Every year, The Calgary Foundation releases it’s Vital Signs Report and last year, Calgary received a B+ for overall quality of life. The 2012 report will be released to the public on Wednesday, October 17th. This FREE event, being held at the BMO Centre, Stampede Park will draw individuals from all areas of public interest in Calgary.

When I first saw the B+, my gut instincts’ response was “wow, that’s not bad”. But the moment quickly passed and my better judgment pushed me to delve deeper and figure out how this grade came to be. It reminded me of my days as a university student, debating on whether a grading system was fair. “A 50% final won’t reflect what you learned in class” “What kind of jerk actually takes class attendance as 10% of their grade?”

The Vital Signs Report is comprised of fourteen key issue areas. They are separately evaluated before playing their part in deciding the overall grade. Key issue areas included Safety, Arts & Culture, Environmental Sustainability, Citizen Engagement, Neighbourhoods, to name a few.

A grade can be endlessly debated and questioned but what I appreciated most about the Vital Signs Report is what lies at the bottom of each issues’ section. Listed are the identified Citizen Priorities and the 3 Things You Can Do. These caught my eye because they are direct and relatable statements. These statements can be examined and translated into actions that will improve our city.

In the spirit of the 3 Things You Can Do, the three keynote speakers at the event will include:

- Mayor Naheed Nenshi

- Rob Cardinal, founder of The First Light Initiative

- Reid Henry, President & CEO of cSpace

In the end, the Vital Signs Report is a reflection of the concerns, needs and wants of Calgarians. For that, I give the Calgary Foundation an A+ and a gold star sticker.

RSVP by October 12th, click HERE for the link to get your FREE ticket.

When: Wednesday, October 17th 11 am – 1:30 pm

Where: Palomino Room, BMO Centre, Stampede Park