Access to the Internet in Canada, 2020
Early findings from the 2020 Internet Use Survey, released by Statistics Canada, show that while the majority of Canadians have adequate internet access, approximately 6% did not have access to the Internet at home. When asked why they did not [...]
Living in Niagara-2020 report
The Living in Niagara report provides a snapshot of the quality of life in the Niagara-wide community. The report combines data, information, and front-line community expert opinion, to draw an evidence-informed picture of life in Niagara now; to point to [...]
Gendered Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Proportion of Canadian Youth Neither in Employment Nor Education at Start of 2020/21 School Year
A new study released May 25, 2021 shows that, at the start of the 2020/2021 school year, when faced with unprecedented youth unemployment and postsecondary education moving online, young women aged 17 to 24 responded by enrolling in postsecondary institutions at a higher rate than a [...]
Canadian Postsecondary Education Alcohol and Drug Use Survey, 2019/2020
In Canada, substance use generally peaks during young adulthood. Young adults attending a postsecondary institution have a range of new experiences during this life stage. Through the 2019–2020 Canadian Postsecondary education Alcohol and Drug use Survey (CPADS), Health Canada collected [...]
The Consumer Price Index and COVID-19: A One-Year Retrospective
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in economic disruptions that continue to affect financial and labour markets across the globe. At the onset of the pandemic, prices shifted significantly as Canadians entered a sustained period of physical distancing and business closures. As [...]
What’s Art Got To Do With It? The Role of Arts and Culture in a Community’s Survival During a Global Pandemic
This is Policy Brief #50 in the Brock University Niagara Community Observatory series. Dr. Kari-Lynn Winters, associate professor at Brock's Faculty of Education, writes about the importance of arts and arts education as we emerge from the pandemic. She writes: [...]
OPENN Substance Use Prevention Strategy
The Overdose Prevention and Education Network of Niagara (OPENN) formed in 2016 to respond to overdoses in Niagara, including the opioid overdose crisis. In 2020, OPENN released its Substance Use Prevention Strategy. The strategy is based on consultations with key [...]
Unflood Ontario
Unflood Ontario seeks to bring public attention to the growing flooding concerns. Water has to go somewhere. Urbanization while necessary, when done without consideration for the environment, leads to spaces that cause more harm than good. Unflood Ontario focuses on [...]
Stop The Spread and Stay Safe: COVID-19 Screening Program for Non-Profit Organizations
Frontline organizations in Ontario will soon have access to free, rapid, self-administered COVID-19 screening tests through a new program called Stop the Spread and Stay Safe. The program, run by the Canadian Red Cross in partnership with the Government of Canada, [...]
Trauma-Informed Interventions through an Indigenous Worldview presented by Brianna Olson
This resource is a recording of a webinar that included almost 1500 participants. It was presented by Brianna Olson and hosted by the Western University Centre for Research and Education in Violence Against Women and Children. The webinar content is [...]
Human Resources Impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Charities and Nonprofits
This report is based on a survey completed by 1,361 Canadian charities and non-profit organizations in February, 2021. It covers staffing, volunteering and the use of government studies and relief programs. Survey results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had [...]
Advancing Supply Chain Logistics in Hamilton-Niagara
This brief summary report provides an overview of a mid-2020 investigation of the theme of Advancing Hamilton-Niagara Supply Chains, as well as access to detailed materials gathered through the process. The topic was examined through a series of 5 virtual [...]
211 Niagara Snapshot January – December 2020
211 data can be used to inform decision-making and investment in our communities. This report summarizes Inquirer and Unmet Needs from 21,215 connections with inquirers in Niagara during the January to December 2020 period. 211 is a fully integrated provincial [...]
Exploring the Digital Needs of Niagara’s Arts Community: Reflections and a Look to the Future
From January 26 to February 6, 2021, the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) hosted a virtual summit to engage the Niagara arts community in exploring the needs of a digital future. The summit featured a series of 15 sessions, including [...]
Eating in Ontario: What Do We Know? Vegetable and fruit consumption, food insecurity, self-rated health, and physical activity based on CCHS 2017 with implications related to COVID-19
This report provides a cross-sectional, descriptive analysis of vegetable and fruit consumption, food insecurity, self-rated health, and physical activity. It explores some determinants of healthy eating and health. The data source used is the Canadian Community Health Survey 2017. When [...]
OPENN Newsletter
The Overdose Prevention and Education Network of Niagara (OPENN) consists of members from prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and enforcement agencies. OPENN members are working together to address increased substance use and raise awareness around the disturbing increase in opioid overdoses [...]
2019 MBNCanada Performance Measurement Report
Municipal Benchmarking Network Canada (MBNCanada) is a collaborative of Canadian municipalities whose mission is to enhance municipal service delivery by leading the development and application of municipal performance measurement and benchmarking. The Network collects data from across 36 municipal service [...]
More Than Money: Leveraging the benefits of sport hosting in Niagara
Policy Brief #30 for Brock's Niagara Community Observatory was written in partnership with the Brock Centre for Sport Capacity. It examines the impact of various sport events in Niagara with the aim of generating a future strategy for bidding and [...]
Niagara Workforce Planning Board Local Labour Market Planning Report 2020-2021
The 2020-2021 Niagara Workforce Planning Board (NWPB) Local Labour Market Planning Report was written during an extremely challenging time for employers, employees, and job-seekers alike. NWPB notes, “As COVID-19 makes hiring and job seeking a more difficult prospect for both [...]
Imagine Canada Sector Monitor report: Ongoing Impacts of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Charitable Sector
This report summarizes the findings of a national survey of 1,089 charities conducted between November 3 and December 2, 2020. Beyond providing essential services to millions, Canada’s nonprofit sector is a critical engine of economic growth and jobs. Nonprofits and [...]
