Education is important for social mobility, participation and employment opportunity. High educational attainment level directly impacts quality of life, since it is closely linked to the ability to take advantage of employment opportunities and for social mobility.

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Housing is one of the basic needs for well-being. Poor quality of housing may have adverse effects on health and well-being. Housing is one of the basic needs of all individuals, and the standard of housing impacts on physical health and well-being. Housing requiring major repairs inversely affects housing quality, while a high number of people per room inversely affects liveability. The third indicator measures affordability: a higher percentage of household income spent on rent or a mortgage impacts inversely on affordability.

The quality of the physical environment has effects on well-being, social participation and health. Populations with high spatial concentrations or densities (for example, the density of dwellings requiring major repairs) inversely influence quality of life, in terms of social behaviour and health, since they 1) inversely impact on the landscape, interfering with the ability to enjoy and appreciate the environment; and 2) result in concentrations of poor housing conditions, thus inversely impacting upon the environment and health. High levels of air pollution may severely impact health.

This map shows a selection of key indicators from the Canadian Policy Research Network’s Citizens’ Report Card. The Report Card is the outcome of the Quality of Life Indicators Project, which brought together 350 Canadians in 40 different dialogue groups in 21 towns and cities across Canada to produce a prototype set of quality of life indicators.

Overall quality of life is a composite assessment of the quality of the social, economic and physical environments. Eleven domains (or aspects of life) have been used to assess the external conditions of overall quality of life. The eleven domains were categorized into the three environments of overall quality of life. The quality of each domain was assessed by several indicators, which were then combined to create a quality of life index. Domains are defined as the important aspects of life important to overall quality of life. This map shows the overall quality of life, representing the combined attributes of the physical, social and economic environments.

Overall quality of life is a composite assessment of the quality of the social, economic and physical environments. Eleven domains (or aspects of life) have been used to assess the external conditions of overall quality of life. The eleven domains were categorized into the three environments of overall quality of life. The quality of each domain was assessed by several indicators, which were then combined to create a quality of life index. Domains are defined as the important aspects of life important to overall quality of life. This map shows the overall quality of life, representing the combined attributes of the physical, social and economic environments.

The social environment represents the external conditions under which people engage in social activity within their community. It includes aspects of social opportunity, leisure and recreation, education, access to health services, health status and participation in democratic processes. This map shows the quality of the social environment: the environment in which people engage in social activities, within their community, that contribute to quality of life, including the health status data for a reduced number of communities in the index.

Income from employment allows for the purchase of goods and services. Employment status may also affect esteem and well-being. A high unemployment rate inversely impacts quality of life, since it may influence personal self-esteem, dignity and security; as well, have an impact on the purchasing of more basic needs. The greater the proportion of people working part year, part time relative to those working full-year, full time inversely influences quality of life, since it may indicate the lack of full-time employment opportunities. High average employment income directly influences quality of life, since it can indicate the ability of individuals to purchase a wider range of goods and services.

The quality of the physical environment has effects on well-being, social participation and health. Populations with high spatial concentrations or densities (for example, the density of dwellings requiring major repairs) inversely influence quality of life, in terms of social behaviour and health, since they 1) inversely impact on the landscape, interfering with the ability to enjoy and appreciate the environment; and 2) result in concentrations of poor housing conditions, thus inversely impacting upon the environment and health. High levels of air pollution may severely impact health.

Housing is one of the basic needs for well-being. Poor quality of housing may have adverse effects on health and well-being. Housing is one of the basic needs of all individuals, and the standard of housing impacts on physical health and well-being. Housing requiring major repairs inversely affects housing quality, while a high number of people per room inversely affects liveability. The third indicator measures affordability: a higher percentage of household income spent on rent or a mortgage impacts inversely on affordability.

Household finances affect consumption and thereby impact on access to technology, travel and leisure. The level of disposable income directly influences quality of life, as it may be a necessary condition in order to access such services as health, education and the basic necessities of life. Those households that spend a disproportionate amount on accommodation or receive a disproportionate amount of income through government transfer payments experience inverse impacts on quality of life, since they are less able to acquire a wide range of goods and services.

The physical environment represents the external conditions under which we live. This map shows the quality of the physical environment: the environment in which people live. It includes aspects of access to services, security and safety, and environmental conditions pertaining to air quality and housing, including the personal security data for a reduced number of communities in the index.

Health resources make the production of health services possible. Access to health resources directly influences quality of life, as it directly impacts on quality of health care and the prolongation of life.

The social environment represents the external conditions under which people engage in social activity within their community. It includes aspects of social opportunity, leisure and recreation, education, access to health services, health status and participation in democratic processes. This map shows the quality of the social environment: the environment in which people engage in social activities, within their community, that contribute to quality of life.

Stability is important for overall well-being and can be affected by adverse changes in the social environment. Lack of social stability inversely influences quality of life, because it suggests a possible breakdown of the social order. Impacts on health and well-being may vary, but can potentially have detrimental long-lasting repercussions for society and the individual. Lower mobility (or change in residence) among the population through time implies greater social cohesion.

Household finances affect consumption and thereby impact on access to technology, travel and leisure. The level of disposable income directly influences quality of life, as it may be a necessary condition in order to access such services as health, education and the basic necessities of life. Those households that spend a disproportionate amount on accommodation or receive a disproportionate amount of income through government transfer payments experience inverse impacts on quality of life, since they are less able to acquire a wide range of goods and services.

The Quality of Life Project was a five-year research program that began in 1976 and was officially titled "Social Change in Canada: Trends in Attitudes, Values, and Perceptions." The survey data for the project were collected through the Survey Research Centre at the Institute for Behavioural Research, York University, Ontario. The project's overall purpose was to develop time series measures of the perceived quality of life and of other subjective social indicators for Canada and its major regions. Three national surveys took place in the years 1977, 1979, and 1981, each including more than 3,000 respondents. A panel of about 2,000 respondents was followed through the three sets of interviews. In 1977 and 1981, the data were gathered in sample surveys of not only the general public of Canada but also selected Canadian decision-makers (top business executives, politicians, civil servants, and trade union leaders) to provide for comparisons between the two groups. This data collection contains the 1977 data, designed to measure each respondent's descriptions of, attitudes about, and satisfaction with a variety of domains of everyday life. They include: neighborhood/city/town/county of residence, life as a whole, Canadian and provincial governments, work and housework, personal finances, housing, life goals and values, personal alienation and efficacy, leisure activities and spare time, education, health and physical condition, friendships, marriage and romantic relationships, children, current Canadian political and social issues, and the news media. Background information and interviewer's observational data are also included.

Stability is important for overall well-being and can be affected by adverse changes in the social environment. Lack of social stability inversely influences quality of life, because it suggests a possible breakdown of the social order. Impacts on health and well-being may vary, but can potentially have detrimental long-lasting repercussions for society and the individual. Lower mobility (or change in residence) among the population through time implies greater social cohesion.

Leisure and recreational activities affect overall well-being and can have a direct bearing on health. Opportunity for and access to leisure and recreational activities directly influences quality of life, since they are necessary for individual health and well-being.