Frequently Asked Questions
Census information is used to assess existing growth and service targets as well as long-term requirements for capital development and operational planning. In short, it’s essential for municipal budget cycles.
The City uses census data to plan for public services and infrastructure such as schools, roads, recreational facilities, fire and police services, and libraries. Basing planning decisions on recently updated demographics results in more appropriate use of revenue and resources.
Many non-profits are funded on a population basis; these organizations also use the data for operational and long-term planning in addition to securing funding opportunities.
All census information provided online is encrypted during transmission and is stored in a secure database located in Canada. The amalgamated information provided from all households is transferred to the City's Census Reporting System for long term management and report generation purposes. The retention of the information is in compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Reports generated on areas of the City with a population between 1 and 49 are always reported as zero.
Questions asked on a municipal census can vary by year. Census 2019 asked: dwelling type, number of residents, gender, birth year, birth month.
The federal census that takes place every five years captures different information than the municipal census. Relying on outdated data to make municipal planning decisions is not an efficient use of taxpayers’ money, and five years can make a large difference at the city level. Municipal census data is required to access current population data to determine the need for services and infrastructure in our rapidly growing City.
The main purpose is to collect up-to-date population data. This data is crucial for City departments, businesses, and non-profit organizations in making short-term and long-term operational and strategic plans.
The data also provides the basis for valuable grants from the provincial and federal governments. The City will only receive grants for the people identified in the census, so it’s important that every resident is counted.