Measuring Our Community’s Wellbeing
Vital Signs® is a community check-up conducted by community foundations across Canada that measures the vitality of our communities and identifies significant trends in a range of areas critical to quality of life.
We are pleased to publish the first Kawartha Lakes Vital Signs report, with strong support from the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Vital Signs® is coordinated nationally by Community Foundations of Canada.
The Vital Signs trademark is used with permission from Community Foundations of Canada.
The purpose of this report is to provide a broad and encompassing picture of our City and its population as a basis for collective action toward the future we would like to see. At a time when Kawartha Lakes is experiencing significant population growth, demographic change, pressures on housing and health systems, and a rapidly evolving local economy, this kind of shared, evidence-based understanding is especially important.
The Vital Signs approach has been developed by the Community Foundation of Canada. It has been utilized by over 80 communities across the country, demonstrating its value and providing useful comparative perspectives for us here. This report draws on publicly available data, local administrative sources, and community insights to offer a balanced and nonpartisan picture of wellbeing across Kawartha Lakes.
In 2026, we plan to initiate widespread community engagement to refine the analyses, identify shared priorities, and support initiatives for improvement. In the years that follow, we intend to expand our indicators, deepen our data partnerships, and track progress over time so that Vital Signs becomes a lasting resource for the whole community.
There are many organizations and individuals to thank for their generous support and contributions to the Vital Signs project, including the City of Kawartha Lakes, Handley Lumber, Enbridge Fueling Futures, the Glen Orloe Wright Family Fund, Pharmasave and Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel. Their partnership has helped make this work possible.
Support our efforts
We invite financial support in all formats—donation, bequest, sponsorship— ensuring that we can continue to offer this level of research to the community year after year. We believe that a thriving community foundation supports a thriving community.
Support our community
We also invite financial support to our Social Sustainability Fund, which is dedicated to funding annual improvements that can have the greatest impact on our community’s wellbeing and sense of belonging for all. Beyond financial contributions, we also welcome collaboration with community organizations, businesses, institutions, and residents who share an interest in building a stronger Kawartha Lakes.