Rocky View County’s census results are in, and to say the outcome is dispiriting is an understatement. Not only did nearly 1,500 households not participate – which may lead to no additional funding from the province – but the census takers were threatened and, in one instance, locked inside a property. County residents are better than that, and we are truly discouraged by the lack of compliance and aggressive dodging techniques of some property owners. As it stands now, the official population count for the County is 39,407 residents. Had the 1,455 census dodgers participated, that number is estimated to jump to close to 41,000 residents. We understand getting an unexpected knock on the door is not a welcome event in this age of smartphones, social media and Skip the Dishes – after all, actual human interaction is a rare occurrence, these days. But by refusing to be counted, you are not only depriving the County of an opportunity for funding, but you’re depriving yourself and your neighbours of the services that funding could have paid for. And to the people who threatened census takers, what is wrong with you? Displaying a firearm in a threatening manner, telling your dog to attack or locking someone in a property is never OK and you need to take a hard look at yourself. Here’s hoping the next census goes a little better.
