The Windsor Essex Community Foundation releases its annual Vital Signs report on October 15, 2014. (Photo by Jason Viau)The Windsor Essex Community Foundation releases its annual Vital Signs report on October 15, 2014. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Windsor

Vital Signs report identifies wages and Lake Erie for improvement

The sixth annual Vital Signs report suggests most respondents are pretty content living in Windsor-Essex, although some areas were marked for improvement.

For the past six years, the Windsor Essex Community Foundation has surveyed the public to find out what it thinks should be prioritized. This year's survey took place between April and August.

Regional transit has been marked as an area for improvement for the past four years, and executive director Lisa Kolody says it is once again highlighted. Although, she said there had been some improvement already.

"LaSalle has got a bus," said Kolody. "There's organizations out in Leamington and Kingsville providing service through the SECC [South Essex Community Council]."

She admits regional transit is something the public will have to continue to their advocacy.

When it comes to employment, Kolody says the emphasis has shifted from unemployment to work that provides a living wage.

"I think the focus from employment is moving from the employment rate to really having a wage people can live on," she explained.

While past surveys have focused on air and water quality, Kolody says for the first time, respondents were asked about the health of Lake Erie.

"What we found there is that 98 per cent of our respondents said that the health of Lake Erie is either extremely or moderately important to them," she said.

This year's report will be distributed in Saturday's Windsor Star and among area community groups.

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