Windsor-Essex residents took a hard look at the region’s quality of life.
The Windsor-Essex Community Foundation (WECF) released its 13th annual Vital Signs Report during an event on Wednesday morning at Windsor's Willistead Manor.
The 2026 edition, as usual, focuses on 11 key subjects. The theme is "Your Voice, Your Community".
"By identifying strengths and trends in 11 key areas of focus, Vital Signs touches on all aspects of our daily lives and allows us to better understand our community," said WECF Executive Director Lisa Kolody in the introduction. "Our goal is to gather data from a broad and diverse selection of community members to better understand the needs of our overall community."
The environment was once again a hot topic in this year's report. Some 95 per cent of respondents said the health of Lake Erie is extremely or moderately important, compared with 92 per cent who responded to the 2025 survey. Those who answered named green spaces and air quality as priorities.
Another hot topic was housing, a key issue in the current municipal election campaign. Out of those surveyed, 84 per cent said more affordable housing is needed. A majority named improving affordability as the top housing priority.
Under health and wellness, 86 per cent of respondents say they are generally happy at least most of the time. Priorities cited often included access to mental health services and healthcare.
While citing a decrease in Windsor-Essex unemployment, some 72 per cent said the local job situation needed improvement. About 35 per cent of people said businesses needed to pay a living wage.
The other key areas discussed included public safety, education, starting a career, transportation, food security, arts and culture, and inclusivity.
Out of those who took part in the survey, 47 per cent were employed full-time, while 31 per cent were retired. Geographically, 62 per cent lived in Windsor, and 88 per cent lived in Windsor-Essex for at least ten years. Also, 62 per cent reported being married or in common-law relationships.
The complete Vital Signs Report is available on the official WECF website.
