New Vital Signs report provides snapshot of the quality of life on PEI
A new report from the Community Foundation of PEI (CFPEI) and UPEI’s Institute of Island Studies provides a snapshot of the quality of life and well-being on Prince Edward Island. Vital Signs brings together publicly available research data, the analysis of subject experts, and focus group feedback from private, public, and not-for-profit sectors from different regions of the Island. The result is an easy-to-digest, comprehensive look at a wide range of interconnected topics from health to housing to education and the environment.
“The 2019 PEI Vital Signs report grew from the knowledge and experience of Islanders,” said Kent Hudson, executive director of the CFPEI. “The Community Foundation of PEI will continue to engage with people who care about their communities and each other to collaboratively build new mechanisms for addressing issues identified in the report. We are excited to be a part of building the collective power of philanthropy and civic engagement in PEI.”
“This report can serve as a roadmap for all of us as individuals and as organizations,” said Dr. Jim Randall, chair of the Institute of Island Studies. “After all, many of the best solutions come directly from the communities themselves. At its core, this report is about how Islanders view their own quality of life: what seems to be working and where we need to continue to focus our attention.”
The authors of Vital Signs selected 10 dimensions or themes of quality of life and well-being used in other studies in Canada and internationally, including health and well-being, people and work, housing, the environment, belonging and leadership, poverty, learning and educational attainment, arts and culture, diversity and getting started, and safety and security.
Across subjects, trends became apparent in terms of a gulf between Islanders’ expectations of public services, such as health, and the actual delivery of those services. An increase in hopelessness about the state of the environment, including climate change and sea level rise, was found, especially among youth. The authors also noted feelings of concern about the ability of Islanders to gain meaningful employment and stay on the Island after graduation.
The outlook isn’t entirely bleak. PEI's overall economy has been performing well, and the province continues to attract new residents. Islanders also find life less stressful than people in the rest of Canada, in part through a strong sense of belonging to their local community.
Vital Signs is made possible by support from Rotary of Prince Edward Island, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Province of Prince Edward Island.
Vital Signs is available tomorrow in newspapers across the province and online at the websites for the Institute of Island Studies and the Community Foundation of PEI.
Public sessions on the report will be held in four communities.
Community Information Sessions
Monday, November 25, 7 pm to 8:30 pm: Mill River Resort, Bloomfield
Tuesday, November 26, 7 pm to 8:30 pm: Loyalist Country Inn, Summerside
Wednesday, November 27, 7 pm to 8:30 pm: Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, Charlottetown
Thursday, November 28, 7 pm to 8:30 pm: Lane’s Riverhouse Inn, Montague
For more information, or to RSVP for one of the information sessions, please contact the Community Foundation of PEI at info@cfpei.ca.
