Urban Exchange

United Way publishes 2008 Environmental Scan

Every few years, United Way of Winnipeg produces an environmental scan.  This document pulls together relevant information – including demographic, economic and social trends – that help to inform the work of board members, volunteers and staff at United Way.

The information in the 2008 scan is drawn from a wide range of sources, including Census data, newspapers, and research done by other organizations, including government.

The document is available to anyone who’s interested in reading it. Many of the social issues highlighted in the scan are issues that have been raised by Urban Exchange participants. Here’s a sample of the topics covered in the scan:

Demographic and social trends

• The Aboriginal community
• Tomorrow’s seniors
• Poverty
• Crime and youth gangs

Economic trends

• The economy
• Manitoba’s labour force

To download the scan, please visit the United Way of Winnipeg website.

Toronto Star article on Winnipeg

A recent article in the Toronto Star highlights several of the things we’ve loved about our city all along. Yes, it’s cold during the winter, but if you’ll spend the time looking for great things to do, you’ll be richly rewarded.

Writer Noah Richler and his wife chose to spend their anniversary in Winnipeg – four days of “Canadian winter madness” – and had a fantastic experience. Not surprisingly, they discovered many of the things that Winnipeggers have been talking about to anyone who will listen – great restaurants, “a very rich and substantial cultural life”, the Exchange District, and the affordability of living here.

While some of the activities Richler writes about are out of reach for people on a tight budget, this sentence also applies to the hundreds of free activities that we enjoy:

If authentic discovery, rather than easy conversation about some proven trendy destination is what you want, then here is a city that absolutely must be visited.

There are still a few weeks (give or take) of winter left to enjoy. Next comes spring, and after that, another fabulous Winnipeg summer. What are you hoping to discover here?

Please let us know in the comments.

More info:

Noah Richler: Warming up to Winter-Peg – Toronto Star, March 5, 2009

Richler/Toronto Star article found via West End Dumplings, a Winnipeg blog.

(Note: please keep in mind that the sites we link to at MyCityMySay.ca do not represent the views of United Way of Winnipeg – please see the Disclaimer for more detail.)

Where does the money go?

Food, rent, transportation. How much does the average family need to spend? Fill in the boxes below or leave a comment to let us know what you think – there aren’t any right or wrong answers but we’ll show you some examples when you’re done!

We know that families come in many shapes and sizes – for the sake of consistency, please consider this family of four to be two adults and two school-aged children.

Basic expenses: Acceptable Living Level report

If you’ve just filled out the “Where does the money go?” form, thanks for participating!

Below, you’ll find some interesting figures that were compiled by the Social Planning Council and Winnipeg Harvest a few years ago:

In order to sustain a fair, modest and acceptable level of living The Acceptable Living Level report suggests that a family of four (4) needs to spend the following amounts each month.

Food: Shelter: Clothing: Transportation: Child Care: Recreation and Leisure: Total:

$637.44 $724.00 $153.28 $244.34 $428.80 $380.11 $2567.97

 

This total required income covers “the basics” but does not include several other important expenses such as communication, education, household furnishings, hygiene, assistive technologies, household operational items (such as laundry, dish soap, etc.).

More info, including figures for other family configurations:
Acceptable Living Level: Manitoba report (pdf)

(Note: please keep in mind that the sites we link to at MyCityMySay.ca do not represent the views of United Way of Winnipeg – please see the Disclaimer for more detail.)