EAST CENTRAL — Humboldt has overtaken Melfort and become the largest community in our region, according to new population numbers from Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada released its population figures from the 2021 census on Feb. 9.
Humboldt has a population of 6,033 in 2021, an increase of 169 since 2016 – an increase of 2.79 per cent.
Michael Behiel, Humboldt's mayor, said the increase was fantastic.
"I just think it shows that how dedicated people are to making our city the best place to live, work and play," he said. "That's having beneficial results in seeing these increases with the census of the population."
The mayor said since 2011, the city has been seeing population increases of around three per cent – 2011 to 2016 saw a 3.4 per cent increase.
Melfort's population is 5,955 in 2021. It saw a loss of 37 people since 2016 – 0.62 per cent.
On a per-person basis, Nipawin saw the greatest population increase. Since 2016, 169 people have moved into the community – a 3.84 per cent increase – resulting in a population of 4,570
Tisdale saw the greatest decrease on a per-person basis. Since 2016, 273 people left the community – a 8.44 per cent decease – resulting in a population of 2,962.
As a general rule, rural communities around BHP's Jansen potash mine project saw population increases, while the rest saw decreases.
On a percentage basis, Viscount saw the greatest amount of growth with a 21.55 per cent increase. The population increased by 50 people to hit 282 people. Bjorkdale saw the greatest decrease at 26.87 per cent. The population in 2021 is 147, a loss of 54.
The population numbers within censuses have a practical effect for communities. Many grants from the provincial and federal government give out funds on a per capita basis using numbers from the census.
"The higher we get, the better off we will be," Behiel said. "It helps us to shift a lot of the responsibility off the residents and the taxpayers and get that money from the province and federal sources that will help us to continue to operate without placing a further burden on our residents."
