Key Takeaways

•  Thousands of Orleans residents use recreational marijuana.
• It's reported that 15% of Ottawa residents aged 19 and older fell in the current smokers category.
• According to Ottawa public health, 56% of adults are reported as overweight or obese, 42% of older adults are reported to have high blood pressure, 14% of them have heart disease and about 15% of them have diabetes.
• The rate of cannabis consumption by Ontario residents is at 20%, Canada's highest usage rate.

Introduction

Findings:

a. Ottawa

Interests and hobbies:

• In 2020, a study established that Ottawa’s multicultural community was generous and charitable.
• On average, Ottawa residents charitably gave $973 per donor each year. The report also indicates that many residents of Ottawa are looking to do more.
•  54% of respondents had given donations to or became volunteers for a charitable cause in 2019, 25% of them giving or volunteering to the Canadian Red Cross, 13% to food banks and 8% to the United Way.

Alcohol use:

• Historical data and latest statistics studied show that Ottawa has always had "higher rates of binge drinking, heavy drinking, and exceeding the weekly limits than the rest of Ontario," up until the period between 2013 and 2016, in which Ottawa was at par with the rest of Ontario.

 

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Smoking use:

• As per the most recent census data, smokers categorized as current smokers are "those aged 19 and older that have used at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smoke tobacco."
• It was reported that 15% of Ottawa residents aged 19 and older fell in the current smokers' category.

Recreational Drugs

•  Cannabis retailers are scrambling for a piece of the cannabis market in Ottawa after its legalization, with one retailer stating his reason for wanting in is "because it showed the market for his product."
• A review done on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) website preempted that there could be a four-fold increase in the number of cannabis retailers in Ottawa in 2021.
• This is an indication of the high prevalence of cannabis use by Ottawa residents.

General health (physical and / or mental)

• According to Ottawa public health, 56% of adults are reported as overweight or obese, 42% of older adults are reported to have high blood pressure, 14% of them have heart disease and about 15% of them have diabetes.
• It's also reported that 22% of teenagers aged 12-17 year were overweight or obese.
• The Early Development Instrument (EDI) used to assess children’s developmental health at their school entry age found that 13% of the children were not on track when it came to their Physical Health & Well-Being (PHWB).

b. Orleans

Interests / Hobbies / Leisure activities

• Residents of Orleans and Ontario in general have a history of being supporters of the liberals. This was demonstrated by Abascus Data stating that support for the Liberals is strongest in two of Canada's provinces, Ontario being one of them.
• This political inclination towards liberals by residents of Ontario can also be seen in its election of their current MP Marie-France Lalonde.

Recreational drug use

• It is estimated that even before the legalization of marijuana and the licensing of retail stores in Orleans, thousands of its residents used recreational marijuana. They would typically purchase it online or downtown, out of Orleans.

General health (physical and / or mental)

• The Early Development Instrument (EDI) used to assess children’s developmental health at their school entry age found that 4% of the children were not on track when it came to their Physical Health & Well-Being (PHWB).

c. Ontario in General

• In Ontario the average number of cigarettes smoked per day by daily smokers is 12.7 cigarettes.
•  44% of Ontario residents' shopping habits according to a recent survey done during the pandemic period changed. Seven in ten respondents stated they now bought produce in-person at conventional grocery stores, a whooping 56% opt for discount stores. 40% of them preferred big box stores.
• The rate of cannabis consumption by Ontario residents is at 20%, Canada's highest usage rate.

RESEARCH STRATEGY