The City of Airdrie is gearing up to conduct its annual census and is looking for people interested in working as census takers.
According to Census Co-ordinator Doreen Rabel, 10 to 15 census workers are needed to help collect census data between the first part of April and late May.
“We have a number who are returning,” she said. “I’ve already got 15 who are coming back (from last year).”
The City is looking for people 18 years of age or older, who enjoy talking to people, have basic iPad/computer skills, good basic map reading skills and are able to walk significant distances in all types of weather.
Census workers are assigned a route of between 600 and 1,000 homes. They will need to visit each residence to drop off a notice that the census will be taking place and that it can be completed online. Anyone who does not complete the census online will receive a visit from a census worker after a certain cut-off date. That date has not yet been determined, according to Rabel.
“Typically, we have between 45 and 60 per cent who reply online,” Rabel said. “If your zone or route was 1,200 homes, you’d be going to about 600 (to follow up).”
The census has been scheduled to take place before the federal government conducts its own census in the first part of May.
“We will be including the fact there are two censuses being taken this spring in any advertising that we do,” Rabel said. “We think that could be confusing to people.”
The safety of census workers is something the City is concerned about, Rabel said.
“Some people use their own cellphones and we have some that we give to people. We do ask them to tell the people they’re living with when they’re going to be out, so someone knows when you’re going out.”
Collection of the census in apartment buildings requires working with the building managers, and Rabel said some provide a building key while others prefer to schedule appointments.
Rabel said census workers may be allowed to bring small children with them if child care is an issue, but these circumstances will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
“If we just said that was OK, for a 10-year-old to be listening to a conversation about your personal information, that would be the point where it probably be inappropriate and likely awkward,” she said. “It’s a discretionary thing that we would treat on an individual basis.
“Our foremost (concern) is that people are comfortable with the people we have trained to come to their door to be efficient. If it starts to encroach on the efficiency and privacy of the person, that’s the point at which we’d say it’s too much.”
The number of hours each census taker will work is determined by the route they are given, however, Rabel said they should expect to put in 25 to 35 hours delivering the census notice and between 38 to 54 hours to follow up with those residents who don’t complete their census online. Census workers are paid between $750 and $1,000.
For more information, call 403-948-8816 or go to airdrie.ca
