The Canadian Press
OTTAWA–New census data shows the population of Fort Frances fell below the national growth rate over the last five years.
Statistics Canada released the first batch of numbers from the 2016 census yesterday and the population of Fort Frances decreased by 2.7 percent since the last census in 2011.
The town’s growth rate was below the national growth rate of 5.0 percent while the population of Ontario overall increased by 4.6 percent.
When the 2016 census was taken last May, the population of Fort Frances was 7,739, compared with 7,952 from the 2011 census.
Across the district, Lake of the Woods Township recorded the biggest decrease–falling 22.3 percent from 296 residents in 2011 to 230 last year.
Dawson fell 16.9 percent (563 to 468), Chapple dropped 13.9 percent (741 to 638), Morley was down 5.3 percent (508 to 481), and La Vallee decreased 5.1 percent (988 to 938).
Rainy River saw a 4.2 percent population decrease (842 to 807) while Atikokan was down 1.2 percent (2,787 to 2,753).
On the upside, Alberton Township recorded a population increase of 12.2 percent from 2011 to 2016 (864 to 969) while Emo was up 6.5 percent (1,252 to 1,333).
Canada’s population on census day was 35,151,728, Statistics Canada reported.
The national census is conducted every five years.
The information published yesterday is the first of several releases of data to come from Statistics Canada over the next year that eventually will paint a detailed picture of the country right down to the local level.
This includes age breakdowns of the population, family makeup, languages spoken, immigration and ethnic origin, the level of education attained, and income earned.
Future census releases will give more insight to explain the reasons behind the population changes–whether it’s related mostly to changes in birth and death rates, immigration, or interprovincial migration.
At the provincial level, population levels in Alberta saw the highest increase at 11.6 percent, followed by Saskatchewan (6.3) and Manitoba (5.8).
Growth in New Brunswick shrank by 0.5 percent–the first time since 2006 a province has reported a negative growth rate.
B.C.’s population levels increased by 5.6 percent, compared with Ontario (4.6), Quebec (3.3), P.E.I. (1.9), Newfoundland and Labrador (1.0), and Nova Scotia (0.2).
Among the northern territories, the population grew by 12.7 percent in the Northwest Territories, 5.8 percent in the Nunavut, and 0.8 per cent in Yukon.
Ontario remains the country’s most populous province at 13,448,494.
