Sneak a Peak at the New State of the Basin 2016!
Are Columbia Basin-Boundary communities growing or shrinking?
What sectors are people working in? How do our wages compare to other places?
What are the trends in student enrollment and high school completion?
Has traffic increased in the region?
How much is being invested into major infrastructure projects?
What are the main causes behind human – bear conflicts?
How generous are people with volunteering their time and their dollars?
How do residents feel about living in the region?
These questions and more are commonly asked by our region’s residents, organizations, and local governments. For example, the region as a whole is projected to grow in population over the next 20 years, but the distribution of the population is uneven – while some areas will grow, others will shrink. With many data sets available, and information presented at different scales, finding straightforward and accessible answers can be a challenge.
The goal of the State of the Basin is to monitor and report on information relating to well-being in the Columbia Basin-Boundary region. This year the State of the Basin got a facelift, with some exciting changes and additions. Today the Rural Development Institute (RDI) is rolling out the first products from the 2016 State of the Basin. You are invited to be among the first to see the finished products!
“The mandate of the RDI is to support evidence-based decision-making in our region,” says Dr. Terri MacDonald, Regional Innovation Chair at Selkirk College’s Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute. “The State of the Basin initiative is one of the primary ways we aim to advance this mandate.”
Ten ‘Trends Analysis’ Briefs take almost 100 different indicators of well-being and group them by theme. Look for your area(s) of interest and you’ll find a summary and details of all the indicators related to that theme:
Economy
Workforce
Basic Services
Tourism
Agriculture
Demographics
Community & Society
Education & Learning
Poverty
Environment
The Trends Analysis Briefs will be complemented by an overarching ‘Snapshot’ report and a compiled ‘Long Report’ that includes all the indicators. Check the website for new reports as they emerge: http://www.cbrdi.ca/state-of-the-basin/.
It would be impossible to fit all the information into these reports. Because of this we often report indicators at a regional or sub-regional scale. If you are interested in what data and information is available specific to your community check out the announcement about the new Community Data Program. You can also always contact us with questions.
References and Resources
State of the Basin: http://www.cbrdi.ca/state-of-the-basin/
Community Data Program Overview: http://www.cbrdi.ca/news/data-and-decision-making-new-resource-for-columbia-basin-boundary-communities/
Teck Serv Internship Grant: http://selkirk.ca/about-us/research/teckserv-applied-research-internship
Different By Design Conference: http://kootenays2017.crrf.ca/
Rural Routes Podcast: http://ruralroutespodcasts.com/
This article is a product of the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute, at Selkirk College. We are a regional research centre with a mandate to support informed decision-making by Columbia Basin-Boundary communities through the provision of information, applied research and related outreach and extension support. Visit www.cbrdi.ca for more information.
CENSUS DATA RELEASE
Apply for funding to hire a Selkirk College summer student research intern. Deadline is March 24, 2017. Learn more about the Teck Serv research grant.
Registration is now open for the Different By Design conference coming to Nelson this fall! Register early to reserve your spot and take advantage of early bird discounts.
HAVE YOU HEARD?
Interested in health care? The newest Rural Routes Podcast features Dr. Lars Hallstom in a discussion about the social and economic factors that influence human health, and the role living in rural places can play in our health. This is the first of several Rural Routes podcasts tackling health and wellbeing.
RDI Focus is a monthly e-blast highlighting stories of well-being in our region.