Town's population grows by more than 13 per cent

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Derek Dunn

EMC News - After years of sliding back, Arnprior's population in 2011 jumped past the 8,000 mark and rivals Renfrew's for the first time.

Mayor David Reid made mention of the news, after Statistics Canada released census data last week, at Monday's council meeting.

He chuckled, than "congratulated" Arnprior for its 13.4 per cent growth, which he surmised must make it one of the fastest growing communities in Eastern Ontario.

The rise is higher than most if not all neighbouring communities.

Reid suggested past statistics seemed low-balled to him, but that this one is likely accurate.

He also cautioned about equating growth with prosperity.

"It's good in some ways, but you have to make sure it's sustainable," Reid said. "Sustainable growth that is manageable is a good thing. But we don't want it to change who we are."

He said it is crucial to have infrastructure - meaning roads, sewer and water pipes, and more - in place to support the growth. But for the most part, the town won't need another library, community centre, wastewater pollution control centre, or similar buildings anytime soon.

More taxpayers moving to town to pay for those services will reduce the burden on all, he said.

Officially, Arnprior's population comes in at 8,114, good for 168th in Ontario. In 2006, the last time a census report was published, the town's population sat at 7,158. The total number of private dwellings is 3,767.

None of it came as much of a surprise to Reid, who said when houses have been built by the hundreds in town over the last few years - not to mention for years in the future - it comes as no surprise the population jumped by almost 1,000.

Arnprior could surpass Renfrew by the next census. Renfrew's population sits at 8,218, up from a 2006 report of 7,846, for a growth rate of 4.7 per cent.

McNab-Braeside's population bumped up to 7,371 from 7,222 for an increase of 2.1 per cent in the past five years.

Canada's population reached 33,476,688 in 2011. It grew 5.9 per cent over the last five years, with the strongest upswing in the four western provinces. Canada has the highest rate of growth among G8 nations.

Ontario's population is 12,851,821, up 8.8 per cent. Ottawa's is 883,391, up from the last census total of 812,129.