The City of Grand Forks’ population has fallen to 3,985, according to 2011’s census figures released by Statistics Canada.
The most recent figures have dropped below the city’s 1996 population of 3,994.
In 2001, it climbed to 4,054 before dipping again in 2006 to 4,036.
The loss of residents represents a 1.3 per cent decrease in Grand Forks’ growth rate.
“We haven’t received (all) the information yet from Statistics Canada, but as soon as we do receive the information, we’ll be circulating that to the public in an agenda or some form of information,” stated Diane Heinrich, the city’s corporate officer. “I don’t believe there is a huge change in our population. It stays mostly static.”
Mayor Brian Taylor agreed, stating the results are slightly skewed.
“If you look at the impact the census had on the area surrounding Grand Forks, in particular out from Spraggett Road towards the west, when you add that in, we come pretty close to zero (growth),” he explained. “To me, that (area is) our community, so even though the census goes strictly by the parameters on the town, as a community itself, we’ve stayed pretty stable.”
Rather than focusing on increasing the population, Taylor noted the challenge Grand Forks faces is the dramatic change in the demographic.
“We had the influx of early retirees and hopefully what I see, is that there will be a balance,” he stated. “It’s going to take young people to look after old people.”
The new subdivisions for the Silver Kettle Village development will bring 110 jobs to Grand Forks, which will bring younger workers, Taylor pointed out.
“We’ll also need to be ready for a daycare population, so in the end, I think we will have a balanced population,” he added. “The question is, in the middle, what are we going to have? We’re going to have young people and old people.”
In Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB), Area D saw a slight increase of 11 to 3,187, from 3,176 in 2006.
“I was pleased to see that,” stated Area D Director Irene Perepolkin, who pointed out there were a few new homes going up in the area.
“People are looking for a little bit of room once they retire to this community and they want a piece of land surrounding them if they’re moving from the city,” explained Perepolkin.
“We do a lot of home-based businesses in Area D without having to get a business license, which is a bit of an enticement as well. People don’t want to fully retire but they want to keep puttering around to do something, which is a good way to do it.”
As for the next five years, Perepolkin doesn’t believe there will be a large jump in numbers, but there will be a gradual increase in population.
In RDKB Area C, there was decrease of 44 residents to 1,391 since last count.
Area C Director Grace McGregor stated the lack of jobs one of the reasons for the decrease in population.
“It’s hard to keep young people in your community when you don’t have work for them,” explained McGregor. “A lot of places have dropped, and a lot of people are moving to cities instead of staying in the rural areas because of simple things like the close proximity to the hospital, or being able to walk downtown.”
McGregor also believes the province isn’t helping the rural areas keep their residents.
“The province is encouraging rural area people to move to urban and city-like areas, which makes it really difficult for us here when you don’t get a lot of helping hand,” she added.
Statistics Canada conducts the census every five years.