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OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, October 8, 2009 · 18 Smoking Rates {B, 37%} In 2007 in Halton, 18.3% of residents aged 12 and older reported being current smokers, a decrease of 12% since 2003. Oakville residents were statistically similar to Halton residents in this regard. Binge Drinking {D, 39%} Binge drinking is defined as having 5 or more drinks on one occasion, and applies equally to teenagers as well as adults. In 2005 in Oakville, 13.6% of individuals 12 years of age and older reported binge drinking once a month or more. In Halton by comparison, 16.8% of individuals said they binge drink once a month or more. Regular Physician {D, 33%} Between 2003 and 2007, there was a 20% increase in the proportion of Oakville residents over the age of 12 who did not have a regular physician. During the same time period, Ontario and Canada had increases in their proportions of regular physicians of 16.6% and 7% respectively. Good news: statistics released after the Vital Signs survey reveal that between 2007 and 2008 there was a 46% decrease in the proportion of Oakville residents who did not have a regular physician. Mobility From 2001-2006 {B, 36%} Between 2001 and 2006, 25.1% of Oakville residents were newcomers. In Halton, only Milton (at 47%) had a higher percentage of newcomers. Owned Home Value {A, 32%} In 2006 in Oakville, the average value of an owned home was $472,244, compared to $297,479 provincially. Cost of a Starter Home {C, 36%} Between 2007 and 2008 in Oakville, the cost of a three bedroom, single-storey home decreased from $300,000 to $267,000. In Halton during this time, there was a corresponding decrease from $317,462 to $302,374. Graders' Priority - Dental Insurance Rates {D, 42%} In 2005 in Oakville, 22.5% of individuals had no insurance for dental expenses. This compares to Halton overall, where 24.2% of individuals had no dental coverage. Dental coverage rates experience large drops for young adults who are students or who are no longer covered under their parents' plan and for retired seniors. COMMUNITY PROFILE YMCA of Oakville - Building a stronger, more caring community The YMCA is committed to providing an inclusive and engaging environment that provides all members with life-long opportunities for health enhancement and personal growth. Regardless of the program or service they are engaged in, members, whether children, families or adults, can feel involved and connected. Last year the YMCA extended over $613,000 in member subsidies for low-income families and individuals. For more information, go to: www.ymcaofoakville.com should have complete mental, Graders' Priority - Major Home Payments Among Senior Citizens {D, 38%} In 2006, 20.9% of Oakville seniors who owned a home were making major house payments greater than 30% of their monthly income. By comparison, 18.6% of Burlington seniors were making major house payments greater than 30% of their monthly income. COMMUNITY PROFILE Home Suite Hope - Providing local solutions to local homelessness Home Suite Hope (HSH) is an innovative local homeless initiative that provides shared living accommodation and develops life skills for local individuals and families. The should have access to comfortable, and safe responds to Halton residents who are homeless or in a housing crisis (being evicted) by providing stable, affordable transitional housing. To learn more, go to www.homesuitehope.org Post-Secondary Education Rate {B, 41%} In 2006 in Oakville, 61.7% of residents had completed post-secondary education, compared to 51.0% across Ontario. Composite Learning Index Scores {B, 42%} The Composite Learning Index (CLI) measures, through a variety of indicators, how communities learn, both as children and as adults. In 2009, Oakville scored 80 on the CLI, compared to 74 in 2006, and the 2009 Ontario score of 78. Aboriginal Population with High School Diploma {B, 43%} In 2006, 80.2% of the 665 aboriginal residents in Oakville had completed high school. This compares to the Ontario average of 62.4%. Graders' Priority - Grade 10's passing Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) {B, 39%} In 2006 in Oakville, 91% of grade 10 students passed the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, compared to 92% in 2003. COMMUNITY PROFILE HIPPY Oakville - Helping our community, help parents to help their children HIPPY sends Home Visitors into the homes of vulnerable families to present a 30 week curriculum which prepares 3, 4 and 5 year olds for success in Kindergarten. HIPPY is an international program started in 1968 which is presently offered in 8 countries around the world. HIPPY helps 3 constituents: the mothers who develop confidence in their skills, and improve their own literacy while they develop a better relationship with their job training. For more information, go to www.hippyoakville.org should have the Adult Males and Females Charged {C, 40%} Between 2001 and 2007 in Oakville, the number of adult males charged with a crime decreased 12% (2,774 to 2,455), while the number of adult females charged with a crime increased 12% (588 to 657). should feel homes and Adult Males, Females and Youth Charged with a Crime Year 2007 2006 2005 2004 Adult Males 2455 2415 2535 2727 Adult Females 657 590 709 605 Youth 688 651 738 703 Graders' Priority - Violent, Property, and Other Crimes {B, 50%} Between 2007 and 2008 in Oakville, violent crimes decreased by 7.1%, property crime decreased 4.7%, and other crimes decreased 17.9%. COMMUNITY PROFILE Youth Charged {B, 41%} In 2007, 668 youth were charged with a crime in Oakville, compared to 862 in 2001, a decrease of 23%. Oakville Fire Department - Protecting the lives and property of the inhabitants of Oakville The Oakville Fire Department accomplishes its mission through prevention, education, fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical services and other related activities. They effectively and efficiently utilize all of the necessary resources at their command to provide a product deemed excellent by our citizens. This year a second rescue truck will be placed in service to meet the growing need for additional on-scene firefighting personnel and for an improved method of providing specialized rescue services. A new computer aided dispatch and records management system will be implemented by 2010. To find out more, visit www.oakvillefire.ca All people and should work, GDP Growth {B, 51%} Between 2001 and 2007, Oakville's share of the national gross domestic product (GDP) increased from 0.53% to 0.55%. Out of all the Vital Signs communities in Ontario, Oakville and Toronto are the only communities that experienced growth in GDP. All others saw a decrease or stayed the same. GDP is a general indicator of economic health. Discretionary Income {A, 40%} In 2009, MoneySense Magazine found that the average discretionary income in Oakville households was 31% of total household income. Oakville ranked fourth in this category of the 154 communities surveyed by the magazine. Graders' Priority - Employment Rate {C, 39%} Between 2001 and 2006, the employment rate in Oakville decreased 1.6% (from 68.7% to 67.1%). This statistic does not reflect the employment environment in recent economic conditions, due to a lack of current data. COMMUNITY PROFILE Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning - Providing students of all ages with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world socially and economically. Sheridan delivers career-focused education and training in the arts, business, technology and community service fields to 15,000 full-time students each year. They serve the diverse needs of their student body by offering a wide range of credentials, including apprenticeships, one-year certificates, two and three-year diplomas, 4-year bachelor's degrees, and one-year post-graduate programs. Their School of Continuing Education offers classes, workshops and programs, plus over 200 online courses, to 34,000 adult learners. For more information, please visit: www.sheridaninstitute.ca