2007 City of Greater Sudbury's annual check-up.

• Position: NEWS

Community Context

Our city's most important asset is its citizens. In 2001, Sudbury's amalgamation with the towns of Valley East, Rayside Balfour, Onaping Falls, Walden, Capreol and Nickel Centre formed the City of Greater Sudbury. Though there have been growing pains, the combined talent and vitality of our new municipality has enormous potential.

Greater Sudbury's multi-cultural character is dominated by a strong and active francophone population (28.2%). Our city also has the largest number of bilingual citizens in Ontario (40%) compared to Ottawa at 36.6%.

Despite a well-represented population of ethnic groups, only 10,775 people living in Greater Sudbury are foreign-born, representing 7% of the population. This compares with 26.8% for Ontario and 18.4% for Canada (2001 figures). Sudbury has not been a settlement preference for recent foreign-born immigrants with a total of 505 people settling here between 1996 and 2001. On the other hand, Greater Sudbury's aboriginal population was 7,385 in 2001, representing a twenty-year population growth rate of 245%.

Employment in Greater Sudbury in 2006 in the goods-producing sector accounted for 23% of the jobs while the service-producing sector accounted for 77% of local jobs. In 2001, the goods-producing sector employed 20% of Sudbury's labour force while 80% were employed in services-producing jobs.

Sudburians tend to be wealthier than Ontarians and Canadians, generally. Greater Sudbury's median income in 2005 was $66,100 (2.5% higher than Ontario and 9.1% higher than the Canadian level). Although these figures suggest a positive growth and a prosperous community, it is important to remember that, in 2005, 19.7% of Sudburians lived below the poverty line. For example, single Sudburians in 2005 earned $21,600 which is below the Ontario average of $21,800 and the Canadian average of $23,400.

Homelessness has been a growing issue for Greater Sudbury. In July 2000, 407 people were homeless (verified, unduplicated cases) compared to 608 in July, 2003.

Arts & Culture -- Employment in cultural industries

There was an increase in the percentage of employment in arts and culture-related occupations in Greater Sudbury from 1.72% in 2001 to 2.15% in 2003. In comparison, the Ontario (2001-.82%; 2003-2.10%) and Canadian (2001-2.74%; 2003-2.05%) percentages decreased.

Belonging & Leadership -- Volunteer rate

In 2004, the volunteer rate in Greater Sudbury was 56.9%. This was higher than both the Ontario and...