Page 5 - Huronia Community Foundation - 2023 Vital Signs Report
P. 5
WHO WE ARE: process and understands the importance of
YOUR COMMUNITY, supporting the community by holding a mirror
to its strengths and challenges as accurately
YOUR VOICE as possible. Where local data was hard to find,
we leaned on broader research to inform us
North Simcoe and Area’s
and consider how this might fit with what we
Vital Signs is a community check-up conducted learned here at home.
by Community Foundations across Canada
that measures the vitality of our communities REFERENCES
and identifies significant trends in a range 1. Sustainable Development Goals
of areas critical to quality of life. Vital Signs 2. 2030 Agenda
is coordinated nationally by Community 3. Link to Platform
Foundations of Canada. 4. International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD)
This Vital Signs report focuses on North Simcoe 5. RBC Future Launch Community Challenge
and area (Midland, Tiny, Tay, Penetanguishene
and includes Christian Island and the NORTH SIMCOE & AREA:
Township of Georgian Bay). Throughout WHERE THE
the work we are aware of the emphasis by ENVIRONMENT
Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) of
the Sustainable Development Goals (1) set out IS AT THE HEART OF
by the United Nations and affirmed by Canada EVERYTHING
in the 2030 Agenda (2). The platform where
the detailed Stats Canada data is shared, as People connected to North Simcoe and area,
well as expanded research and resources, feel that its beauty and abundance of nature
reflects these and is linked (3). It is supported are among the top reasons for making the
by the International Institute for Sustainable region their home (1). The area is home to a
Development (4). Please visit the site if you are national park, several provincial parks and
interested in any further details on the data conservation reserves, and spans 2 Ecozones
used in this report. - the Ontario Shield Ecozone in the north; and
the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone in the south,
In March of 2021 as part of an RBC Future providing diverse habitats that support high
Launch Community Challenge (5) we surveyed biodiversity (2).
youth in the region asking questions about
their understanding of community and what • Over 1,100 km of land makes up North Simcoe & Area.
2
youth saw as the most pressing challenges. • As of 2021, there are over 51,000 residents in North
Next to the pandemic, youth pointed to Simcoe & Area, an increase of over 10% since the
Affordable Housing, Climate Action and Mental 2016 census.
Health as major concerns. With this in mind, • Over 1,500 km of shoreline on Georgian Bay, with an
our Vital Signs team started gathering data estimated 66% around islands, plus 131 km along the
early in 2022, asking questions, identifying Trent-Severn Waterway (3).
resources, and talking to folks working with KEY FACTS • The region has more than 100 inland lakes.
those most affected. The SDGs focused on in
this report come from the data and what the
community told us was important. WATER QUALITY
Our Vital Signs team are all volunteers with While North Simcoe and area, generally does
varied backgrounds and experiences. Each not lack access to safe, quality water resources
member, however, has been committed to the for drinking and recreation, there is concern
North Simcoe and Area’s Vital Signs Report 2023 | 5
