B.C.’s population has surpassed five million people, and Chilliwack is among the fastest growing cities in BC. For the first time in its history, BC experienced a growth rste of 7.6 per cent between 2016 and 2021. This information is from the latest census data of Statistics Canada.
The province has four of Canada’s five fastest-growing metropolitan areas. Each of these cities are outside the Metro Vancouver region.
The Kelowna, Chilliwack, Kamloops and Nanaimo census metropolitan areas all saw growth of 10 per cent or more in between 2016 and 2021.
The province’s largest cities remain unchanged. Vancouver in the top position followed by Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond and Abbotsford.
The information was released in Statistics Canada’s first round of 2021 census data on population and dwelling counts. The information is used to shape decision-making around communities.
BC’s growth tops provinces:
British Columbia led Canada’s largest provinces in growth. BC’s population increased from 4,648,055 people in 2016 to 5,000,879 in 2021. This is a growth rate of 7.6 per cent. Only Yukon (12.1 per cent) and Prince Edward Island (4.8 per cent) grew faster. Only Ontario and Quebec had more people.
The Lower Mainland is still the most populous region in B.C. It has grown 7.7 per cent to more than three million, and contains B.C.’s five largest cities.
But the story of the census is the rapid rate of growth in B.C.’s Interior and on Vancouver Island.
The fastest growing census metropolitan area in Canada is Kelowna. This includes the municipalities of Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland. The region has grown 14 per cent since 2016 and now has a total population of more than 222,000.
Kelowna is followed by the Chilliwack census metropolitan area. Chilliwack is among the fastest growing cities in BC. It recorded an increase of 12.1 per cent from 2016. Chilliwack now has nearly 114,000 people.
The Nanaimo metropolitan area on Vancouver Island — including Nanaimo and surrounding communities such as Parksville and Qualicum Beach, — had more than 115,000 residents in 2021. This is a 10 per cent increase over the last census.
The population of the Kamloops metropolitan area also expanded by 10 per cent, to more than 114,000.
All four areas showed a boost in population growth compared to their rate of increase between 2011 and 2016. These included; 8.4 per cent in Kelowna, 8.1 per cent in Chilliwack, seven per cent in Nanaimo and five per cent in Kamloops.
London, Ont., completes the list of the top five of fastest growing metropolitan areas in Canada.
Four of the five fastest growing census metropolitan areas in Canada between 2016-2021 were in B.C.:
The national census data showed Canada’s population reached almost 37 million in 2021. This is an increase of 5.2 per cent over the 2016 figure.
In summary:
BC is the place to be, and continues to attract people. Chilliwack is among the fastest growing cities in BC. It is no longer the sleepy farming town it once was. With the endless 4 season outdoor activities and a bounding business hub, Chilliwack is attracting people fatter than most cities in Canada. And will continue to grow.