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The way we associate with each other in our communities, and on what terms, has enormous implications for our wellbeing. A strong group of friends and social connections through volunteering and helping one another are not only important in building community capacity and resiliency, but they contribute to our physical and mental health, and encourage us to participate fully in the social and cultural opportunities that surround us. Conversely, fear of discrimination or feeling unsafe can constrain our ability to participate fully in our communities. Further, we must recognize that even though the growing trend in providing unpaid care and assistance to others can strengthen community vitality, it also has the potential to increase feelings of time crunch. By ensuring greater accessibility to community supports such as daily respite, elder care, and more flexible childcare and workplace arrangements, those residents who are providing support to others could better enjoy these caring relationships.
Across a number of indicators, residents of Saskatchewan appear to be reclaiming what matters most to them. After dipping in 2008, people’s sense of belonging to their communities, having five or more close friends, and trust in others have all increased. While the strength of long-term relationships in small towns and the long-time residency of many people across the province are frequently cited as factors contributing to these strengths in community vitality, the trends are positive despite significant population growth and shifting patterns in the province’s social fabric, such as the disappearance of the characteristic family farm. |
For many people in Saskatchewan, volunteering is seen as the very fabric of life and community. Indeed, volunteering is an important way for people to build relationships and participate in groups dedicated to leisure, the arts, the environment, education, democracy, or in any number of other spheres of the civic arena. For all ages, volunteering provides people with opportunities to develop new skills, meet new people, express themselves, and grow. Therefore, the recent decline in volunteerism across the province worries many people, especially those involved with local sports and recreational groups, which rely heavily on volunteers to ensure all residents have access to a thriving and active community.
The overall decline in experiences of discrimination, while encouraging, masks some complexity. Even though a recent environmental scan reported that there have been relatively few complaints registered with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission on Aboriginal Ancestry grounds over the previous eight years, negative attitudes towards Indigenous peoples persist in the Prairies despite higher levels of awareness of issues like residential schools and reconciliation. However, younger people and new Canadians had more positive perspectives. Many believe treaty education in the schools has and will contribute to a decrease in discrimination. With 2019 being the first year that a graduating class has received 12 years of treaty education, the decreases are expected to continue and provide an illustration of the important relationship between Education and Community Vitality. However, despite progress, too many people are still experiencing discrimination. We must not forget that even though the progress in Community Vitality from in Saskatchewan was not as great as Canada overall, the province has routinely out-performed the country on almost every indicator in the domain. Community Vitality is a strength of the province and one on which Saskatchewan can continue to build. |
