Media Advisory - Community Foundations to release 2009 Vital Signs reports
Oct. 6

OTTAWA , Sept. 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Community foundations in 16 Canadian communities are releasing their annual Vital Signs report cards, aimed at measuring the vitality of their communities, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 . The reports will be posted at www.vitalsignscanada.ca.

Vital Signs gives each community foundation, its donors, and the community-at-large valuable insight into the area's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges. The reader-friendly report cards track quality of life in key areas such as learning, health, housing, and the environment.

"We know leaders, citizens and organizations across the country are looking for ways to have an impact on the challenges facing our communities. Vital Signs provides a blueprint for reflection, discussion and action," says Monica Patten , President and CEO of Community Foundations of Canada .

    
    This year's participants are:
    -   Victoria, BC                        -  Kingston & Area, ON*
    -   Central Okanagan, BC*               -  Ottawa, ON
        (includes Kelowna and area)         -  Toronto, ON
    -   Sunshine Coast, BC*                 -  Oakville, ON
    -   Boundary Communities, BC*           -  Guelph & Wellington, ON
        (includes Christina Lake, Grand     -  Waterloo Region, ON
        Forks, Greenwood, Midway, Rock         (includes Kitchener-Waterloo
        Creek, Bridesville, Beaverdell)        and Cambridge)
    -   Calgary, AB                         -  Greater Sudbury, ON
    -   Medicine Hat, AB                    -  Greater Saint John, NB
    -   Red Deer, AB                        -  Wolfville, NS*

    * denotes a community releasing its first Vital Signs report
    

Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), the national membership association for the country's 165 community foundations, will also be releasing Canada's Vital Signs 2009, a national report that tracks trends, shares success stories, and encourages deeper discussion and debate. The report will be published online on Oct. 6 at www.vitalsignscanada.ca.

Polling released on Oct. 14

In addition to the publication of Canada's Vital Signs, Community Foundations of Canada has conducted national polling about the quality of life in our communities. The polling, conducted by Environics Research Group, will be released on Wednesday, Oct. 14 and featured in an insert in The Globe and Mail.

For ongoing updates, follow Canada's Vital Signs on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CFCvitalsigns or visit our blog at http://www.vitalsignscanada.blogspot.com/.

About Vital Signs & Community Foundations

Canada's 165 community foundations are local charitable foundations that help Canadians invest in building strong and resilient places to live, work, and play. Together we are one of the largest supporters of Canadian communities, providing $169 million in support of local priorities and organizations in 2008. To find out more visit www.cfc-fcc.ca.

The national Vital Signs project is based on Toronto's Vital Signs,(R) an extremely successful indicator report developed by Toronto Community Foundation, which was first published in 2001. Since expanding to the national scene in 2006, Vital Signs has become the platform for local action among a wide range of community leaders, including governments, not-for-profits, philanthropists, the private sector, and individual citizens.

For further information: Anne-Marie McElrone, Director of Communications and Marketing, [phone] (w), [phone] (c), [email protected]; Skana Gee, Vital Signs Communications Coordinator, [phone] (w), [phone] (c), [email protected]