File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Aaron Schulze

Citizen Satisfaction Survey

Fewer Kamloops residents reported good quality of life in 2024: Citizen Satisfaction Survey

Jan 17, 2025 | 11:21 AM

KAMLOOPS — A decline in quality of life is one of the City of Kamloops’ key findings in its Citizen Satisfaction Survey for 2024.

According to the city’s survey, conducted by Forum Reach Inc., 75 per cent of Kamloops residents report having a good quality of life. That number is down eight per cent from 2022 and down 20 per cent from 2019.

The survey suggests young adults (aged 18 to 34) and older residents (aged 55 and older) in Kamloops are more likely to report that their quality of life is good compared to middle-aged residents (35 to 54). Nearly four in five older residents and young adults report a good quality of life, while nearly three in five middle-aged adults report the same.

Overall, 66 per cent of Kamloops residents report that their quality of life has become worse over the past three years.

Regarding areas where the quality of life in Kamloops improved, the survey shows residents focused more on amenities, recreation and infrastructure. However, nearly 37 per cent of residents preferred not to say.

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Image credit: City of Kamloops

Image credit: City of Kamloops

On the flip side, only three per cent of residents preferred not to say when choosing areas in Kamloops’ quality of life that worsened. The survey shows homelessness and poverty, crime, the cost of living, housing affordability and drugs took much of the focus.

Image credit: City of Kamloops

Image credit: City of Kamloops

Other notable findings from the survey include an increasing appetite to cut or reduce services to either lower taxes or keep them the same. Nearly 42 per cent of Kamloops residents want to cut or reduce service, an increase of 10 per cent since 2022, while nearly 44 per cent of residents support increasing taxes, a decrease of 13 per cent.

Image credit: City of Kamloops

Elsewhere, 56 per cent of Kamloops residents reported they are satisfied with communication and public engagement from the city, down from 71 per cent in 2022 and 83 per cent in 2019.

Additionally, 48 per cent of Kamloops respondents report having contacted the city within the last 12 months, an increase from 35 per cent in 2022 and 2019. Of those who contacted the city, the survey says 76 per cent of respondents reported being satisfied with the services they received.

While nearly 70 per cent of Kamloops residents are satisfied with the city’s environmental leadership, nearly 56 per cent are satisfied with alternative forms of transportation in the city – a six per cent decrease since 2022.

The full results of the city’s Citizen Satisfaction Survey, which was conducted between Oct. 21 and Nov. 12, 2024, can be viewed here.