Local growth behind national rate

Peterborough city population 81,032, county population 57,204, COKL at 75,423, 2016 census finds

New census data shows the population of the metropolitan area of Peterborough fell below the national growth rate over the last five years.

Statistics Canada released the first batch of numbers from the 2016 census on Wednesday and the population of what the government agency refers to as the census metropolitan area of Peterborough increased by 2.3 per cent since the last census in 2011.

The eight townships and two first nations of Peterborough County grew by about 2 per cent from a total of 56,071 in 2011 to 57,204 in 2016. Douro-Dummer was the only township with a decrease, while Trent Lakes and North Kawartha had the county’s highest growth rates over the five years.

The City of Kawartha Lakes grew by 3 per cent to 75,423 in 2016 from 73,219 in 2011.

The area’s growth rate was below the national growth rate of 5.0 per cent, while the population of Ontario increased by 4.6 per cent.

Census metropolitan areas do not conform to established municipal boundaries. Statistics Canada defines them as a metropolitan area with a population of at least 100,000, where the urban core of that area has at least 50,000 people. Commuting patterns and other factors are used in determining these census metropolitan areas. Looking at metropolitan areas this way takes in to account the growing impact of suburban areas on Canada’s largest cities.

When the 2016 census was taken last May 10, the population of the census metropolitan area of Peterborough was 121,721, compared with 118,975 from the 2011 census. The population of the actual city of Peterborough was 81,032, up from from 78,777 in 2011.

The Peterborough census metropolitan area includes the city, Cavan Monaghan, Selwyn, DouroDummer and Otonabee-South Monaghan townships, and Curve Lake and Hiawatha first nations.

The census indicated that Peterborough ranked No. 32 among the country’s 35 census metropolitan areas.

Canada’s population on census day was 35,151,728, Statistics Canada reported.

The national census is conducted every five years. The information published Wednesday is the first of several releases of data to come from Statistics Canada over the next year that will eventually paint a detailed picture of the country, right down to the local level including age breakdowns of the population, family makeup, languages spoken, immigration and ethnic origin, the level of education attained and income earned.

Future census releases will give more insight to explain the reasons behind the population changes whether it’s related mostly to changes in birth and death rates, immigration or interprovincial migration.

At the provincial level, population levels in Alberta saw the highest increase at 11.6 per cent, followed by Saskatchewan (6.3 per cent) and Manitoba (5.8 per cent).

Growth in New Brunswick shrank by 0.5 per cent - the first time since 2006 a province has reported a negative growth rate.

British Columbia’s population levels increased by 5.6 per cent, compared with Ontario (4.6 per cent), Quebec (3.3 per cent), Prince Edward Island (1.9 per cent), Newfoundland and Labrador (1.0 per cent) and Nova Scotia (0.2 per cent). Among the northern territories, the population grew by 12.7 per cent in the Northwest Territories, 5.8 per cent in the Nunavut and 0.8 per cent in Yukon.

British Columbia’s population levels increased by 5.6 per cent, compared with Ontario (4.6 per cent), Quebec (3.3 per cent), Prince Edward Island (1.9 per cent), Newfoundland and Labrador (1.0 per cent) and Nova Scotia (0.2 per cent). Among the northern territories, the population grew by 12.7 per cent in the Northwest Territories, 5.8 per cent in the Nunavut and 0.8 per cent in Yukon.

Ontario is still the country’s most populous province, with a population of 13,448,494. The population of other provinces and territories: Quebec, 8,164,361; British Columbia, 4,648,055; Alberta, 4,067,175; Manitoba, 1,278,365; Saskatchewan, 1,098,352; Nova Scotia, 923,598; New Brunswick, 747,101; Newfoundland and Labrador, 519,716; Prince Edward Island, 142,907; Northwest Territories, 41,786; Nunavut, 35,944 and Yukon, 35,874.

Here is a local breakdown of census population information for communities in the Peterborough region:

Community 2016 2011 %change Metropolitan Peterborough 121,721 118,975 2.3 City of Peterborough 81,032 78,777 2.9 Selwyn 17,060 16,846 1.3 Cavan Monaghan 8,829 8,601 2.7 Douro-Dummer 6,709 6,805 -1.4 Otonabee-South Monaghan 6,670 6,581 1.4 Curve Lake First Nation 1,059 1,003 5.6 Hiawatha First Nation 362 362 0.0 rest of Peterborough County Trent Lakes 5,397 5,100 5.8 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen 4,530 4,523 0.2 Asphodel-Norwood 4,109 4,041 1.7 North Kawartha 2,479 2,209 8.3 Peterborough County (total) 57,204 56,071 2.0 Northumberland County Trent Hills 12,900 12,604 Port Hope 16,753 16,214 Cobourg 19,440 18,519 5.0 Hamilton Township 10,942 10,702 2.2 Alnwick/Haldimand Township 6,869 6,617 3.8 Alderville First Nation 495 469 5.5 2.3 3.3