Region of Peel introduces Neighbourhood Information Tool

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

A new online tool, launched by the Region of Peel, could help Caledon residents feel a little closer to their community. 

Sandra Solonik, Advisor of Community Engagement, and Chine Nkado, Manager of Business Intelligence, both from the Region of Peel, presented to Council at Town Hall this past Tuesday (Feb. 18) about the new initiative now available to the public. 

The Neighbourhood Information Tool is a Peel Wide initiative highlighting important information about Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon. 

The purpose of this tool is for the Region, local municipalities and service providers to get a clear understanding on the surrounding communities and allow more organized planning. 

The tool includes an online geographic assessment map, data from six domains and 21 indicators forming an index score, which is a ‘measure of neighbourhood wellbeing', as well as a map of amenities. It provides demographics based on age, minority, mobility and single status. 

The six domains include: Socio-demographics, Economic Opportunity, Resident Engagement and Community Belonging, Safety, Health and Physical Environment.

“Each area is divided by census tracts. Those are the areas that are used to collect the data. In the legend you see the rating. The darker shade of purple, the higher wellbeing score, or the better off the community,” explained Solonik in the presentation, guiding Council through the tool. 

She added, “For demographics, we have information on child and youth population, senior populations, visible minorities, immigration, mobility status and lone parent families.”

A tool like this, described in the presentation, identifies neighbourhoods and gives greater understanding to what the needs are from the community and what opportunities are available in that area. 

It has already been launched in Mississauga and Brampton and Peel Region is excited to be bringing this user-friendly tool to Caledon as well. 

“The next census will be in 2021 and once the data's released, probably 2022-2023, we'll be updating it with the most recent data. Over time we're hoping you can look back at previous additions of the neighbourhood information tool and see how these indicators have shifted across municipalities over time,” said Solonik.

Council was pleased with the presentation and comfortable with the accessibility to important data regarding the communities within Caledon. 

“I was wondering whether the information that's currently there was going to remain there, so in 2021 we could go back and look at that data. It's very important to see how we evolve, so I'm very pleased to see that that's going to be a part of it,” said Ward 5 Area Councillor, Tony Rosa.

The Region of Peel's next step is to partner with the Town of Caledon to provide proper training and knowledge on how to use the Neighbour Information Tool. 

For more information, visit peelregion.ca.