Census statistics show local gainers and losers.

Statistics can make interesting and informative reading and can be food for thought and perhaps cause for concern and action. Statistics Canada recently began to publish data from the 2016 census.

The total population of Canada at time of the census has been reported as just over 35 million, a five percent increase from 2011, that’s, overall, 3.9 people per square kilometre. From 2011 Alberta’s population increased 11.6 per cent to just over four million or 6.4 people per square kilometre. Alberta showed the largest population increase of any other province or territory and indeed recorded the only double digit swing. The only province or territory to show a decline in population was New Brunswick, which saw a 0.5 per cent drop in population.

Digging deeper into the areas that our paper cover, Yellowhead County MD (municipal district) AB (census subdivision), which excludes Hinton and Edson showed a five per cent increase in population recording just under 11,000 people. Woodlands County MD AB (census subdivision), which excludes Whitecourt, recorded a 10.4 increase in population to 4,754. Lac Ste. Anne MD AB (census subdivision), which excludes Mayerthorpe, showed a population increase of 6.2 per cent to 10,899. Finally, Parkland County MD AB (census subdivision), which excludes the towns and cities, showed a population increase of five per cent to just over 32,000 people.

Moving on to the towns, Edson recorded a 0.7 per cent drop in population to just over 8,400. While Hinton recorded a 2.5 per cent increase in population to just under 9,900. Jasper recorded a 3.6 per cent increase in population to 4,590. Whitecourt recorded a 6.2 per cent increase in population to over 10,200 while Mayerthorpe recorded a 5.6 per cent decrease in population to 1,320. The town of Stony Plain recorded a 14.2 per cent increase in population to 17,189 and Spruce Grove recorded a 30.2 per cent increase in population to 34,066.

One swallow does not a spring make. In difficult times a move towards larger population centres for work opportunities is not a surprise. However, these numbers are of interest especially when major increases mean not only a boost to budgets for municipalities but also a sudden upsurge in demands on services and infrastructure. Conversely municipalities seeing a significant decline in population must be concerned as to whether the decline is a glitch or a trend and what can be done to reverse it.