Langford leads growth in the province
Statscan released the first batch of data from its 2011 census on Wednesday. Langford has far outstripped any other municipality in the Capital Region and the province in terms of population and housing growth.
In the past five years, Langford’s population grew by about 6,800 people, or 30 per cent. Over the past 10 years its grown by more than 10,000 residents.
For housing, the city added 3,600 new dwellings since 2006, a 39.5 per cent jump. It has added 5,500 dwellings in the past 10 years.
Sooke, with a population hike of 18 per cent came in second in terms of Capital Region residential growth. Highlands was third with a 11.4 per cent growth spurt to 2,120 residents.
The West Shore on the whole grew at a much greater rate than other CRD municipalities, such as Victoria and Saanich, but those two municipalities combined still remain home to more than 55 per cent of the region’s residents.
Colwood’s population increased almost 10 per cent to 16,093 people living in 6,395 dwellings. View Royal, with seven per cent growth, has 9,381 residents in 4,138 homes.
Metchosin still hasn’t broken the 5,000 mark and saw a trickle of new residents in the past five years – a grand total of eight, although that reverses the district’s population decrease.
Despite the sclerotic population growth, the district has experienced a relative boom in housing – 86 more dwellings in the past five years, and undoubtedly some are secondary suites and still-illegal detached suites.
Legalizing detached suites has provoked furious debate in Metchosin as many resident fear the extra housing paves the way for too many new residents, which would erode the rural lifestyle.
The November referendum on legalizing and regulating detached suites passed by a bare 2.2 per cent, highlighting the near even division in the community.
Census 2011 West Shore population stats (2011 vs. 2006 and percent change):
Langford 29,228 22,459; 30.1
Highlands 2,120; 1,903; 11.4
Colwood 16,093; 14,687; 9.6
View Royal 9,381; 8,768; 7.0
Metchosin 4,803; 4,795; 0.2
Census 2011 West Shore housing stats (2011 vs. 2006 and percent change):
Langford 12,731; 9,125; 39.5
View Royal 4,138; 3,512; 17.8
Highlands 830; 730; 13.7
Colwood 6,395; 5,770; 10.8
Metchosin 1,898; 1,812; 4.7
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