Hey neighbours!
As a REALTOR and long-time resident of Abbotsford, I'm always thinking about what makes our community unique. It's more than just the beautiful scenery or convenient location; it's about the people and the quality of life we enjoy here. Am I saying it's perfect? Not hardly, but I believe we have a lot to be thankful for when we can say we live in Abbotsford, British Columbia. And I like that the City of Abbotsford has these Quality of Life Surveys. They are so interesting and give us valuable insight into what we love about our City and where we can improve.
The City of Abbotsford has the vision to be "the Hub of the Fraser Valley; a community with a vibrant and thriving economy, with inclusive safe and green neighbourhoods, connected to convenient and affordable transportation, and vibrant commercial centres built on the foundation of our cultural heritage and natural beauty."1 The Quality of Life surveys help ensure the City's programs and services align with this vision. We need to be aware of their plans so we can offer input and help shape our communities.
These surveys, conducted every two years, are designed to measure how we feel about our community and the services provided by the City. The surveys measure residents' general satisfaction with their overall quality of life and how their current position compares to what they consider the best possible life. The surveys also look at our sense of belonging to the community, our levels of trust, and our community engagement. For example, community trust is measured by volunteerism and charitable donations. It also asks about experiences that contribute to our quality of life.
In addition, the surveys measure our satisfaction with City services by looking at our awareness, usage and satisfaction with city programs and facilities. This includes recreation facilities, parks and trails, and community events. The surveys also gather demographic information, including our age, gender, length of residency, region of residency, employment status, work location, household size, ethnicity and number of dependents. The city council can use this information to enable better decisions. For example, the Quality of Life Survey informs the objectives of the Council's Strategic Plan and supports having programs aligned with community needs.
As a REALTOR, I know that buying a home here is more than just a financial investment; it's an investment in your quality of life. Areas that score high in the survey for community connection and satisfaction with amenities are often the most desirable and tend to have the highest property values. This makes the data in these surveys especially valuable to home buyers. When the survey finds, for example, that seniors programs are highly valued, it suggests a strong, active community that could be attractive to a wide range of buyers. When it shows that many residents feel a strong sense of community, it speaks to neighbourhoods where people will feel connected and supported.
The 2024 Quality of Life Survey has just wrapped up, and the results will be presented to Council in 2025. It's essential to stay informed and participate in these surveys when you can because this information helps shape our city. Having our say, we contribute to building a better Abbotsford for everyone.
Stay tuned for future posts, where I'll bdigdeeper into the survey data!
1. Quality of Life Survey | City of Abbotsford. https://www.abbotsford.ca/quality