Airdrie's population has officially surpassed 80,000 people, according to the results of the 2023 municipal census presented at the Airdrie City council meeting on July 4, keeping it among the five most populous cities in the province.
Lynn Penney from Legislative Services delivered the figures to council on Monday, highlighting the population and dwelling counts that were conducted earlier this year.
“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to my 2023 enumerators for their hard work and dedication. They really gave it their all and I really appreciate what they did for the city,” Penney said.
This year's municipal census revealed a population of 80,649 residents within the city, representing an increase of 10,085 individuals since the last municipal census was conducted in 2019.
As evidence of Airdrie's rapid growth in recent years, 58,690 people called the city home as of 2015, 61,842 in 2016, and 68,091 as of 2018.
Airdrie's growth rate of just over 14 per cent over the past four years far exceeded the average growth rate of Alberta, which stood at approximately eight per cent, and was nearly three times higher than Calgary's population growth rate of five per cent.
Penney's presentation emphasized that conducting the municipal census in 2023 was particularly challenging for the enumerators due to various hurdles, including some hostility from residents.
“It is possible that residents were experiencing some door knocking fatigue with provincial election campaigning seeing nominees knocking at the door at the same time,” Penney said.
The census, conducted from April 1 to June 15, was the first one in four years, as the COVID-19 pandemic prevented its execution from 2020 onward. Instead, the City relied on estimated population counts for allocating provincial grant dollars in 2020 after repealing the census regulation.
With its population exceeding 80,000, Airdrie remains the fifth most populous city in the province behind Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Red Deer. This not only demonstrates the city's rapid growth but also reinforces Airdrie's increasing status as a prominent urban centre within Alberta.
“Each resident counted represents the diversity and collective spirit that makes Airdrie special,” said Mayor Peter Brown in a City statement. “With our continued growth, we are aware of both opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. As Airdrie continues to evolve, we remain committed in providing essential infrastructure, improving critical services and supporting economic development while advocating for the city to ensure every resident has access to quality education and health care opportunities to enhance their quality of life.”
To encourage participation in this year's census, the City of Airdrie offered incentives to residents. In the past, three households received Genesis Place Recreation Centre passes for completing the census online. This year, the stakes were raised with 23 randomly-selected residents receiving $100 gift cards to a local grocery store.
In addition to rapid population growth, the census indicated that Airdrie has also experienced a significant increase in dwellings in the last four years. The dwelling count rose by 9.67 per cent since the 2019 count, averaging a 2.42 per cent growth rate per year.
The news of Airdrie's population growth has sparked optimism and excitement among residents. With a steadily increasing population, the city can anticipate continued development, improved infrastructure, and an enhanced quality of life for its residents.
According to the City, the insights will assist in planning essential aspects such as transportation networks, school locations, parks, utilities, and fire protection facilities, all aimed at meeting the needs of Airdrie's citizens.
Additionally, the census data aids in attracting new business opportunities and provides crucial demographic information for future growth planning. With this comprehensive understanding of its population, Airdrie is well-equipped to plan and develop a prosperous future for its residents.
“Obtaining an accurate population count is crucial as it enables the City to create a meaningful demographic profile that assists the City in planning for future growth in areas such as transportation networks, locations of schools, parks and fire protection facilities and also helps to attract new business opportunities to Airdrie,” said Tammy Belsham, team leader of Legislative Services, in the City's news release. “Despite facing many challenges, the City would like to extend its sincere thanks to all involved in the success of the 2023 municipal census.”
