Population grow in Brantford and Brant and Norfolk counties comes as no surprise to the mayors of the three municipalities.
“The city has been recognized as one of Canada’s best locations to buy a home for the past few years due to our diverse economy, strong housing market and wide range of amenities,” Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis said Friday. “A great deal of our growth can be attributed to strong relationships with the local business community that contributes to making Brantford a destination of choice to live, work, learn and play.”
Census data from Statistics Canada released this week shows the city’s population grew by 6.2 per cent to 104,688 people in 2021 from 98,563 in 2016.
Davis noted that city’s preparation for continued growth includes a new official plan that has been approved by the province. The plan supports the city’s efforts to optimize its infrastructure, while protecting and enhancing what makes the city unique, including local heritage and environment, he said.
According to the census data, Brant’s population grew 10.8 per cent to 39,474 in 2021 from 35,640 in 2016. Within the county, the population of its largest community, Paris, grew by 20.7 per cent to 14,956 from 12,389. Growing even faster was the population of Burford, which rose 33.6 per cent to 1,058 from 792.
“The county is growing which is no surprise since its such a charming community and has great proximity to major cities,” Brant Mayor David Bailey said. “Nothing ever stays the same.
“A community is either growing or it’s declining.”
Bailey said the county is thriving, with growth offering many opportunities, including more local jobs, new amenities and innovation. Growth also makes the municipality more diverse, providing the opportunity to gain new perspectives, he said.
“As we honor the past, we are also looking forward to position the community for a positive, productive future,” Bailey said.
Meantime, Norfolk’s population grew 5.4 per cent to 67,490 in 2021 from 64,044 in 2016.
Norfolk Mayor Kristal Chopp said the county’s location and the shift to a digital workplace has contributed to her municipality’s growth.
“It’s a fantastic place to live,” Chopp said. “Folks from larger urban centres, like the GTA, Hamilton, Niagara and Waterloo Region, are drawn to the great quality of life and amenities Norfolk has to offer.
“In a world gone digital, remote working options allow people to set up shop essentially anywhere.”
She said Norfolk also benefits from its proximity to large urban centers and kilometers of Lake Erie shoreline.
“We are definitely on the radar of developers,” said Chopp. “Continued growth is in our future.”
Within Norfolk, the population of its largest community, Simcoe, grew 10 per cent to 16,121 in 2021 from 14,649 in 2016. Meanwhile, the population of Port Dover rose 12.7 per cent to 7,871 from 6,984, Waterford increased 15 per cent to 4,227 from 3,676 and Delhi rose 5.4 per cent to 5,344 from 5,069.
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