Life on the Islands - Area Resident Survey

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The Islands Trust
Life on the Islands -Area Resident Survey
Final Results
Prepared for: TheIslands Trust
August 2016

Background and Objectives

Background and Objectives
3
•In 1974, BC’s Islands Trust Act created the Islands Trust to be a federation of local government bodies. The 
federation represents 25,000 people living within the Islands Trust Area and another 10,000 non-resident 
property-owners. The area covers the islands and waters between the British Columbia mainland and 
southern Vancouver Island. It includes 13 major islands and more than 450 smaller islands. 
•The Islands Trust is responsible for preserving and protecting the unique environment and amenities of the 
Islands Trust Area through planning and regulating land use, co-operation with other agencies, and land 
conservation. 
•The Islands Trust required the services of an experienced market research firm to conduct a statistically 
significant survey of the Islands Trust Area.
•On behalf of the Islands Trust, Forum Research conducted a survey of island residents and property owners 
to learn more about lifeon the island.
•When respondents asked for the purpose of the survey, interviewers explained the Islands Trust Council 
approved funding this year for a "State of the Islands" project. Islands Trust staff have been using the funds 
to research and report on social, economic and environmental trends.  This poll is part of that project, and 
will inform Trust Council about the pros and cons of island life today and what might improve island life in 
the future. The results of the poll will be public as part of the meeting package going to Trust Council in 
mid-September.

Methodology and Limitations

Methodology
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•A sample of respondents was generated based on area and postal codes, along with a qualifying 
screener at the beginning of the survey to ensure the correct respondents were contacted. 
•Forum Research used a CATI (telephone) methodology to conduct the survey.
•Life on the Islands -Area Resident Survey
•(N = 426) 
•Please note that considering the small sample size, significant findings and 
differences will be limited.
•August 9
th
to 15
th
, 2016

Survey Limitations and Opportunities
6
•The survey was based on a random sample of households in and around the Islands Trust Area.  
•The targeted population available was 25,670. 
•Based on this population, the response rate was 2%. 
•The findings collected in this survey should be interpreted with caution.
•The response rate from some islands was very low due to a number of limiting factors,
•Residents and property owners on the islands can be wary of government and market researchers. 
•Residents of some islands cannot be reached via telephone methodology..
A suggestion for further research would be to consider two different data collection methodologies.
(1)Paper-based survey methodology
This would create a more personalized experience for the respondent. Telephone methodology may feel 
intrusive and impersonal. 

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