The United Way of Winnipeg has partnered with IISD to explore how to create a community indicators system for Winnipeg that would measure and report on progress in the quality of life of its citizens. Over the past two years (up to 2005), dozens of Winnipeggers have come to workshops and planning groups to consider the feasibility of such a system.

Agreement was reached that a Community Indicators System (CIS) should bring Winnipeggers together to:

• identify the economic, environmental, cultural, social, and other priorities and issues that matter most to them;

• select the indicators that will measure change in their priorities over time;

• build Winnipeggers' knowledge about progress toward the shared vision for community; and

• stimulate collective action to achieve and sustain a high quality of life for current and future generations.

A Community Indicators System for Winnipeg: Working together to achieve and sustain a high quality of life for current and future generations is a document that serves as an operating model and business plan for establishing and managing the system.

This work builds on IISD's earlier research on City of Winnipeg Quality of Life Indicators. For work underway by other organizations on community indicators, we suggest readers consult IISD's Compendium of Indicator Initiatives.