Biennial Community Survey set to launch in February

The City of Medicine Hat’s biennial Community Survey, conducted by IPSOS, will kick off on Monday, February 2. Targeting Medicine Hat residents aged 18 and older, the results will provide City Council and administration reliable data to better understand community sentiment around a variety of City topics, in turn supporting decision making.

The feedback that is captured through the survey is considered representative of the population as it is scientifically designed to reflect the broader population. A smaller, randomly selected sample is used, and results are weighted to reflect age, neighbourhood and other demographics. The survey results are representative of the community as a whole. For this survey, IPSOS will use a randomized telephone survey (95% cellphones and 5% landlines) with an overall sample size of 400. The results are considered accurate to within ±4.9%, 19 times out of 20.

The survey will be conducted between February 2 and 16, and residents are encouraged to participate if they receive a call from IPSOS.

“The Community Survey provides important insights on what services and amenities the community values, and where improvements can be made,” said Colleen Graham, Director of Communications, Engagement and Marketing. “We recognize that people are busy, but we’re hopeful that if they receive a call from IPSOS, they will take the time to respond. This is a key opportunity to share your thoughts about community priorities and municipal services to City Council and administration in a meaningful way.”

The survey will cover a wide range of topics from what residents feel is the most important issue affecting the community, to levels of satisfaction with specific municipal services. The results of the survey are benchmarked against other municipalities, and the survey is repeated every two years, allowing the City to monitor results over time.

“This survey is one of many sources of information that Council considers when establishing priorities for administration,” added Graham. “These reports – along with ongoing community feedback – help ensure decisions are informed, balanced, and reflective of the broader community.”

If residents don’t receive a call from IPSOS but would like to take the survey, an online option will be available on medicinehat.ca starting on February 4. Only one telephone interview will be permitted per household, but others are welcome to complete the online version.

The full survey report is expected to be complete and reported to City Council and the community in the spring.

For media inquiries, please contact:
media@medicinehat.ca