COMMUNITY

SURVEY RESULTS
MAY 2009
OUR VISION:
The Almaguin Highlands community-based secondary school
is the hub that educates and enriches our quality of life.

OUR MISSION:
The Almaguin Highlands Secondary School is a catalyst that
brings communities together for the purpose of:

► Providing quality education, programs and services

► Creating a strong physical, mental, social, and
cultural environment
► Creating and sustaining strong community partnerships.

BACKGROUND:

In March 2009, the newly formed ACCESS 2011

distributed a survey to all regions of the Almaguin
Highlands (see Appendix A). The survey’s purpose
was to obtain public feedback regarding potential
community fundraising projects for the future
Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, which is
slated to open in the fall of 2011.

The results of the 511 returned surveys are detailed

in the following report.

1
 Community Survey
OUR VISION STATEMENT
The community-based Almaguin Highlands Secondary School is the hub that educates
and enriches our quality of life.

The recently completed feasibility study regarding the future Almaguin Highlands Secondary
School suggested that we establish fundraising priorities for additional features that will improve
opportunities for students and the community at large in the new school. Please assist our
selection of fundraising projects by completing the survey below:

1. In which municipality do you live? (please print) ________________________________________________

2. Please check your present age:

Under 20 (____), 20 to 40 (_____), above 40 (_____)

3. How many times a week do you or any member of your household participate in activities or classes outside
the home? Please circle ONE.

Once a week or less ………………. 1 4-5 times a week ……………….. 3

2-3 times a week …………………… 2 More than 5 times a week ……… 4

4. How many members of your household would like to upgrade or learn new skills at the future Almaguin

Highlands Secondary School? (_____)

5. Please check the skills that you are interested in upgrading or learning:

Business………………………………………. (____) Information Technology…………………….. (____)

Trades………………………………………… (____) Physical/Recreational……………………….. (____)

Culinary……………………………………….. (____) Art……………………………………………… (____)

Other (specify) _____________________ (____)

2
6. Please rank the following possible facilities at the new Almaguin Highlands Secondary School in order of
importance for your own personal use. (1 highest - 10 lowest)

Facilities:
Theatre seating, sound, lighting for the
cafeteria/auditorium ................................... (____) ** Culinary facilities equipment upgrades ... (____)
Outdoor recreational trails .......................... (____) ** Trade shops equipment upgrades .......... (____)
Outdoor recreational centre ........................ (____) ** Visual arts equipment upgrades ............. (____)
Outdoor amphitheatre / stage ……………… (____) ** Information technology upgrades ……… (____)

Greenhouse / horticultural facility ............... (____) ** Fitness Room Upgrades ......................... (____)
** NOTE: The School will be provided with
adequate equipment – this funding would
help provide enhancements where
applicable.

7. Please rank the use of possible facilities at the future Almaguin Highlands Secondary School in order of
importance for your own personal use. (1 highest - 6 lowest )

Use of facilities:
Community meeting .................................... (____) Training (trade skills) ……………………… (____)
Recreational …………………………………. (____) Retraining.................................................... (____)
Extracurricular activities............................... (____) Other (specify) _____________________ (____)

8. What forms of communication do you use to obtain information about community activities?
Please check all applicable methods:

Newspaper (___ ), School Newsletter (___), Website (___), Telephone (___),School Visit (___),

E-mail (___), Other (specify) ____________________________________________________________

Come and check us out online at www.access2011.com .

Here you can fill out a survey, volunteer to help, or simply find out more about ACCESS 2011.

The information on this survey is collected for the sole purpose of better understanding the needs of the
Almaguin Highlands communities in connection with potential opportunities at the future
Almaguin Highlands Secondary School.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

Please return the completed survey to the location where it was obtained by April 27, 2009.

3
#1) In which municipality do you live?

#1) Survey Feedback by Municipality

4
 #2) Check your present age:

#3) How many times a week do you or

any member of your household
participate in activities or classes outside of the home?

5
 #4) How many members of your
household would like to upgrade
or learn new skills at the future
Almaguin Highlands Secondary School?

#5) Please check the skills that you are

interested in upgrading or learning:

6
 #6) Please rank the following
possible facilities at the new
Almaguin Highlands Secondary School in order of
importance for your own personal use (1 highest – 10 lowest):

#6 - Facility Upgrade Areas

7
 #7) Please rank the use of possible
facilities at the future Almaguin
Highlands Secondary School in order of importance for
your own personal use (1 highest – 6 lowest):

#7 - Facility Usage Preference

8
 #8) What forms of communication do
you use to obtain information about
community activities? Please check all applicable
methods:

SURVEY SUMMARY:
1. We received 511 replies from all regions of Almaguin.  The highest feedback areas were Sundridge, 
South River, Powassan, and Magnetawan.
2. The age group ‘Above 40’ replied most to the survey.
3. The highest average activity rate is currently one time per week or less.  
4. The highest average number of household members looking for opportunities to upgrade or learn 
new skills is two, followed by one.  Zero scored third.
5. The top three areas for upgrading new skills are:  Physical/Recreation, Art, and Information 
Technology.
6. The top three areas for allocating fundraising monies are:  Cafeteria/Auditorium, Trades, and 
Recreation Centre/Trails.
7. The top three rankings for facility use are:  Recreation, Extra‐Curricular Activities, and   Trades.
8. The top three methods of communication are: Newspaper, School Newsletter and School Website.

9
 APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
List of Survey Distribution Locations
15 Municipal Offices:
► Perry Township
► Town of Kearney
► McMurrich/Monteith Township
► Municipality of Magnetawan
► Village of Burk’s Falls
► Armour Township
► Ryerson Township
► Village of Sundridge
► Joly Township
► Strong Township
► Village of South River
► Machar Township
► Municipality of Powassan
► Chisholm Township
► Nipissing Township
• Online survey posted on
www.access2011.com
• Almaguin Highlands Secondary
School (AHSS) Students
• AHSS Parents via Parent-Teacher
Interview Evening
• Distribution to parents of students
in nine elementary feeder schools
• Local Libraries
• Local Legions
• Local Churches
• Local Early Years Centres
• Local Seniors Centres
• Local Convenience Stores and
Businesses
• Local Employment Centres
• Local Vehicle Licensing Offices
• Electronic survey e-mailed to
previous volunteers and to local
members of the Retired Teachers
of Ontario
10
 APPENDIX B
#5) Skill Upgrade Areas (Other 5% Skills)

APPENDIX C
#7) Facility Usage Preference (Other 13% Usages)

11
 APPENDIX D
#8) Communication Preference 
(Other 5% Methods)

STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES: www.access2011.com

CONTACT US: access2011@gmail.com
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Chair Megan Jeffers
Secretary Brenda Detta
Treasurer Shannon Jeffers
Communications John Furner
Fundraising Dawn MacKinnon
Marketing Derek Dobbs
Programs and Services Cathie Gutjahr
Municipal Representative Vi Montpetit
(Strong Township Councillor)
Near North District School Al Bottomley (Trustee)
Board Representatives Phil Geden (Strategic Renewal Officer)

12