What We Found

The snapshot of Kingston in the Vital Signs report has positives and negatives. Here are three major themes we found:

The working poor

More than one in ten of the people using food banks have a job

For those who make minimum wage, the numbers don’t add up. They don’t have enough money to eat healthy food, live in adequate shelter and afford the things we take for granted. Something always has to give. The exact number of the working poor, as compared to those who fall into traditional definitions of poverty (such as those on government assistance), is hard to gauge. But the overall number of families in the Kingston CMA who live in poverty is one in ten.

Shifting age patterns

Long-term care beds in the region are almost full

In Kingston, as in the rest of Canada, the number of seniors is increasing, while the number of young people is decreasing. That change is having an impact on a number of issues. Seniors housing options are becoming a challenge. There is a serious lack of long-term care beds – the last home of many seniors. Diseases related to aging, such as Arthritis, are increasing. The challenges are different for young people. One national survey says Kingston is one of the best places in Canada to live. Another says Kingston is one of the best places for young, talented workers. But a third local survey found most Queen’s students who answered the survey don’t even consider Kingston when looking for a job. Because of the shift in demographics, one report says Kingston may face future labour shortages.

Strong foundations

Kingston’s public sector accounts for approximately 33% of total economic output compared to less than 13% for the country as a whole

There are many things that have kept Kingston strong, and will likely continue to do so in the near future given current forecasts for slow economic growth over the next few years. The stability of our public-sector dominated economy has helped us weather the economic downturn. Our large number of educational institutions has created opportunities for young people as well as for research and innovation. These and other factors are why Kingston placed fourth in the MoneySense Magazine’s annual ranking
of Canada’s Best Places to Live in 2011.