An immense data resource that can help illuminate Ottawa’s social challenges has been revamped and made publicly accessible, giving Centretown residents the opportunity to work with community organizations to make positive change.
The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study launched an expanded website (www.neighbourhoodstudy.ca) and a mobile app called envirONS that allows the public to read a synopsis of the strengths and weaknesses within their community.
The public can also access full data charts for Ottawa’s 97 neighbourhoods, featuring dimensions such as walkability, age of residents, dwelling types and presence of mobile food trucks.
The study has already played a major role in enhancing Centretown, for example the data was a major inspiration behind the revamping of Dundonald Park.
The Centretown Community Health Centre has established a strong partnership with the study, says executive director Simone Thibault.
While examining the study’s data, the CCHC noticed that there is a low level of recreation and green space available in Centretown.
This inspired the CCHC to visit existing parks and ensure they were being used to their full potential. Residents living around Dundonald Park had been making efforts of their own by hosting weekend movie nights and planting gardens.
The desire among residents was obvious, says Thibault. “We felt that much more could be done… we seized the opportunity to deliver programs in the park . . . there’s tai-chi, walking groups, yoga, a reading garden and more . . . the park is like an outdoor recreation room”
The ONS began in 2005 with the aim of investigating the relationship between different regions of the city and the health of residents.
Elizabeth Kristjansson, a University of Ottawa associate professor of psychology, one of the lead investigators of the project, says that the study has expanded greatly over the years. It now includes a wide range of subjects beyond just health.
As the study grew, a need arose to make the information more accessible says Kristjansson. “I really wanted people to be able to interact with the website . . . to engage and find out information for themselves”
The study combines information from the census, the National Capital Commission, the City of Ottawa, community organizations, as well as independent research. Additionally, the study works with major organizations such as United Way Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health.
According to the data, Centretown is noted for having a large proportion of youth (30 per cent of the population is between ages 20-29 compared with the city average of 14 per cent) and credited with a well-educated population and good linguistic mix.
A major identified weakness of the neighbourhood is the high cost of housing in comparison to the average income. Housing is unaffordable for 33% of residents, whom are paying over 30 per cent of their overall income for their housing.
In addition to the CCHC, several other community organizations have recognized the valuable nature of the data and partnered with the study.
Kelly Paolozzi, executive director of the Sandy Hill-based Ottawa Parent Resource Centre, says the study’s data helps her organization make decisions and allocate funding for initiatives such as their Early Literacy Specialist programs.
One category of data specifically, “the early development instrument,” is a primary focus for both the CCHC and parent resource centre.
The EDI measures a child’s readiness for school in mental, social, physical, linguistic and behavioural domains. A child is considered at risk if he or she is low in one or more of the five domains, says Paolozzi.
As of 2009, 44.3 per cent of children in Centretown score low in one or more domain, compared to the city average of 27 per cent.
According to Kristjansson, there has been a lot of feedback from the community since the launch. “We’re getting a lot of suggestions and comments from people who are engaging themselves and learning about their communities”.
The group intends to continue to make presentations throughout the city and spread awareness of the new resource, says Kristjansson. “We want to get people working together… we’re continually updating and expanding”.