Thanks to our Partners and Sources
Transcription
Thanks to our Partners and Sources
One Place, One Peace: In it together For Toronto, this was a record-breaking year. We hosted the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, a spectacular series of events around the GTHA and beyond. The Games were a big win for Canada: our athletes won 385 medals. And a big win for Toronto, too: a civic “aha!” moment when we realized what can happen when we work together toward a common goal. The Games gave us a chance to see our city through others’ eyes. Visitors and international media gave us top marks for our quality of life. At a time when the environment is paramount, Toronto’s green spaces got the nod. At 445 hectares per 100,000 people, our parks, ravines, backyards, and green roofs keep us 4 degrees cooler on average and remove airborne particulate matter equivalent to the output of one million cars. For those tuned into global culture, Toronto’s concerts and museums, galleries and festivals won ovations. And residents seconded that emotion in record numbers. Attendance at City-funded or -programmed events reached 19 million and 71 per cent of us regularly attended an arts- or cultural-related event, program, or place. And the Games built on last year’s tourism records. The Region drew the highest-ever number of overnight visitors. This city is also a beacon for immigrants: just over half of Torontonians are foreign-born, with one-third of Torontonians having arrived in the last 25 years. All of this international attention adds up: Toronto’s economy continues to grow. Overall employment was up 1.5 per cent from 2013 to 2014, with 20,850 new jobs and more than 5,000 new businesses. We’re building more high- and mid-rise buildings than any other North American city. On-location filming hit a new high of $1.23 billion, and the 2014 World Pride Festival contributed $313 million to Toronto’s GDP. Plus, we continue to win accolades. For the seventh year running, The Economist has declared Toronto as the fourth most liveable city in the world. Yet, as gratifying as these numbers are, they don’t tell the whole story. Almost twenty years after amalgamation, Toronto remains tenaciously divided. The gap between the richest and the rest in our Region is the second largest in Canada (next only to Calgary) and, after 25 years of steady growth, the income inequality gap in our city is increasing at twice the national average. We’re becoming more polarized geographically, too, as illustrated by City Hall debates on the Gardiner, “carding”, and subway-versus-LRT. The question on everyone’s mind is John Barford, Chair of the Board of Directors, left, and Rahul K. Bhardwaj, President & CEO, Toronto Foundation, see Toronto poised to become a model for cities everywhere. “’One place’ is a new way of thinking, working, and living together. As ‘One place’ we will devise city-wide solutions to city-wide problems.” how do we transcend these destructive divisions and move forward? By wholeheartedly rejecting the divided city and embracing a new vision. By seeing ourselves as one city. A city where 140 diverse neighbourhoods pull together as one. Where Toronto is the driver of a thriving global city region. We must become “One place.” “One place” is a new way of thinking, working, and living together. As “One place” we will devise city-wide solutions to city-wide problems. Like traffic. The Region’s congestion crisis continues, boasting the second longest round-trip commute – 66 minutes – of any North American city. Like affordable housing. Toronto’s house purchase prices have tripled since the 1970s. We are the 13th least affordable major housing market in the world. And like our health. Just under half of our young people are active and 50 per cent of adults are overweight or obese. And while most residents (70.5 per cent) report very good or excellent mental health, 262 people took their own lives in 2013 (that’s more than four times the number of homicides and quadruple the incidence of auto accident deaths). As “One place” we will deliver a more effective response to those most at risk. Like seniors. One in five Torontonians 55-plus lives alone; for those 85 and older, it’s 44 per cent. And the numbers are rising: today, 14.76 per cent of us are seniors; by 2036, one in four Canadians will be. Like “the precariat.” Last year, 22.7 per cent of us depended on temporary and contract work. Two working parents with two young children must each earn at least $18.52 an hour to make ends meet. The impact? Close to 80,000 on the active waiting list for affordable housing. More than 890,000 visits to food banks. Lowest-income men are 50 per cent more likely to die before 75 than those with the highest income, while the poorest women are 85 per cent more likely to have diabetes than their wealthiest counterparts. And 29 per cent of Toronto’s children live in poverty. Like the next generation. In 2014, youth unemployment was almost 22 per cent in Toronto, and young people were the fastest-growing homeless segment in Canada. Is it any wonder young adults don’t feel connected to their city or aren’t politically engaged? Just 39 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds voted in the 2011 federal election — a startling contrast to the 80 per cent of their parents’ generation who did so at the same age. How will we know when Toronto is getting it right? When “One place” leads to “One peace” for this city’s residents. When we have the peace of mind that comes from knowing our youth feel optimistic about the future. The peace that comes from knowing you can make a good life for your family. And that you can age with dignity. MICHAEL SALEM In fact, Toronto is already getting it right in many ways, and the 2015 Games are a case in point. They provided a platform for people to come together to do something good for the entire city. The physical and social legacies created will endure long after this summer. Even better, we now have solid proof of what we can achieve by thinking and working together. The need for cities to get it right has never been greater. By the middle of this century, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Toronto is one of the fastest-growing regions in Canada, so the challenges we face will only intensify. Toronto is uniquely positioned to build the inclusive and sustainable city of the future. A great place for people to live. And a model for cities everywhere. And who will build the “One place” of the future that will offer “One peace” to its residents? People like you. From this day forward, you are the “One.” John Barford Chair Board of Directors Rahul K. Bhardwaj President & CEO Toronto’s Vital Signs® Report 2015 is available on Toronto Foundation’s website: www.torontofoundation.ca Thanks to our Partners and Sources The Toronto’s Vital Signs® Report is a collaborative effort led by Toronto Foundation. We specially thank George Brown College, our lead research partner, and the 97 Vital Toronto Fund donors who support this aspect of our city building work. Our special thanks is also extended to Community Foundations of Canada, which co-ordinates the national and international replication of Vital Signs. In addition, Toronto Foundation thanks the more than 300 individuals, institutions and organizations who provide information, statistics, and advice for the Toronto’s Vital Signs® Report, including: * Advisory Group Lyndsey Adams Masooma Amarsi Laurie Ashby Lauren Baker Kyle Baptista Paul Bedford* Vassiliki Bednar Matt Bentley Rahul Bhardwaj* Gillian Booth Erin Boudreau Mike Brady Rupen Brahmbhatt Shauna Brail* Marcy Burchfield David Cameron James Chan* Margo Charlton Steven Clow Kara Collins Isaac Coplan Liz Corson Charles H. Davis Kim Dayman Adrienne De Francesco Blair Dimock* Suzanne Dwyer (GBC Lead Researcher)* Lisa Ferguson (Lead, Writing Team)* Ben Freeman Stephen Gaetz Kelly Gallagher-Mackay Nadien Godkewitsch* Rick Goldsmith* Ilja Green* Jennifer Green Joe Greenwood Daniel Hamlin Sally Han Jane Hilderman Kelly Hill Leanne Holt J. David Hulchanski Roger Keil* Gracia Dyer Jalea Steve Johnston Annie Kidder Marianne Kingsley Sara Krynitzki* Julia Langer Daniel Liadsky Julia Lo Beth Lorimer Harvey Low Robert Luke* Richard Maaranen Ellen MacLean Romina Mari Sean Marshall Patricia McCarney* Andrew McConnachie Ken McGuffin Nuala Meagher James Meers Tanzeel Merchant* Jo Michaels Alex Morosovskiy Rosalyn Morrison (Chair)* Keith Neuman* Kim Nguyen Christina Palassio Christopher Pandolfi James Patava Mary Pickering Ann Rosenfield Michael Salem* Jordan Scantlebury Michael Shapcott Konrad Skorupa Jo Snyder John Stapleton Heather Steel Andrew Stephen Jacqui Strachan Valerie Tarasuk Lorne Turner (fondly remembered) Lisa Wolf Ted Wong Nick Yeo Linda Yuval CBRE Canada Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Centre for Research on Inner City Health Centre for Social Innovation CERIS – The Ontario Metropolis Centre Charlie’s Free Wheels Child Development Institute Children’s Aid Society of Toronto Christie’s International Real Estate CIBC Citizens for Public Justice City Lab 5 Gyres Institute City of Toronto: Access Alliance Affordable Housing Office ACCES Employment Children’s Services Action Canada City Clerk’s Office Alliance Against Modern Slavery City Manager’s Office Alliance for a Poverty-Free Toronto Community Development and AMNewYork Recreation Committee ARCADIS Corporate Finance ArtReach Cultural Services Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic Economic Development and Culture BeautifulCity Election Services BlogTO Film and Television Office BOOST for Kids Finance & Administration Business Wire Communications Campaign 2000 Medical Officer of Health Canada Mortgage and Housing Parks and Environment Committee Corporation Parks, Forestry and Recreation Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Pedestrian and Cycling Canadian Centre for Economic Planning Division Analysis (CANCEA) Shelter, Support and Housing Canadian Centre for Administration Policy Alternatives Social Development, Finance and Canadian Council on Social Administration Development Solid Waste Management Services Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Strategic and Corporate Policy Research Institute Toronto Food Policy Council Canadian Homeless Research Network Toronto Public Health Canadian Index of Wellbeing Toronto Water Canadian International Television Traffic Safety Unit Festival Transportation Services Canadian Roots Exchange Urban Forestry Services Canadian Screen Awards Waterfront Toronto Canadian Training Institute Wellbeing Toronto Canadian Urban Institute CivicAction Canadian Urban Transit Association Clean Air Partnership CareerBuilder.ca Colour of Poverty – Colour of Change Community Food Centres of Canada Community Foundations of Canada Covenant House Crisis Link CTV News Cushman & Wakefield Cycle Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank David Suzuki Foundation Deloitte Democracy Watch Demographia Diabetes Care East Scarborough Storefront Egale Canada Human Rights Trust Elections Canada Emporis Environmental Defence FarmStart Federation of Canadian Municipalities Fitch Ratings FoodShare Toronto Fraser Institute Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation Friends of the Pan Am Path George Brown College (Lead Research Partner) Institute Without Boundaries Global News GO Transit Government of Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada Parks Canada Statistics Canada Government of Ontario: Office of the Chief Coroner Local Health Integration Networks Ministry of Children and Youth Services Ministry of Education Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Ministry of Labour Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Newsroom Greenest City Green Thumbs Growing Kids Grosvenor Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Hill Strategies Research Homes First Housing Connections Huffington Post Imagine Canada Inside Out LGBT Film Festival InsideToronto.com Institute for Canadian Citizenship Institute for Research on Public Policy International Institute for Sustainable Development (National Research Partner) International Standards Organization Ipsos Reid John Howard Society of Toronto KPMG Lake Ontario Waterkeeper Leger LGBT Youthline MABELLEarts Maclean’s Magazine MaRS Discovery District Maytree McConnell Foundation McMaster University Metcalf Foundation Metro News Metrolinx Moneris Mowat Centre National Crime Prevention Centre Neptis Foundation Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto New Leaf Yoga Foundation NOW Magazine Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Service for Seniors Ontario Campaign 2000 Ontario Long Term Care Association Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association Ontario Physician Human Resource Data Centre Open Streets TO OPENCities Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ottawa Citizen Park People Parkdale Activity – Recreation Centre (PARC) ParticipACTION Pathways to Education Pembina Institute People for Education PinkNews.co.uk Playing for Keeps Poverty and Employment Precarity in Southern Ontario (PEPSO) PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Pride Toronto Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto (RaBIT) Realosophy Realty Inc. Regent Park Focus Region of Peel Royal Bank of Canada Ryerson University City Building Institute Samara Canada Skyscraperpage.com Social Planning Toronto Social Progress Imperative Solid Waste and Recycling Magazine Spacing Magazine Springboard St. Michael’s Hospital Centre for Research on Inner City Health TakePart.com TD Economics The Canadian Press The Economist The Globe and Mail The Guardian The Homeless Hub The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) The Independent TheScore.com TIFF Times Higher Education TomTom Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Toronto Arts Council Toronto Arts Foundation Toronto Centre for Active Transportation Toronto Community Housing Corporation Toronto Cycling Think & Do Tank Toronto District School Board Toronto Environmental Alliance Toronto Life Toronto Police Service Toronto Public Library Toronto Raptors Toronto Real Estate Board Toronto Region Board of Trade Toronto Star Toronto Sun Toronto Transit Commission Toronto.com Torontoist.ca Tourism Toronto United Nations Economic and Social Affairs UNICEF World Health Organization United Way Toronto and York Region University of British Columbia University of Toronto: Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance Neighbourhood Change Research Partnership Martin Prosperity Institute UofT News University of Waterloo Walk Score West End Food Co-op Wheels.ca Wildlands League WoodGreen Community Services World Council on City Data Yahoo News Yonge Street Media YouthfulCities THE REPORT TORONTO ON THE WORLD STAGE DEMOGRAPHICS Toronto Foundation Established in 1981, Toronto Foundation is one of 191 Community Foundations in Canada. We are a leading independent charitable foundation that connects philanthropy to community needs and opportunities. Our individual and family Fundholders support causes they care about in Toronto and across Canada, through grants to any registered Canadian charity. We currently have more than 500 active Funds, including endowments and assets under administration of more than $400 million. A growing number of Torontonians support the Vital Toronto Fund, our community fund that helps mobilize people and resources to tackle community challenges in innovative and inspiring ways. To find out more, please visit www.torontofoundation.ca. Community Knowledge Centre (CKC) At www.ckc.torontofoundation.ca you will find an online showcase of more than 260 organizations working on solutions to the issues identified in this Partner. This data spread is a specially designed condensed version of the Report. You can access the Full Report with complete citations at www.torontosvitalsigns.ca. Your guide for discussion and action As you read through this Report, consider the Vital Questions posed throughout. We have lots to be proud of, but there are also things we need to think about in order to shift some troubling trends. The city of Toronto (population 2,808,507*) refers to the former Metropolitan Toronto, which consisted of the former municipalities of Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, York and the Borough of East York. The Toronto Region (population 6,055,724*) refers to the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), an area slightly smaller than the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and the largest metropolitan area in Canada. Almost half the population of the Toronto Region resides in the city of Toronto. Ask yourself: > What issues do I care about? > What data surprises me? > How can I get involved to make a difference? The Greater Toronto Area or GTA (population 6,546,519**) refers to the area covered by the city of Toronto and the Regions of Halton, Peel, York, and Durham. The GTHA refers the GTA plus Hamilton. Report. Through video and prose, it presents stories of innovations taking place in our city and provides you with an opportunity to get involved. See examples of groups on the CKC in each issue area below. > Almost 1 in 5 (18.1%) Canadians live in the GTA. > 42.9% of the Region’s population lives in Toronto. > Toronto Region’s proportion of seniors increased 24.8% between 2001 and 2014. > 14.76% of the Toronto population is seniors. > The number of seniors will grow from 1 in 7 Canadians now to about 1 in 4 by 2036. >22% of Torontonians 55 and older live alone, and 44% of those 85 and older live alone. > 1 of every 6 immigrants to Canada in the 5 years before the last census settled in Toronto. > 51% of Toronto residents were born outside of Canada. > Although immigration has been one of the main sources of Toronto’s growth, its share as a source of population growth declined 19% between 2011 and 2013. Community Foundations Community Foundations are independent public foundations that strengthen their communities by partnering with donors to build permanent endowments and other funds, supporting community projects, and providing leadership on issues of broad community concern. Vital Signs is a national program led by Community Foundations and coordinated by Community Foundations of Canada that leverages local knowledge to measure the vitality of our communities and supports action towards improving our quality of life. Started by the Toronto Foundation in 2001, today 75 communities across Canada and around the world use Vital Signs to mobilize the power of community knowledge for greater local impact. While overall violent crime is declining, reported sexual assaults and stabbings are going up: > The rate of violent crime declined 3% in the Region and 1.8% in the city between 2013 and 2014 (from 1,005 to 987 violent crimes per 100,000 persons in the city). > There were 57 homicides last year (the same rate as in 2013). > Reported sexual assaults increased in Toronto in 2014, to 66.8 per 100,000 persons, up 12.5% over 2013, and higher than the provincial (55.7) and national (58.5) averages. > Incidents of stabbings in Toronto jumped dramatically in 2014. There were 815 stabbings, a 36% increase from the 599 the previous year. The Region’s youth crime rate continues to decrease: > The youth crime rate decreased 44.9% between 2004 and 2013. > It stands at 1,496 per 100,000 youth charged; that rate is 48% lower than the national average (2,447) and 24.4% lower than the provincial average (1,912). How safe are members of minority and vulnerable populations? The police practice of “carding” is under review: > “Carding” is the police practice of stopping people arbitrarily and questioning them, recording personal information, and entering it into an investigative database. > An investigation into race, policing, and crime found that 25% of those carded in 2013 were black (while fewer than 10% of Torontonians are black). A black person was 17 times more likely than a white person to be carded in the downtown core. HEALTH AND WELLNESS What are our biggest health challenges? Most Torontonians report very good or excellent physical health, but obesity and diabetes rates are growing: > 70.5% of all Torontonians report very good or excellent physical health. > Less than half (46.1%) of Torontonians 12 and over report being at least moderately active during their leisure time. > 50.7% of adults report being overweight or obese, up from 46.2% in 2013. > The youth (12-17 yrs. old) obesity rate is greater in Toronto (27.0%) than nationally (23.1%) and provincially (23.3%). > Self-reported diabetes rates have increased by almost 43% since 2003. > 7% of Toronto’s population 12 yrs. old and over has been diagnosed with diabetes (up from 4.9% in 2003). Most Torontonians believe their mental health is good, but almost a quarter of the population experiences high levels of stress: > 7 in 10 Torontonians say they are in very good or excellent mental health. > 70.9% of youth (12-19 yrs. old) perceive their mental health as being very good or excellent, a decrease from 77.3% in 2003 and lower than national (73.9%) and provincial (72.3%) averages. > 22.8% of the population 15 yrs. old and over report that most days are quite a bit or extremely stressful. > 262 people took their own lives in 2013 in Toronto. That’s more than 4 times the number of homicides, and 4 times the number of road user fatalities. On any given night, approximately 2,000 homeless youth in Toronto are vulnerable to being trafficked: > Toronto is a known “principle destination” or “transit point” for human trafficking in Canada. > People under 24 comprise about a third of Canada’s homeless (about 65,000 individuals), and are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population. How do inequities impact health and wellbeing? Lower-income Torontonians have poorer health: > Health status indicators show significant inequities. When the health status of the lowest-income group is compared to that of the highest-income group: • m en are 50% more likely to die before age 75, • w omen are 85% more likely to have diabetes, • b abies are 40% more likely to be born at a low weight. Get involved Get involved BOOST for Kids – eliminating abuse and violence towards children and youth Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic – offering legal representation and counselling to women who have experienced violence New Leaf Yoga Foundation – supporting the wellbeing of youth by making mindfulness and yoga accessible LGBT Youthline – providing anonymous peer support for youth in a queer-positive context Mono Georgina East Gwillimbury Tecumseth Newmarket King Uxbridge Aurora WhitchurchStouffville Caledon Vaughan Richmond Hill Markham Brampton Halton Hills Toronto is the “best place to live”: > The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Safe Cities Index included an “index of indexes” compiled from 6 other Economist rankings — Safe Cities, Liveability, Cost of Living, Business Environment, Democracy, and Global Food Security — to determine the best cities in the world to live. Toronto came out on top overall among 25 best performing global cities. Brock Toronto Scugog Pickering Whitby Clarington Mississauga Milton Oakville Burlington City of Toronto: 2.8 million Toronto Region: 6.06 million Greater Toronto Area (GTA): 6.55 million * * ** Toronto’s economy continues to grow, though slowly: > Toronto’s GDP grew by 3.12% between 2013 and 2014. > 5,030 business establishments were new or new to Toronto in 2014. > There were 21% fewer business bankruptcies in the Region last year (368 vs. 466 in 2013). Construction activity continues to be strong: > Toronto has the most high- and mid-rise buildings under construction of any North American city, and is 2nd only to New York City WORK HOUSING The Toronto Region’s congestion crisis continues to impact our quality of life: > Traffic in Toronto is the 8th most congested in North America, and 2nd most congested in Canada. > The Region boasts the 2nd longest round-trip commute – 66 minutes – of any North American city. Only New York City fares worse. > Increasingly longer commute times negatively affect health and intensify the “time crunch” that 1 in 5 Ontarians feels (which means less time for family, leisure, and community). > The most congested mornings and evenings are on Thursdays. Thursday evening congestion nears 80%. Toronto’s job numbers are increasing, but almost 1 in 4 is part-time: > The city’s overall employment grew 1.5% in 2014 with 20,850 jobs added. > Of Toronto’s total employment (1,384,390 jobs counted), 76.8% were full-time and 23.2% part-time (a 1.7% increase in part-time work since the previous year). Toronto’s housing market is “severely” unaffordable: > Toronto’s house prices have tripled since the 1970s. > Toronto is the 13th least affordable of 86 global cities with populations over 1 million. > Toronto’s median house price in 2014 was $482,900 and its median household income $73,900. > An annual income of $126,530 is needed to afford the average home in Toronto, which costs $630,858. > Toronto is the most expensive place to rent in Canada, and has the fourth-lowest vacancy rate. An average two-bedroom apartment rents for $1,264. > Almost half of Toronto households rent, and 43.5% of renter households spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent (considered the cut-off for affordability). Who is working in Toronto and who isn’t? Tanja-Tiziana Burdi ENVIRONMENT How is Toronto faring with measures of environmental progress and sustainability? Toronto is the world’s 12th most sustainable city: > Ranking three pillars: People, Planet, and Profit, Toronto came in at 12th out of 50 global cities on overall sustainability. > Toronto ranked 9th on the Planet pillar (including energy consumption, renewable energy, recycling, greenhouse gas emissions, natural disaster risks, and air and water qualities). Half of Canada’s best farmland is in Ontario, much of it near Toronto, yet Ontario imports almost $20 billion worth of food annually: > Half of Canada’s “Class 1” farmland—good for producing a range of field crops—is in southern Ontario, much of it in “near-urban” areas such as surrounding Toronto. > Yet we import nearly double what we export— Ontario food imports are valued at $19.8 billion, and exports $10.8 billion. > At any one time ,Toronto has about 3 days’ worth of food available. A border closure or key failure in US agriculture would leave our city unable to adequately feed its population. How do Toronto’s green spaces contribute to residents’ wellbeing? Toronto has 445.67 hectares of publicly accessible green spaces per 100,000 people: > Parks and green spaces are 4°C cooler, on average, than other areas of Toronto. > The amount of airborne particulate matter removed annually by Toronto’s urban forest (the trees, shrubs, and plants that grow in parks, ravines, lawns, and at the sides of streets) is equivalent to the amount released by over 1 million automobiles each year. > People who live in neighbourhoods with a higher density of trees report better health conditions. Just 10 more trees per city block improves health perception in ways that compare to being 7 years younger. Get involved Charlie’s FreeWheels – teaching bicycle mechanics, safety and leadership skills to youth Cycle Toronto – advocating for a healthy, safe, and cycling friendly city for all for major buildings under construction. The Region smashed 2 tourism records in 2014: > We recorded the highest-ever number of overnight visitors (14.3 million, including the highest-ever number of overseas visitors) and hotel room nights sold. > Spending by overnight and same-day trip visitors added $6.9 billion to the economy. > Toronto is the most-visited Canadian city by other Canadians. In 2014, 10.5 million overnight Canadian guests generated $2.44 billion. facebook.com/TorontoCF GETTING AROUND How is Toronto faring on measures of active transportation? The number of commuters who take transit, walk, or bike to work continues to increase, but we can still do better: > In a recent study of GTHA commuters, 4% said they walked, 2% biked, 30% used public transit, and 7% carpooled. However, 55% drove alone. > Among 22 Canadian cities, Toronto is the 2nd most walkable. > Cycling volumes have tripled, cyclists feel safer, and motor vehicle travel times have been positively impacted, now that bike lanes are on Richmond, Adelaide, and Simcoe Streets. Since installation in 2014, Richmond and Adelaide bike lanes average more than 4,200 cyclist trips per weekday. > Of 10 Canadian cities, Toronto was tied with Saskatoon as the 4th most dangerous in which to ride a bike. > Thursday is the worst day of the week for traffic accidents involving cyclists, and evening rush hour is the worst time of day. The Toronto Region is 3rd in labour attractiveness globally: > Among the dozen North American cities included in Toronto Region Board of Trade’s Scorecard on Prosperity ranking of 24 global metropolitan areas, the Region was ranked 5th overall, and awarded a “B” in labour attractiveness. ECONOMIC HEALTH Oshawa #TVS2015 @TorontoFdn @CEO_TorontoFdn How does Toronto’s traffic congestion compare? Just how safe is Toronto? BradfordW.Gwillimbury Toronto is the most liveable location for relocating employees in North America: > ECA International’s Location Ratings cited Toronto’s “good air quality, solid infrastructure, decent medical facilities, low crime and health risks.” *Population figures are post-census estimates. **Projections predict a rate of growth of 1.6% annually 2014-2019. Full Report: www.torontosvitalsigns.ca SAFETY Toronto is one of the “most liveable cities” in the world: > The Economist Intelligence Unit has ranked Toronto 4th place for the 7th seventh year in a row in liveability. Ajax Toronto Foundation’s Toronto’s Vital Signs® Report is an annual consolidated snapshot identifying the trends and issues affecting the quality of life in our city – progress we should be proud of and challenges that need to be addressed. The Report aims to inspire civic engagement and provide focus for public debate in our communities and around the world. It is used by residents, businesses, community organizations, universities and colleges, and government departments. In addition, the Report is a model now being replicated by 75 communities around the world. The Foundation partners with many researchers to produce the Toronto’s Vital Signs Report, including George Brown College, our Lead Research Get involved Wildlands League – working in the public interest to protect public lands and resources in Ontario Green Thumbs Growing Kids – educating and engaging children with nature and food through learning Toronto’s youth face troubling trends: > The youth unemployment rate reached a high of 21.65% in 2014. The rate has hovered near 20% for more than a decade. > About 10% of youth 15-24 yrs. old in the GTHA (as many as 83,000) were “Not in Education, Employment or Training” (NEET, a Statistics Canada category). > Groups over-represented in NEET include youth who are racialized and newcomer, aboriginal, living in poverty or in conflict with the law, in and leaving care, LGBT, or with disabilities and special needs. Unemployment is more likely among Toronto’s recent immigrants than Canadian-born workers: > In Toronto, the unemployment rate for those aged 15 and over born in Canada was 9.0% in 2014 (up from 7.9% in 2013). > For the city’s recent immigrants (entered Canada within the last 5 years) unemployment stood at 16.2%. > For Toronto immigrants in Canada 5-10 years, unemployment was 12.9% (up from 9.7% in 2012). > For recent immigrant youth in the city (15-24 yrs. old), the unemployment rate was 24.1% vs. 21.65% for all youth. What other workforce trends should we be concerned about? Precarious employment is rising: > 22.7% of Toronto workers 25-65 years old were precariously employed last year, in jobs that are temporary and contract (up from 19.4% in 2013). For the GTHA, that figure was 20.3%. > Only 45.7% of Toronto’s workers have the most secure form of employment, the “standard employment relationship” of permanent full-time employment with benefits. > Temporary and contract employment increased by 17% in Toronto between 2011 and 2014. Get involved ACCES Employment – assisting job seekers from diverse backgrounds to integrate into the Canadian job market Newcomer Women’s Services – delivering educational and employment opportunities for immigrant women and their children What does it cost to call Toronto home? Peter Bregg GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR LEARNING How big is the gap between the richest Torontonians and the rest? The teacher/student ratio in the Region’s public schools continues to improve, and more Toronto schools have specialist teachers: > There were 91.2 teachers per 1,000 elementary and secondary students in the Region in 2013 vs. 67.8 in 2011. > 87% of Toronto elementary schools in the Region had teacherlibrarians in 2014-15. > 82% of Toronto elementary schools had a health and physical education teacher. The gap between the top 1% income earners and the rest in the Toronto Region is the 2nd largest in Canada: > The top 1% (66,840 people) of individual tax filers in the Region shared 17.4% of declared income. > Calgary had the largest gap between the top 1% and the rest. Income inequality among Toronto households is growing: > At 31%, Toronto’s income inequality growth rate over 25 years was more than double the national (14%) rate. > Average household incomes in the poorest 10% of Toronto neighbourhoods increased 2%, whereas in the richest 10% of neighbourhoods, they increased 80%. > Toronto is becoming Canada’s working poverty capital, with working poverty increasing from 8.2% of the working-age population in the Region in 2006 to 10.7% in 2012 – the highest among Canada’s 10 largest metros. How are working families faring? Working families are having trouble making ends meet: > Two working parents with 2 young children need to each earn at least $18.52 per hour just to make ends meet in Toronto. > Since 2008, the cost of childcare has increased 30%, rent 13%, and public transit 36%. > Over 1.5 million people in the Region earn less than $21 per hour. Toronto is experiencing a “hidden epidemic” of child and family poverty: > The number of children living in low-income families increased by over 10,000 between 2010 and 2012 to 29% of Toronto’s children. What does food insecurity look like in Toronto? There were more than 890,000 visits to Toronto food banks last year: > While food bank use in the core decreased 16%, in the inner suburbs visits have increased 45% since 2008. Get involved PARC – working with members of the Parkdale community on issues of poverty and mental health Greenest City – building healthy, inclusive neighbourhoods through community gardening and food security programs How are Toronto’s public schools faring? How do socio-economic inequities affect access to learning and opportunity? There are not enough childcare spaces in Toronto to meet demand: > Licensed and regulated childcare spaces can accommodate fewer than 20% of our children (newborns to 12 yrs. old). > Toronto’s licensed childcare system has 1 space for every 13 infants, every 3 toddlers, and every 2 preschoolers. > 21.6% of publicly funded elementary schools have no before- and after-school programs. What about the people without housing options? Close to 80,000 Toronto households are waiting for affordable housing: > The “active” waiting list for affordable housing grew by 1.5% last year, 1,139 more than the previous year. > 3,118 applicants were housed in 2014, 15% fewer than in 2013 and the lowest total in 6 years. > 6.5% of the population in the city is either living in or waiting for affordable housing. > The situation for those in the suburbs is especially precarious, with far more waiting than there are spaces available—almost 26,000 for fewer than 20,000 (currently occupied) units. In some areas there are almost twice as many applicants as units. Schools’ reliance on fundraising is causing inequities: > The top 20 elementary schools (mostly in wealthier neighbourhoods) raised $3.9M in 2012-13. The bottom 20 schools raised only $43,249. How educated are Torontonians? The number of Toronto students graduating high school is increasing annually: > The Toronto District School Board’s 5-year graduation rate was 80% last year, up from 69% of students when they began tracking in 2000. Toronto’s population is highly educated: > Torontonians possess more higher education degrees per 100,000 population (45,875) than residents of other global cities like Los Angeles (24,100), London (31,698), and Amsterdam (42,030). Get involved Canadian Training Institute – enhancing client services delivered by the criminal justice system through training and development Springboard – helping people overcome barriers and develop skills to connect to their communities Laura Brown Get involved Homes First – providing affordable stable housing and support services to help people break the cycle of homelessness WoodGreen – enhancing self-sufficiency, promoting wellbeing and reducing poverty through innovative community services Sonya Reynolds ARTS AND CULTURE How do Torontonians contribute to, and benefit from, the city’s exciting cultural environment? Attendance at cultural events reflects our deep engagement in arts, culture, and heritage and brings economic benefit to the city: > Arts and culture contribute $11.3 billion annually to Toronto’s GDP. > Attendance at City-funded or -programmed cultural events reached 19 million last year. > More than half a million people visit the 21 City-operated museums, historic sites, cultural centres and art galleries every year. > 71% of Torontonians attend a cultural location, or an arts-related event, program, or place on a regular basis. > On-location filming in Toronto hit a new high of $1.23 billion in 2014, over the $1 billion mark for the fourth straight year. > The 2014 World Pride Festival directly contributed $313 million to Toronto’s GDP. Toronto has much to be proud of around the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/ Parapan Am Games: > Supported by more than 20,000 volunteers, the Games were the largest multi-sport event in Canadian history. > More than 5,500 Pan Am athletes competed in 36 sports, and 1,608 athletes competed in 15 parasports. > Canadian Pan Am and Parapan Am athletes won a combined 385 medals. LEADERSHIP, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND BELONGING Do Torontonians feel connected? Almost 7 in 10 Torontonians feel a strong sense of belonging to their local community, however, the rate diminishes for millennials: > 68.9% of Torontonians 12 yrs. old and over report feeling a strong or somewhat strong sense of belonging, a big improvement from 55.9% in 2003 and higher than the national average (66.4%). > Only 56.6% of young adults (20-34 yrs. old) report a strong or somewhat strong sense of belonging. What are some of the barriers to civic participation and sense of belonging? Rising precarious, or insecure employment affects voting: > Workers (25-65 yrs. old) who are low-income or have less secure jobs are less likely to report that they always vote than those who are high-income or have more secure jobs (56.5% vs. 87.6%). Representation on City Council still does not reflect the diversity of Toronto’s population: > Visible minorities make up 49% of Toronto’s population, but in both the 2010 and 2014 municipal elections, visible minorities were elected to only 6 of 45 positions. > While they make up 52% of the population, women comprise only 34% of elected city councillors. How well does our world-class library system serve the city? The Toronto Public Library continues to be among the world’s largest and busiest public library systems: > Last year was a banner year with the opening of its 100th branch (Scarborough Civic Centre), increasing the number of programs offered by 9.3%, and seeing its busiest year since 2005. Total uses surpassed 100 million, up 18.7% from 2007. > The direct benefits of a library membership made it worth $502 for the 72% of Torontonians who used it. > For every $1 invested in the Toronto Public Library, Torontonians received $5.63 of economic value. Are Torontonians supporting our charitable sector? The percentage of Torontonians claiming a charitable donation on their income tax return decreased, but the median donation increased: > 21.6% of Toronto Region tax-filers declared a donation in 2013, placing us 24th of Canada’s 33 metros. > Since 1997, median charitable donations in the Region have risen 85%, from $200 to $370. Get involved Get involved Inside Out LGBT Film Festival changing lives through the promotion, production and exhibition of films by and about LGBT people Regent Park Focus - bringing best practices in training and mentorship of youth to broadcasting and digital arts Canadian Urban Institute – building wisdom and inspiring leadership for healthy urban development MABELLEarts – bringing together local communities to make art, tell stories, and creatively transform their public space Community Knowledge Centre: ckc.torontofoundation.ca – more than 260 profiles of made-in-Toronto solutions addressing issues highlighted in this Report. Toronto is where I’m from or where I landed. More importantly, it’s the place I choose to be. Not perfect. Well lived in. Never finished or solved, but, our life’s work. We’re in it together, because it’s home. It’s our legacy to be built. It’s our city. This is where your legacy begins. Let’s build this city together. Learn more at www.torontofoundation.ca