Your Story. Our Survey.

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey! 

What is the purpose of the survey?

The purpose of the survey is to better understand the many factors that influence the wellbeing of Nova Scotia residents – those factors that enhance their wellbeing and those that are preventing their ability to thrive.

Results will be used to equip decision makers, advocates and researchers with previously unknowable or ignored information to address long standing challenges. It will also allow us to compare our results to those from 2019, when we last surveyed. The survey is a groundbreaking opportunity to help improve quality of life for you, those you care about and for the community you live in.

What topics are covered?

Quality of Life is broad and complex. To get a comprehensive understanding of how Nova Scotians are doing, we ask many questions. The survey questions have been designed to gather information concerning the eight domains of life that Canadians have identified as critical to our overall wellbeing: (a) community vitality, (b) democratic engagement, (c) education, (d) our environment, (e) healthy populations, (f) leisure and culture, (g) living standards, and (h) time use.

Who is behind this survey?

Engage Nova Scotia in collaboration with the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW) is administering the survey, with the support of the Province of Nova Scotia, Government of Canada, municipalities across Nova Scotia, and other non-governmental partners.

  • Engage Nova Scotia is a non-profit, independent organization that works with partners to advance the quality of life of all Nova Scotia residents. We believe everyone should be included to share their story, seed our future, and influence change to improve their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of their communities.

    Engage has been a respected presenter on quality of life issues at the United Nations, the OECD, and international and national conferences. We work closely with local municipalities and organizations across the province and equip them with previously unknowable or ignored information to address longstanding challenges. To learn more about us, go to the link, About Us.

  • The Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), housed at the University of Waterloo, is Canada’s leading non-government wellbeing research organization whose conceptual framework on wellbeing provides the basis for the Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey. Since 2011, the CIW has been reporting on the wellbeing of Canadians and administering its Community Wellbeing Survey across Canada, including in 2019 with Engage Nova Scotia when almost 13,000 Nova Scotia residents responded to the inaugural quality of life survey. To learn more about the CIW, visit its website.

Who is eligible to complete the survey?

One person from each household is asked to complete the survey. The person to complete the survey must be at least 16 years of age and whose birthday is closest to June 1st.

How long will the survey take?

The survey will take from 30 to 60 minutes to complete. Your story is very important to us and so is your time. If you need a break or get interrupted, you can return later to the same device and pick up where you left off.

  • All the information you provide in the survey will be entirely anonymous. Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary and involves only the completion of the online survey. You will not be asked at any point in the survey for any identifying information, such as your name, address, or birth date.

  • Yes. You can choose to complete the survey in either English or French.

Ready to take the survey? How do I get started?

You will need your invitation postcard to enter your unique user code. Reminder postcards are arriving in mailboxes the week of March 9th. If you have already completed the survey, we thank you! No further action is requested from your household.

Next steps!

If you are ready to take the survey, please click on the button below. You will be directed to complete the consent form before taking the survey. Once you have agreed to voluntarily participate in the survey, you will then be taken to the survey page.

Complete the survey to win a $50 gift card!

After completing the survey, you can enter a draw to win one of 130 gift certificates for a $50 gift card as a thank you for your participation.

You will be redirected to a different website where you can complete an entry ballot form that does request your email address for the purpose of the draw only. Your entry ballot will NOT be linked to your survey responses.

Accessibility

We work with trusted partner organizations to support participation in our Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey. If you identify as a person with a disability and would like assistance completing the survey, please contact one of our partners listed below.

  • The data will be safely secured and analysed with results available in the late 2026 and the findings will be reported at a level of geography that will not identify individuals (e.g., for the entire province or for individual municipalities). You will be able to access the findings through our Wellbeing Mapping Tool. The results will also be shared via the Wellbeing Analysis Tool with universities, governments, and community organizations for research, planning, budgeting, and advocacy purposes. The survey data will also be used by CIW researchers to identify key factors contributing to and detracting from the wellbeing of individuals and communities and help policymakers make informed decisions for everyday Canadians.

  • This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board (REB #47864). If you have questions for the Board, contact the Office of Research Ethics, toll-free at 1-833-643-2379 (Canada and USA), 1-519-888-4440, or reb@uwaterloo.ca.

Need more information?

Please visit the FAQs page HERE which covers Survey Basics, Access and Technical Issues, Privacy and Security, Survey Content, Special Circumstances, Results and Follow Up, and Technical Support.

Need assistance?

For all other questions around accessing or completing the survey, please contact us Monday to Friday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm Toll-Free at 1-833-224-0333 or survey@engagenovascotia.ca

Contact Us

Thank you again!

Together, we can influence change, and inform decisions for a stronger Nova Scotia!