Vital Signs hopes to educate without 'gobbledegook of numbers'

The authors of a new report that serves as a check-up on the quality of life in Newfoundland and Labrador hope it will educate people about what's going on where they live.

The Vital Signs study looks at multiple factors, including arts, wellness and economy, and compares this province to the national average.

Ainsley Hawthorn, executive director of the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, says the report is meant to help the public get a grasp on their province.

"It's intended not just for use by the government or community organizations, but also for everyday people so that you can take the report, sit down with it at your kitchen table and get a sense of what's going on that impacts quality of life in the place that you live," she said.

Rob Greenwood, executive director of Memorial University's Harris Centre, says the challenge is presenting the information in a way that makes sense.

"Half the battle is just presenting the data in an accessible way so that it's not gobbledegook of a whole lot of numbers," said Greenwood.

"We really emphasized design and simple charts so that you can get a handle on how does the St. John's area compare to the Northern Peninsula, compare to Labrador or parts of Labrador, how does Newfoundland and Labrador compare to the national average."

'Raises more questions'

However, Greenwood said the information tends to start conversations, rather than end them.

Whether it be income level or poverty or housing, when it's made easy to understand, it raises more questions than it answers- Rob Greenwood

"When you look at that, whether it be income level or poverty or housing, when it's made easy to understand, it raises more questions than it answers."

Greenwood said one of the surprises in the report was the small amount of land in the province dedicated to agriculture.

"I knew we didn't have much relative to other provinces, but how minuscule it is, is shameful and I know Memorial University out of our Grenfell Campus and others are seeing it as a real opportunity to do more," he said.

"People are so much more aware of eating healthy and how important that is for health and obesity, but also the whole issue of food security. I think that's one area that I'd highlight as a really key area where we have a lot of opportunity to do more."