2011 Census: How Much Did Edmonton Grow?

According to the results of the 2011 census, which Statistics Canada released on Wednesday, Edmonton is the second-fastest growing city in Canada.

Edmonton’s metro area grew by 12.1 per cent over the last five years, outpaced only by Calgary’s 12.6 per cent growth. Our city’s metro area is now at 1,159,869. That means 124,924 more people live in the area than in 2006.

Calgary still ranks as the country’s fifth largest city, and Edmonton No. 6, but at the current rate of growth Ottawa could fall to six by as soon as the next census period.

Last October, Avenue’s Big Idea issue focused on “Managing Our Growth,” what the city will do to adjust the ongoing population increases. Judging by the numbers, it’s fair to use the word “boom” again. The census proves what we predicted then, that the key question for Edmonton is not how to stimulate growth, but how to plan for growth.

Just think about how much bigger this city is than it was just five years ago.

The 124,924 people would be slightly larger than the population of Thunder Bay, Ont.

It’s also about the size of two Sherwood Parks. Or, just imagine the whole city of St. Albert. Now imagine two of them, brand new, tacked onto the city. That’s about equal to that 124,924 figure.