New report shows Regina's 'vital signs' still need improvement

How is Regina doing on things like the economy, the gap between the rich and poor, and belonging? A new report out on Regina hopes to answer those questions and start a conversation to improve things in the city.
 
The report is called Vital Signs and was put out by the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation. They took information from bureaus like Stats Canada along with community organizations like the YMCA and combined them to create a snapshot of the city.
 
“(It) helps us get a sense of where we’re doing very well as a community, and where we need to put some more effort into building a better city,” said Christina Attard, executive director of the foundation.
 
Some of the topics in the report are easier to get information for, like population and obesity rates. Others, however, are harder to quantify, like sense of belonging, and satisfaction with life.
 
The report found that Regina has an increasing GDP and high employment levels, but there’s been a sharp increase in consumer and business bankruptcies.
 
On the gap between rich and poor, it found that poverty rates are lower than elsewhere in the country, but many people aren’t able to scrape together a living wage. When it comes to health and wellness, there are more doctors in Regina than other places in the province, but not everyone has a family doctor. When it comes to housing, there is increasing capacity at homeless shelters, but home ownership and rental affordability needs to be improved.
 
Attard said the thing which stood out the most is how far children are behind. Children and Youth is a new section for the report this year.
 
“Although Regina is experiencing economic growth, times are good, most people are ahead of national averages on a number of social indicators, children tend to suffer the most. Children tend to be a group that’s homeless. Children tend to be a group that suffers from food insecurity, and it’s an area we need to focus on as a community.”
 
Attard said she was impressed with diversity in Regina.
 
“We’re a growing community, we’re a community that’s inviting newcomers from all walks of life. And overall we’re doing a great job of welcoming them.”
 
What is the report meant to do? Attard said she hopes it will start conversations about how to fix these problems, and help create collaborative partnerships to make the solutions happen.
 
“It’s time to stop working in isolation. It’s time to start talking to one another.”
 
The entire report can be viewed online.