The results of the RDI's annual poll of residents are now available. Each year, the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute (RDI) conducts a telephone survey of residents of the Columbia Basin-Boundary region. Undertaken as part of the State of the Basin initiative, the poll forms a component of the RDI's research into trends and conditions related to well-being in the Basin-Boundary. In past years, the goal of the survey has primarily been to understand resident's perceptions of well-being in their community. This year, survey design also emphasized understanding resident's experiences and behaviours related to important well-being topics. Highlights include:
- only 15% of respondents feel that there are sufficient jobs available in their community,
- over three quarters of respondents meet socially with friends or relatives at least once a week,
- about half of respondents have a strong sense of spirituality, and
- 76% of respondents often consider the environment when making purchasing, voting or behavioural decisions.
This report provides detailed results from this year's poll of residents.