A cornucopia of statistics and information is available in the recently released 2014 State of the Basin Snapshot Report by the Rural Development Institute (RDI).

The Columbia Basin-Boundary region, with a population of over 161,000, encompasses more than 8.6 million hectares of land in southeastern British Columbia. It includes the Regional Districts of East Kootenay, Kootenay Boundary, Central Kootenay, as well as the Village of Valemount and a portion of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. Three development regions are also included in whole or in part.

According to RDI the State of the Basin project is an indicator monitoring initiative aimed at improving the Basin-Boundary region’s understanding of important trends related to economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing in our communities.

The Snapshot report provides brief, graphic highlights of ongoing State of the Basin research and is meant to inspire readers to learn more about the topics that are important to them.

This year, the RDI has made it easier than ever for readers to dig deeper into facts that pique their interest. The report is electronically linked to Trends Analysis reports and the Digital Basin online data portal.

Readers can click on any page heading or individual fact to access in-depth data and analysis on the RDI website.

Some information in the Snapshot Report was collected by the RDI or partner researchers, either through an August 2014 poll of 400 Basin-Boundary residents, or a survey of over 600 businesses across the region.

State of the Basin at a glance:

– The median property value for a single family residence is $261,000;

– Consumer confidence is on the rise throughout the region;

– Only 15% of respondents feel that there are sufficient jobs available in their community;

– The Kootenay Development Region saw the most job growth of all BC regions last year;

– Incomes are more equally distributed in all Basin-Boundary communities than the B.C. and Canadian averages;

– 76% of respondents often consider the environment when making purchasing, voting or behavioural decisions;

– 18% of the population is over 65;

– 54.2% of residents have completed post-secondary education;

– More children are experiencing challenges related to early childhood development;

– The Windermere and Grand Forks areas have a considerably higher index of crime than elsewhere in the Basin-Boundary Region.

– The majority of poll respondents donated to charity last year;

– About half of respondents have a strong sense of spirituality;

– 70% of poll respondents say they have adequate leisure time;

– Our region hosts over 100 annual festivals and special events each year;

– Most households spend up to $500/year on arts, heritage and/or cultural activities;

– Our region has at least 95 museums or historical societies;

– Over three quarters of respondents meet socially with friends or relatives at least once a week;

– 2014 was the biggest wildfire year since 2007.

– Fine particulate matter readings (a key air quality determinant) were higher in 2013;

– Our landfills receive an average of 647 kg of waste per person per year;

– Late summer stream flow volume is declining in 97% of streams;

– 71% of poll respondents grow some of their own food;

– 100 bears are destroyed annually due to conflict with humans.

Visit http://www.cbrdi.ca/ to view the full report.

e-KNOW

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