Message from Hamilton Community Foundation
Vital Signs is a citizens’ report from Hamilton Community Foundation on multiple aspects of the city’s quality of life. It looks at Hamilton’s vitality, highlights important research data, and identifies significant trends on issues that matter to all of us. Since 2010, we’ve presented statistics in 12 areas that together have generated recurring themes – progress in areas like the economy, environment and the arts as well as persistent signs of social danger such as the gap between rich and poor, unemployment rates for newcomers and…Read More
Learning to love Hamilton
How does a city that has so much come to believe it has so little? How does a city with so many assets come to see them as liabilities? How does a city gain self-confidence and learn to love itself? These are the sorts of questions that come to mind whenever I visit Hamilton…Read More
Where we live matters
Just as conditions within our homes have important implications for our health and development, conditions in the neighbourhoods surrounding our homes also have major impacts on our lives. Social and economic features of our neighbourhoods have been linked with mortality rates, general health status…Read More
Investing in the arts pays dividends for the city
Spend a little time at any of Hamilton’s festivals and events, growing number of galleries, performances or design spaces, and you’ll see the vital contribution the arts and cultural sector makes to our growing civic pride, prosperity, and vibrancy. Vital Signs shows that the number of artists in Hamilton …Read More
Breathing a little easier
Citizens have become increasingly aware that poor air quality can affect health – especially for young children and the elderly. Hamilton’s air quality is affected by industry and vehicle emissions, and by its location next to an escarpment and the lake. Over the past 20 years, Hamilton’s …Read More
Newcomers key to growth
Hamilton increasingly depends on immigration to grow its population and to fill gaps in our local labour market supply. Yet the number of new permanent residents to Hamilton decreased substantially last year and it’s still hard to enter Hamilton’s labour market. Fewer newcomers are settling in Hamilton …Read More
Tackling Hamilton’s obesity problem
Healthy weight is a key factor in preventing disease. Being overweight increases one’s risk of heart disease and diabetes and is linked to some forms of cancer. Mental health issues like depression, anxiety and self-esteem are also linked to obesity. Sixty percent of Hamiltonians aged 12 or older and 26 percent …Read More
Addressing domestic violence
The number of domestic violence occurrences reported to police in Hamilton soared by 70 percent between 2007 and 2010, rising to 3,798 from 2,189. Experts estimate that less than one-in-four domestic violence incidentsare reported to police. Violence against women includes …Read More