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1 5 W ednesday, O ctober 5, 2011 O A K V ILLE B EA V ER w w w .in sid eH A LTO N .co m Highlights from the Oakville Community Foundations Vital Signs for a full copy of the report, please visit www.theocf.org/Vital Signs WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY SUCCESSFUL? As we see it, it starts with engaging people around shared values, encouraging the exchange of ideas, working toward a common set of goals and expectations, and cultivating a sense of unity and belonging. In this report, we present the perspectives of numerous community leaders on three related issues which underpin a vibrant and strong Oakville: poverty, charitable giving & voluntarism, and mental health. We also share published statistics to explore the rippling effects related to each and formulate some trends to watch. By illuminating matters that often remain hidden, challenging perceptions, and promoting dialogue and action, we aim to create a clearer sense of our Towns needs, seek a strengthening of the ties among us, and hope to bring out the best that Oakville has to offer. Unlike previous years, in which we covered 11 indicators of community vitality, our chosen focus this year on poverty, charitable giving & voluntarism, and mental health aligns with the findings of our 2008 and 2009 Vital Signs reports and our recent strategic planning process. Through this exercise, we focused on what we believe to be Oakvilles areas of greatest need and established where our involvement would have the biggest impact. For over 17 years, the Oakville Community Foundation has played a leading role in convening people, ideas and resources to improve our quality of life. We thank the thousands of individuals and organizations whose tireless efforts have inspired a culture of caring and helped build the framework for a successful community. While there is much to celebrate, even more remains to be done. By focusing on what unites us, rather than what sets us apart, we will sustain the kind of community we can all be proud to call home. Rusty Baillie, CEO Jim Rager, Chair