The numbers from the 2016 Municipal Census are in and as of April 1, 98,828 people were calling Lethbridge home, marking a 2.13 per cent increase in the number of residents, which equates to just over 2,000 people.
Mayor Chris Spearman said the census numbers show the city is growing at a steady, reliable pace.
“We can plan for growth and we’re not taken by surprise,” the mayor said. “We have our capital funding challenges moving forward in terms of the growth but other than that, managing the population growth in our city is not such a bad thing.”
North Lethbridge saw a 1.6 per cent increase in residents compared to 2015 as it added 428 new residents. South Lethbridge experienced a slightly smaller increase at 1.2 percent, or 383 additional residents. The biggest increase was seen in west Lethbridge which had a 3.3 per cent rise in population as it added 1,213 people.
Economic Development Lethbridge’s Heather McIntosh-River said new suburbs along with commercial growth is drawing more families to the west side of town.
“We are seeing more of a balance between residential and commercial which I think has everyone happy,” she said. “We are also seeing more employment happening on the west side which then further supports family growth.”
The census is conducted yearly to provide an accurate population count for provincial and federal per capita grants, like those used for the Crossings Leisure Complex and the Henderson Pool reconstruction.
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