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.
Showing posts with label Fernie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fernie. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Interesting Population Stats on the Crowsnest Pass and surrounding area
The following stats reflect the population decline in the Crowsnest Pass and surrounding area from 1981 to present.
----------------1981---1986---1991---1996---2001---2006---2006 vs 81
Crowsnest Pass--7340---7577---6680---6356---6262---5749-----78%
Elkford BC-------3126---3187---2846---2729---2589---2463-----79%
Sparwood BC----4157---4540---4211---3982---3812---3618-----87%
Fernie BC-------5444---5188---5012---4877---4611---4217------77%
Pincher Creek---3825---3800--3660---3659---3666---3625-----95%
Total----------23892--24292--22409--21603--20940--19672----82%
Why the analysis? well first of all I know we have a problem with population decline in the Crowsnest Pass, and we all know that there are obvious reasons for that.
I also have a theory that the population decline is directed related to the work practices of our largest employer (BC coal mines). I have long taken the position that the implementation of the four on four off schedule at the mines had a huge impact on our community. These numbers I believe support that, if you look above the four on four off schedule was implemented in 1983-84 the numbers peak in 1986. The work schedule was relatively new at that point and only a few people were living outside the area, as time marched on more and more mine employees realized the mobility that schedule provides them.
Prior to that time nobody had more than two days a week off, much more difficult to live outside the area.
If you examine the numbers CNP, Elkford and Fernie suffered relatively the same decline in population, 21 to 23%. Where Sparwood dropped 13% still significant but not as bad as the others, I would argue that Sparwood did not suffer to the same degree due to it being blessed with logistics, being right in the middle of all the mines.
Then to further prove my theory I provided the numbers for the Town of Pincher Creek close to our area but not very dependent on the mines for employment, its population only dropped 5% over that same time frame, which I'm sure you would find is consistent with rural Alberta outside of the energy sector.
You may ask why is this information relevant?
Well barring the mines going back to eight shifts, (which will never happen the employees like the four days off and it is more efficient for the employer)
Our resident population is going to keep declining in the overall area, even with the mines hiring people are finding that they can live in Lethbridge and work here.
The competition between local communties to attract people moving here is going to become more and more fierce. People that do choice to live here are going to look at the individual communities, and determine which best suits their needs we will never be able to compete with the towns in the Elk Valley as far as proximity but we have to compete with them in other ways. Appearance is a prime example.
----------------1981---1986---1991---1996---2001---2006---2006 vs 81
Crowsnest Pass--7340---7577---6680---6356---6262---5749-----78%
Elkford BC-------3126---3187---2846---2729---2589---2463-----79%
Sparwood BC----4157---4540---4211---3982---3812---3618-----87%
Fernie BC-------5444---5188---5012---4877---4611---4217------77%
Pincher Creek---3825---3800--3660---3659---3666---3625-----95%
Total----------23892--24292--22409--21603--20940--19672----82%
Why the analysis? well first of all I know we have a problem with population decline in the Crowsnest Pass, and we all know that there are obvious reasons for that.
I also have a theory that the population decline is directed related to the work practices of our largest employer (BC coal mines). I have long taken the position that the implementation of the four on four off schedule at the mines had a huge impact on our community. These numbers I believe support that, if you look above the four on four off schedule was implemented in 1983-84 the numbers peak in 1986. The work schedule was relatively new at that point and only a few people were living outside the area, as time marched on more and more mine employees realized the mobility that schedule provides them.
Prior to that time nobody had more than two days a week off, much more difficult to live outside the area.
If you examine the numbers CNP, Elkford and Fernie suffered relatively the same decline in population, 21 to 23%. Where Sparwood dropped 13% still significant but not as bad as the others, I would argue that Sparwood did not suffer to the same degree due to it being blessed with logistics, being right in the middle of all the mines.
Then to further prove my theory I provided the numbers for the Town of Pincher Creek close to our area but not very dependent on the mines for employment, its population only dropped 5% over that same time frame, which I'm sure you would find is consistent with rural Alberta outside of the energy sector.
You may ask why is this information relevant?
Well barring the mines going back to eight shifts, (which will never happen the employees like the four days off and it is more efficient for the employer)
Our resident population is going to keep declining in the overall area, even with the mines hiring people are finding that they can live in Lethbridge and work here.
The competition between local communties to attract people moving here is going to become more and more fierce. People that do choice to live here are going to look at the individual communities, and determine which best suits their needs we will never be able to compete with the towns in the Elk Valley as far as proximity but we have to compete with them in other ways. Appearance is a prime example.
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