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What is Vital Signs?

Hamilton’s Vital Signs checks the pulse of our city. Under the guidance of a panel of community experts, it curates data into 10 key areas of community life into research you can read, providing an insight into Hamilton’s overall vitality and identifying significant trends and issues that matter to all of us.

Hamilton’s Vital Signs is a resource to help us understand our city over time; the more we understand, the better our effort to help it thrive.

This report is the latest in our Vital Signs series, and like each edition it points to existing gaps in quality of life among Hamiltonians,– but now with a harsh focus on how the pandemic has widened those gaps. It shows starkly that income, employment conditions, education, locality, race and gender ultimately correlate with rates of COVID-19. 

Certainly the pandemic is taking an unequal toll, but we must confront the difficult truth that COVID-19 did not create these systemic injustices, and its ultimate conclusion will not end them. Together we must continue the hard work against inequity and learn from the pandemic’s lessons.  

What can you do? While collective action necessarily looks different in these unusual times, we urge you to dig deeper into the issues and their root causes; to share your constructive thoughts and ideas through virtual discussions and to use your voice for an equitable Hamilton.

Inequities will not disappear with the pandemic; but when COVID-19 is finally under control let us maintain the urgency to act.

What the Findings Show

UNPRECEDENTED CHANGE

From the biggest annual job loss on record, drastic changes in the way children learn, how we work and receive health care, patterns of immigration, and devastated arts, entertainment, and food sectors, this past year has been unmatched in the pace and scale of change Hamiltonians have experienced.

What the Findings Show

AN UNEQUAL BURDEN

Racialized groups and people of colour have not only experienced much higher COVID-19 rates and lower vaccination rates, but also higher unemployment and likelihood of working in one of the hardest-hit economic sectors. People of colour also reported feeling less safe and were the most common targets of harassment and hate crimes.

What the Findings Show

DEEP SOCIAL ISOLATION EFFECTS

During the initial lockdown, seniors in long-term care homes suffered among the most visibly, however, isolation has resulted in poorer mental health across all age groups, especially youth. It also contributed to increased risks in families where there is violence.

What the Findings Show

LESSONS ABOUT REDUCING INCOME INEQUALITY

The federal Canada Emergency Response Benefits increased disposable income for the poorest 20% of Hamiltonians and decreased income inequality generally. Although temporary, it decreased the number of people relying on social assistance. 

What the Findings Show

CHANGE BEYOND COVID-19

Last July was the hottest on record, underlining concerns about climate change. Much-anticipated air pollution reductions from decreased travel and work did not materialize. The ownership and rental housing market had record year-over-year price increases. The number of homicides and the number of opioid overdoses and deaths were worryingly high.

Arts and Culture

The pandemic has hit arts and culture hard, especially those relying primarily on in-person attendance. The broader cultural sector, including film and media, fared somewhat better.
Employment in the arts
Events and museum or gallery visits
Film permits and revenue

Belonging

Social isolation has increased dramatically, while immigration numbers and police-reported hate crimes decreased.
Social isolation
Immigration
Police-reported hate crimes
Sense of belonging

Economy and work

The pandemic’s effect on nearly all workers and sectors has been dramatic. Women, young adults, racialized and Indigenous workers experienced the most profound impact.
Unemployment rate by gender and age
Unemployment rate for Indigenous and racialized workers
Number of jobs by sector
Number of building permits
Number of business licenses

Environment

Air pollution measures and waste diversion rates remained steady during the pandemic, while July temperatures were the hottest in over 60 years.
Air pollution: Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Climate Change – Average Temperature, July
Waste diversion
Percent days beaches are open
Tree canopy coverage

Getting around

The pandemic’s dramatic effects: fewer commuters and public transit use, and a renewed focus on alternatives like cycling.
Getting to Work (Commuting and Working from Home)
HSR Ridership, Annual
Kilometers of Bicycle and Pedestrian Paths

Health and well-being

Health care delivery shifted from in-office to virtual visits, self-reported mental health declined, and opioid overdose and deaths remained at historically high levels.
Transition to virtual care for physicians
Self-rated mental health during the pandemic
Opioid overdoses and deaths
Delays in cancer screening and treatment

Housing

Average home sale prices and rents continued to increase rapidly, while the pandemic led to significant challenges for people seeking emergency shelter.
Average detached home sale price
Average rent, 2 BR apt
Number of people using emergency shelter
Social Housing Waitlist
Number of housing starts

Learning

One-quarter of elementary students enrolled in virtual-only learning. University enrollment increased, while the number of students in junior and senior kindergarten, secondary school co-op placements, and college programs fell.
Elementary students – virtual enrollment
Kindergarten enrollment
Post-secondary enrollment
Secondary students – enrollment in co-op placements

Low income

COVID-19 rates were higher in neighbourhoods with higher rates of poverty and among residents who are visible minorities. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was a major factor in closing the gap between the richest and poorest Canadians.
Neighbourhood rates of poverty and racialization compared to Covid rates
Uptake of Canadian Emergency Response Benefit
Change in incomes by quintile
Ontario Works caseload and benefit levels

Safety

Most types of police-reported crime fell during the pandemic, but domestic violence and reports of harassment and discrimination increased.
Overall crime rates
Perceptions of safety
Police-reported domestic violence
Road, cycling, and pedestrian safety
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