Together, we gratefully acknowledge that the land we gather upon in the Comox Valley is the Unceded Traditional Territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.

As a community indicators system, Vital Signs recognizes its own responsibilities when it comes to data. Measurement, mapping and data have historically served as tools in the colonizing of Indigenous lands, resources, and peoples—from surveying land for Britain, France and Canada, to experiments carried out in residential schools without Indigenous families’ knowledge or consent, to using statistics to perpetuate harmful stereotypes of Indigenous people today. We acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past and dedicate ourselves to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous peoples in a spirit of truth, reconciliation, and collaboration.

What is Vital Signs?

TRACKING PROGRESS. INSPIRING ACTION.

Vital Signs is a community check-up conducted by community foundations across Canada that measures the vitality of our communities and identifies significant trends in a range of areas critical to quality of life. Vital Signs is coordinated nationally by Community Foundations of Canada and locally by the Comox Valley Community Foundation.

As a Data Hub, the Vital Signs digital platform centralizes regional data for the Comox Valley, with over 60 indicators relating to our demographics and collective quality of life in the region. Along with historical data on many of the indicators published over the years, the Data Hub brings together definitions for the indicators, links to data sources including Statistics Canada, North Island Health Authority, RCMP, etc., as well as to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as they relate to each measure.

Under the tagline Tracking Progress, Inspiring Action, Vital Signs aims to serve as an important discussion piece for the community, providing clarity around the current, potential, and perceived issues facing our citizens and as a tool for many different groups working for the betterment of our community.

About Comox Valley Community Foundation

mission: connecting our community to enrich life FOR ALL

Established in 1996, the Comox Valley Community Foundation is the Comox Valley’s only charity dedicated to funding AND strengthening all other charities serving the region from Black Creek to Hornby Island. We manage charitable gifts from donors whose generosity allows us to create both permanent, income-earning funds and immediate impact funds. The proceeds from these funds are then distributed as grants for charitable or educational purposes. To date the Comox Valley Community Foundation has invested more than $5.75 million in people, projects, and non-profit organizations that strengthen this beautiful Valley we call home.

About the Vital Signs Advisory Network

Comox valley’s advisory team

The following community organizations kindly joined us to help guide Vital Signs and its engagement throughout the region. We thank them for their time, collaboration, and tremendous community insight.

We would also like to thank many kind community members and participating organizations for their guidance, information, and access to regional data: In particular, Island Health, the City of Courtenay, Town of Comox, Village of Cumberland, Comox Valley Farmers Market Association, Comox Valley Conservation Partnership, Comox Valley Accessibility Committee, among many others.