Alberta’s sluggish economy is the likely culprit behind a slowing population growth in Black Diamond and Turner Valley, yet mayors in both towns are pleased to see some growth.
Statistics Canada released the population and dwelling counts for municipalities from its 2016 national census on Feb. 8, revealing a population of 2,700 in Black Diamond, up 13.8 per cent from 2011’s count, and 2,559 in Turner Valley, up eight per cent.
The private dwelling counts totaled 1,108 for Black Diamond and 1,066 in Turner Valley.
“That’s a positive for our community,” said Black Diamond Mayor Glen Fagan. “It shows the desire of people to move to a location such as Black Diamond. A lot of these people come from Calgary. The affordability factor is there.”
Fagan said while he expected Black Diamond’s population to be closer to 2,600 than 2,700, he admits that he’s noticed an increase in homes being built last year over years past.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we already increased those numbers,” he said.
Comparing the growth of the two towns over the past five years to five years previous, Black Diamond experienced a population increase of 24.9 per cent in 2011 from 2006, compared to the recent increase of 13.8 per cent, and Turner Valley saw an increase of 13.6 per cent in 2011, compared to the most recent eight per cent.
“There was a massive influx at that time,” Fagan said. “There was a lot of people moving out of the city.
“I think it’s stabilizing now and it’s a steady growth. I think we are going to see that steady growth continue through the coming years.”
Fagan said the country setting, larger lots, walking trails and access to Highway 22 south to the United States and British Columbia are bringing many people to call Black Diamond home, particularly those from Calgary.
“There is a lot of pluses that people from Calgary are looking at,” he said. “Even people from Okotoks are moving out there as well.”
Turner Valley Mayor Kelly Tuck said it’s the services that are bringing people from the city to rural centres like Turner Valley.
“You are getting bang for your buck when you come into smaller municipalities,” she said. “The City of Calgary doesn’t plow side streets and we do. You get in a smaller community I think you get more of that one-on-one where you are able to have a face-to-face with the mayor and a face-to-face with the CAO.
“In the larger centres I don’t think you get that same kind of service.”
Other benefits of living in Turner Valley, said Tuck, is more affordable housing than Calgary, larger lot sizes, the outdoor pool, pathways, the Sheep River, proximity to Kananaskis, as well as the essentials like protective services and a grocery store in the neighbouring Black Diamond.
Tuck said these are the things the results of the census speak to.
“It speaks to our area and people coming for the lifestyle that we have out here,” she said. “It promotes new business to come into the area. It goes hand in hand.”
Fagan said he expects this continued growth to have a positive spin-off for residents and businesses.
“Our infrastructure is already in place,” he said. “The usage is going to go up modestly, but not in comparison to the tax base we have with the increasing residents. I’m expecting we will see a slight decrease in taxation.”
More details from the Statistics Canada census are yet to be released, including the demographics, which Fagan said he’s eager to see.
“It would be good to see if we shifted from a younger community to older community or reverse,” he said. “That can direct some of what we might do in our community. Going to an older community, services might change. A younger community would have a different expectation for services.”
