With Canada Day celebrations just winding up, we should also take the time to celebrate Saskatchewan and the great province more and more people are calling home.
At one time we wondered if we would ever pass the one million mark and today there's no stopping us. According to the statistics Saskatchewan's population continues to grow, increasing by more than 5,000 people in the first quarter of 2014.
As of April 1, 2014 there were 1,122,588 people living in the province - an increase of 5,085 people since January 1, 2014, and an increase of 21,180 people in the past year. Saskatchewan's quarterly and annual growth rates are both second-highest among the provinces, behind only Alberta.
Economy Minister Bill Boyd points out the steady growth is a sign of a strong and diversified economy.
And so it must be.
"Saskatchewan is now starting its eighth consecutive year of strong population growth, a far cry from the years when we were actually losing people," Boyd says. "There are more jobs and opportunities in Saskatchewan than ever before and that's why today, more people than ever before call Saskatchewan home."
Saskatchewan's growth in the first quarter of 2014 consisted of a natural increase (births minus deaths) of 1,211, net international migration of 3,080 and net interprovincial migration of 794.
Saskatchewan's net interprovincial migration rate was also the second highest among the provinces, behind Alberta. Saskatchewan's largest net gains were from Ontario (603) and Manitoba (253).
"A growing population is good for our province... It means more opportunities and it also means more challenges. Our government is working hard to ensure that growth continues and that we are meeting the challenges of a growing province."
And these are the good news happenings that make both Canada and our province excellent reasons to appreciate and celebrate.
