Alberta is booming, 2011 Census results released today.

Well almost all of Alberta is booming with a population growth of 10.8% or in real number’s almost 355,000 new residents came to our province during the last five years.


The province is growing in leaps and bounds with the exception of this little corner down here in the South West the Crowsnest Pass actually was one of only four municipalities in Alberta with a population of greater than 5000 that actually shrank, yes our population dropped by 184 people (3.2%).

How will this affect the community?

Right in the pocket book most provincial or federal grants are based on population. My last year on council we were getting roughly $1400 in grants for each resident a drop of 184 based on that same amount would impact the community to the tune of $258,000 per year.

The other problem with this information is that you are stuck with these numbers for five years until the next census.

How did we compare to our neighbours?

Pincher Creek grew by 60 residents or 1.7%

Fort Macleod grew by 45 residents or 1.5%

Cowley grew by 17 residents or 7.8%

Sparwood grew by 49 residents or 1.4%

Elkford grew by 60 residents or 2.4%

Fernie grew by 231 residents or 5.5%

We must keep in mind that this census was conducted last spring so these numbers are very current and would reflect a lot of the hiring that the mines have done over the last two years.