About the community of Saint Vital
The community of St. Vital has twelve different neighbourhoods. The population ranges from the upwardly mobile and wealthy to those with high needs.
The three neighbourhoods of St. George, Lavallee and Worthington are home to many people who live in poverty. Statistical figures from the 1996 Canadian Census show:
- 22 per cent live below the poverty line
- 42 per cent of the population have not completed high school
- 14 per cent of the population in these three neighbourhoods is aboriginal
Upwards of 47 per cent of these households are single-parent families, and many of the single parents are mothers who are either on income assistance or low income earners.
St. Vital has the unfortunate distinction of having the highest rate (20.5 per cent) of child poverty in a primarily suburban ward (Manitoba Child Poverty Report Card, 1999 ).
St. Vital also has a high number of immigrant families, most of whom are refugees. Besides the challenges of language and culture, many of these immigrants discover that their qualifications and employment histories are not recognized in Canada. Immigrants may also struggle to understand and find opportunities in the Canadian labour market.
Our community is home to many of the city's neediest families and individuals, and a large number of them become participants in the VM Job Re-entry Program.
