2022 VitalSigns Report Now Available

We’re pleased to publish the 2022 Vital Signs report, examining issues that affect our community quality of life, including community belonging, health and wellness, housing, safety, and work, income, and economy.

Vital Signs is a national program led by community foundations and coordinated by Community Foundations of Canada that aims to inspire civic engagement and provide focus for public debate in our communities and around the world. Vital Signs reports are used by residents, businesses, community organizations, post-secondary institutions, and government leaders to take action and direct resources where they will have the greatest impact.

 “The purpose of Vital Signs is to examine and raise awareness of the strengths and challenges facing Abbotsford,” says Wendy Neufeld, our Executive Director. “Reading through the report, some of our challenges are obvious: housing continues to get more expensive, with 1 in 5 homeowners and 1 in 3 renters spending more than 30% of their income on housing. Another concern is mental health, with nearly 40% of our survey respondents reporting a decrease in mental wellness over the last two years. However, our strengths are equally clear: Abbotsford remains one of the most generous communities in Canada, when measured by charitable donations given, and it has a thriving not-for-profit sector. Vital Signs also reports that poverty rates in Abbotsford are lower than our provincial and national counterparts, and local median incomes are on par with provincial median incomes. While there is work to be done to make Abbotsford an even better place to live, we have the tools to do so.”

In March of this year, we surveyed residents about their perception of the issues included in the report. Survey results are included in the report under the heading “Your Voice.” This information complements the data from sources like Statistics Canada and illuminates the experiences and opinions of Abbotsford locals.

To read the report, please click here.