Economic Development Corporation Dr. Momodou Jeng, City of London Chief Murray Faulkner. London Police Service Peter White, London Economic Development Corporation Sheila Simpson, Ontario Trillium Foundation Steve Pellarin, Small Business Centre Terry Greene, Insights Inc. Dr. William Avison, The University of Western Ontario

FOUNDATION BOARD Jeannette Eberhard, Chair John Nicholson, Vice Chair Antony Abbott Ann Fleming David Van Trigt Dianne Cunningham Donna Bourne Franco Paron Fraser Wilson Geno Francolini Gerry Wheaton Hans Jonckheere Dr. Jack Jung Dr. M. Lee Myers Peter Kryworuk

PRINCIPAL DATA CONTRIBUTORS

ISSUE AREA GRADING PARICIPANTS

Canadian Council of Learning Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex City of London Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation Elections Canada Environment Canada Homeless Individuals and Families Information System London Economic Development Centre London Police Service London Small Business Centre Middlesex-London Health Unit Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association Southwest Community Care Access Centre Statistics Canada Thames Valley District School Board Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Women’s Community House

Thanks to nearly 200 individuals who assisted London’s Vital Signs by participating in the online grading of the ten issue areas reported on. These individuals represent:

CORPORATE SUPPORTERS

Victoria metro Vancouver Medicine Hat Red Deer Calgary London & Middlesex Guelph & Wellington Toronto Waterloo Region Sudbury Oakville Montreal Ottawa Greater Saint John Fredericton

Insights Inc. Lerners, LLP London Free Press Surge Communications Inc.

LONDON’S VITAL SIGNS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Peter Kryworuk, Lerners LLP Hans Jonckheere, Surge Communications Inc. Dr. Jack Jung, The University of Western Ontario Jeannette Eberhard, Insights Inc. Dr. M. Lee Myers, London Health Sciences Centre Martha Powell, London Community Foundation Sarena L. McLean, dmgroup Andrew Chunilall, London Community Foundation Frances Hammel, London Community Foundation Catherine Joyes, London Community Foundation Roxanne McClenaghan, London Community Foundation Lori Worozbyt, London Community Foundation Cindy Graeme, London Community Foundation

London Community Foundation’s Board of Directors Members of London Community Foundation’s Board Committees Donors to London Community Foundation Current Members of ENGAGE! London Graduates of ENGAGE! London Members from London and Middlesex Charitable Sector Finally, London Community Foundation would like to pay tribute to the Toronto Community Foundation for its visionary leadership in developing the Vital Signs concept and sharing it with community foundations across the country. Community Foundations of Canada has lead this now national initiative with tremendous support and integrity.

List of Communities Publishing Vital Signs in 2008