Grande Prairie City Council has approved a municipal census for 2024 during their February 27th council meeting.
According to the city, the count is slated to begin sometime in the spring; however, officials say the count must be done by the end of July at the latest.
The city says the choice to conduct the census is a prudent one, as a higher population count would mean more grant money from the province, attract new business opportunities, and review the city’s diversity.
The county is scheduled to conduct a municipal census of its own in April and May for similar reasons, and due to the nature of growth in both the city and the county.
The most recent population count took place in 2021, and Statistics Canada reported a population of around 64,000 residents while the Alberta Regional Dashboard estimates a population of around 67,000 people in 2022, making the city the ninth most populated in the province.
The city says all costs associated with this project were included in the 2024 budget.