The newly released numbers from the 2016 census show a different population trend for the Sunshine Coast than the BC Stats estimates released in January. In fact, the census suggests the Sunshine Coast continues to grow despite the slight drop in population given in the provincial government’s estimate.
Statistics Canada puts the population of the Sunshine Coast Regional District (including the municipalities and Sechelt Indian Government District) at 29,970, an increase of 4.7 per cent from the 2011 census. The BC Stats estimate was 29,243.
There’s also a big difference between the 2016 census population for Sechelt and the BC Stats estimate. According to Stats Can, Sechelt had 10,216 residents compared to the BC Stats figure of 9,490.
The numbers for Gibsons are a better match. The 2016 census puts the town’s population at 4,605 (the provincial estimate was 4,550), bringing Gibsons even closer to the 5,000 threshold that will force the municipality to pay directly for policing.
The census registered population growth in all SCRD rural areas except Area A (Pender Harbour and Egmont), which went from 2,678 people in the 2011 census to 2,624 in 2016.
There has also been a significant drop in the population of the Sechelt Indian Government District (which includes lease-holders on shíshálh Nation land). Statistics Canada’s figures show a drop from 797 residents in 2011 to 671 in 2016 – a decrease of 15.8 per cent.
The other notable difference between the 2016 census and the BC Stats estimate is in the total population of the province. The census found 4,648,055 people living in B.C., whereas BC Stats estimated it was 4,751,612.
One possible reason for the differences is that the census was conducted in early 2016 – census day was May 10 – and the BC Stats estimates were calculated at the end of the year.
Canada’s total population has grown 10-fold since the first national census in 1871, according to Statistics Canada, to stand at 35,151,728.
The data released Feb. 8 covers total population only. Details on gender, age and other questions asked during the census will be released later in the spring.
