August 22, 2003
(Red Deer, Alberta) – Red Deer will continue to experience strong growth according to the 2003 Population Projection Report recently completed by Parkland Community Planning Services (PCPS).
The report shows Red Deer's projected average annual population growth rate for 2003 – 2031 to be 1.7 per cent. This rate projects future growth over the next 28 years at a faster rate than what was previously being used, and the projection indicates that by the year 2031, Red Deer's population will have reached over 117,000 people.
"This projected growth rate gives us a realistic picture of what we can expect in Red Deer," said Paul Meyette, City Planning Manager for PCPS. "Although growth rate expectations are more optimistic than the 1.3 per cent growth rate which was used in previous studies, it is still realistically conservative based on current economic and demographic conditions."
The use of a 1.7 per cent annual growth rate for the planning period 2003 to 2031 is considered to be a realistic growth rate for the following reasons:
- It remains higher than the regional and provincial growth rates for the period 1999 – 2030, based on the City's historically higher growth rates and due to its location within the Edmonton-Calgary corridor.
- It acknowledges the City's historically strong growth rates of above 3 per cent over the past 45 and 30-year periods, yet is realistically conservative in assuming a growth rate which is approximately 50 per cent lower, based on current economic forecasts and demographic realities (i.e. An aging population and a decreasing birth rate nationally)
- It follows the regional, provincial and national trends of slowly decreasing growth rates (Statistics Canada, 2002)
Growth projection figures provide The City with numbers for planning for transportation routes, services, utilities, schools, and land requirements.
The 2003 Population Projection update was completed by the Parkland Community Planning Services in consultation with The City of Red Deer's Land and Economic Development Department, Inspections and Licensing Department and Corporate Services Division.
To view the 2003 Population Projection Update report in full or to obtain further information on the 2003 Census Results, please refer to The City of Red Deer Web site, at www.city.red-deer.ab.ca and click on 'Census Results.'
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For more information, please contact:
Paul Meyette Johan van der Bank
City Planning Manager Planner
Parkland Community Planning Services Parkland Community Planning Services
Phone: (403) 343-3394 Phone: (403) 343-339
Fax: (403) 346-1570 Fax: (403) 346-1570
E-mail: paulme@pcps.ab.ca E-mail: johanv@pcps.ab.ca
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