Ms. Marian Ficycz
Survey and Operations Director

Ms. Ficycz has been involved in SPR projects since 1979, during which time she has managed most of SPR's web-based, mail and FAX surveys. Some recent SPR projects include:

Evaluation of the Shelter Enhancement Program. This ongoing evaluation replicates a previous Evaluation of the Shelter Enhancement Program which SPR conducted in 2002. The current evaluation has two points of focus: (1) understanding the physical condition of family violence shelters in relation to the needs of women and children using these shelters in areas such as safety and security, children’s play areas, and access for persons with disabilities; and (2) assessing the overall impact on the infrastructure of Canada's family violence shelter system through a survey of all family violence shelters across Canada (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2007-2008);
Evaluation of the New Opportunities Fund (NOF). This evaluation involved surveys of over 3,000 university researchers and administrators (including Vice-Presidents-Research, Deans and Department Heads) (for the Canada Foundation for Innovation, 2006-2007);
Delphi Study of Emerging Technology Sectors in 2015. This Delphi study included three rounds of surveys with over 300 technology experts in business, government and academia, to assess the economic potential and feasibility potential for the development of 20 specific technology sectors in Canada (for the National Research Council, 2006-2007);
Evaluation of the Community Inclusion Initiative (CII). This evaluation examined the impacts of this initiative in increasing the full participation in all areas of life, for Canadians with intellectual disabilities. The evaluation examined social development and other programs of People First of Canada and the Canadian Association for Community Living (for Social Development Canada, 2005-2006);
Environment Canada Client Segmentation Study. A study requiring the design and implementation of a web-based survey of Environment Canada staff in both science and service areas, in order to provide a picture of the major clients for Environment Canada services and their characteristics and expectations for service (for Environment Canada, 2004);
Evaluation of the Homeownership Education Training Program (HETP) Pilot. Web and FAX surveys for this evaluation assessed the impacts of two main information products (HETP seminars and CMHC publications) on the understanding of homebuying (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2004);
Survey of Canadian Apprenticeship Programs and Career Counsellors in Secondary and Post-Secondary Schools (for the Women in Trades and Technology National Network (WITT NN) and HRDC, 2002); and
Evaluation of Tourism Careers for Youth. A nation-wide survey of youth and employer participants (for the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council and HRDC, 2002).

Some of her successful SPR surveys include:

National Surveys of Employers and Employees on Work and Family Life (for Human Resources Development Canada, 65% response rate in 1997-98; labour standards compliance component in 1996-97, 65% overall response rate);
Surveys of Canadian Housing Programs, over 8,000 residents surveyed (for Canada Mortgage and Housing, 1989-96, response rates between 65%-82%);
Surveys of Ontario Joint Health and Safety Committees, over 9,000 committee members surveyed (for the Ontario Ministry of Labour and others, 1984-1996, 65% overall response rate);
Surveys of Human Resources Managers, Hospitals, Unions, Nursing Homes and Insurance Companies Regarding the Canada Pension Plan (for Health and Welfare Canada, 1989, 83% response rate); and
Surveys of Canadian Municipalities Regarding Home Repair Programs and Parallel Surveys of Elderly Homeowners (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 1979, 85% response rate).

Ms. Ficycz's strengths lie in her organizational skills, attention to detail, communications and perseverance. Through these qualities, she has been extremely successful at obtaining high quality results for SPR surveys.