Social Well-Being

Goal: To promote the health and well-being of our citizens as essential characteristics of a sustainable community.

Why is this important?

• Without a high degree of social wellbeing, a community cannot be said to be sustainable.
• Social wellbeing depends on a number of factors, including health, safety, sense of connection and community, housing, education, child and youth services, and food security.
• Strategies that focus on reinforcing and furthering social cohesion and community development contribute to overall positive change and can be effective in lowering crime and crime related issues, improving safety and improving overall community health.

Where are we now?
While Dawson Creek has a vibrant, healthy community, some social issues have begun to decrease social wellbeing. The city is addressing issues like affordable housing, addiction, crime and safety.

How are we doing?
The community's sustainability plan will also outline a series of indicators so that progress toward sustainability can be measured over time. It is expected that the indicators will be available by the end of 2008.

Dawson Creek Social Plan - Final Report (1,496 KB)
Dawson Creek Social Plan - Action Plan Recommendations (240 KB)

Community Partners - Adoption Programs
A partnership program between the City and its volunteers (individuals, groups, foundations, assocations, service clubs, schools, businesses and corporations) have an opportunity to contribute through:

• Donations
• Adopt-A-Park
• Adopt-A-Bench
• Adopt-A-Tree
• Adopt-A-Street
• Adopt-A-Garden
• and Adopt An Environmentally Sensitive Area.

Measure Up the North is a project made up of dozens of cities, towns, villages, and districts where "each Participating Community is engaged in a Measuring Up The North Process to achieve their goals of inclusion and accessibility and universal design. The community will look at policies, built environments, programs, and practices in this process. The process will involve engagement of the community and development of new strategic relationships." - measureupthenorth.com

Dawson Creek wins NCLGA Award for Measuring Up the North Award for 2010.

Community Access Survey

Barrier to Access Survey Results

What are we doing to improve?
Dawson Creek Social Plan
Dawson Creek's Social Planning Process has involved extensive public consultation on key social issues. The process identified a number of gaps in social planning that the community can now begin to address in a comprehensive way.

Community Safety Survey Results (928 KB)

Youth Engagement Process
PlanningForYouth.ca - The youth of Dawson Creek envision their city as a safe place that encourages crime prevention, respect for all citizens, environmental consciousness and responsibility to the earth. As youth, we want Dawson Creek to have many activities that promote healthy living for all.