In the fall, the community will be able to measure the quality of life in this area for the first time.
Eight thousand survey invitations are about to be mailed to randomly selected residents of Orillia and surrounding townships.
The Community Wellbeing Survey was officially launched Tuesday at the Orillia Public Library.
“This is a significant opportunity for residents to let us know what they think about the quality of life and well-being in the community,” said Michael McMurter, chair of Information Orillia, which is overseeing the survey with multiple partners, including the University of Waterloo and its Canadian Index of Wellbeing Network.
When the survey results come back in the fall, they will be used by local government and organizations to help inform their policies and assist with grant applications, safety planning and community engagement, McMurter said.
“It’s a milestone event for Orillia and area,” he said, adding it has been in the works for more than a year.
The province’s Safer Ontario Act requires municipalities to create a community safety and well-being plan, and the results of this survey will help with that.
“It will provide a lot of good data to inform that plan,” McMurter said.
He is hoping at least 15 per cent of the surveys are completed and returned.
McMurter praised city council for supporting the effort, calling the survey “a legacy piece for them.”
“It’s something they’re passing on to the next council so they can be efficient and effective in the future.”
Find out more at informationorillia.org.
