60+ Local Organizations
Over 60 local groups shaped the survey, including schools, health agencies, non-profits, First Nations, and local governments.
Survey Process for Better Community Health Services
A survey about community health services built by and for the Cowichan Region.
The Our Health, Our Community survey is a first-of-its-kind local initiative: A partnership between Our Cowichan Communities Health Network and Island Health.
Together, we set out to gather meaningful local-level data to better understand the health and wellness needs of Cowichan Region residents aged 18 and over.
Unlike larger provincial or national surveys, this pilot was shaped through deep community engagement with input from local governments, First Nations, and service providers across the region. The questions reflect what matters most here.
The results will help inform everything from grant writing and program planning to policy development. Most importantly, it will give community members across Cowichan the insight needed to make meaningful change.
What we set out to achieve.
The goal of the Our Health, Our Community survey was simple: to collect meaningful, local-level data that reflects the diversity of Cowichan across cultures, identities, lived experiences, and communities, and leverage it to improve how we plan, deliver, and support health and wellbeing in the region.
This data is meant to be used by governments, service providers, organizations, and individuals to help improve our community health services.
Here’s what we set out to do:
Encourage
Participation from 4,500+ residents aged 18+ across the Cowichan Region
4,500+
Support community-led decisions
Around health and wellness programs, healthy built environments, public policy, and funding & resource planning
Centre Equity & Inclusion
By hearing from people of all racial, cultural, and gender identities, as well as those of differing abilities and socio-economic backgrounds
Use the Results
To identify strengths, gaps, and priorities in local health and wellbeing
Engage the Community
In shaping the survey to make sure the questions were relevant and rooted in lived experience
Questions that reflect our community.
Designing the survey began with reviewing existing surveys and selecting core questions from validated tools. This ensured we could compare our results with other regions and research, while maintaining data quality. Top topics from partners include: public transportation, housing needs, climate change, and barriers to care and services. The key difference? Local input.
This was data collection with purpose, built not just for the region, but by the region.
Explore the key numbers below to see how Cowichan shaped this survey.
70% Community-Tailored
Out of 95 questions, 66 were specifically developed based on the ideas, concerns, and topics that local community partners submitted during the survey design process.
95 Total Questions
The final survey included 95 questions providing a balance of validated tools and community-driven priorities.
175+ Submissions
Community partners submitted more than 175 potential survey questions helping us explore what really matters in the Cowichan Region.
Engaging every community in Cowichan.
Everyone aged 18 and over living in the Cowichan Valley Regional District was invited to take part in the survey. This includes residents from all municipalities and towns like North Cowichan, Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, and more.
To make sure we heard from all parts of our diverse community, we used a range of outreach strategies. These efforts helped reach people who might not have participated otherwise, ensuring a true reflection of the whole region.
How we engaged:
- Outreach Booths
- Presentations
- Partner Outreach
- Radio
- Social Media
- Word of Mouth
- Newspaper
- Emails
The people behind the data.
To understand the health and wellbeing of our region, it was essential to hear from a wide cross-section of Cowichan Region residents. The survey reached people of all ages, genders, cultures, income levels, and lived experiences. We took care to make sure responses reflected the diversity of the region so that the data could be useful, inclusive, and representative.
From young adults to Elders, long-time residents to newcomers, thousands showed up to share their voice.
All adults welcome
Survey open to everyone 18+ living in the Cowichan Region
Inclusive by design
Built to reflect many identities, backgrounds, and abilities
Weighted results
Responses were reviewed and adjusted to reflect the region’s diversity
Download Additional Health Profiles
The Our Health, Our Community survey was a true community effort. Led by Island Health and Our Cowichan Communities Health Network (OCCHN), the project was supported by 85+ network members and over 400 individuals and organizations across the Cowichan Region.
Community partners helped shape the questions, spread the word, and make participation more accessible for everyone.
View Additional Health Profiles
Primary team
Island Health
Island Health is the regional health authority supporting the project with research, data analysis, and population health insight.
Primary team
Our Cowichan Communities Health Network
A collaborative network of people and organizations committed to improving health and wellbeing across the Cowichan Region.
Community Partners
CMHA Cowichan Valley Branch (Warmland)
Cowichan Brain Injury Society
Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society
Cowichan Family Life Association
Cowichan Green Community Society
Cowichan Lake Community Services
Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association
Cowichan Valley Arts Council
Cowichan Valley Basket Society
Cowichan Valley Hospice Society
Cowichan Women’s Health Collective
Forbes Hall Health Group
Honeymoon Bay Community Society
Ladysmith Family and Friends
Literacy Now Cowichan
Youbou Community Association
And many more regional groups, agencies, and individuals who helped bring this project to life.
Curious about the impact? Explore the data.
We acknowledge that for thousands of years the Quw'utsun, Malahat, Ts'uubaa-asatx, Halalt, Penelakut, Stz'uminus, Lyackson, Pauquachin, Ditidaht & Pacheedaht Peoples have walked gently on the unceded territories where we now work.