What it measures
Subdomain: Participation
This indicator identifies the percentage of all household spending that Canadians allocate to recreation and culture. Examples of expenses include the purchase of sports equipment, art supplies and musical instruments, as well as admission to movies, live performances, and museums, and membership payments towards recreation and leisure facilities. On average, over the past 20 years Canadians have allocated approximately 6% of their annual household expenses to recreation and culture activities. A distinct decrease in this percentage is visable after the global financial crisis of 2008. Despite stabilizing between 2010 and 2013, 2014 information suggests the financial resources Canadians allocate to recreation and culture pursuits may still be on the decline.
Why this matters
We know that accessing recreation and culture activities can be beneficial to a person’s wellbeing because it is linked to increased physical health, mental health, and sense of belonging to community. As well, investing in recreation can positively influence the whole community through the creation of jobs, encouraging tourism, and making the area a desirable place to be.