The City of Grande Prairie’s 2018 municipal census is now open to the public. From April 16th to May 5th, residents are asked to fill out the survey online using a PIN code that will be delivered to their home.
City council committed to doing a census every two years in 2015, but 2017’s was delayed to avoid a municipal election year and distance the count from the 2016 federal census. The 2015 municipal census pegged the city’s population at 68,556, but the federal one the next year came in much lower at 63,166.
This year’s survey will be open for three weeks instead of one, after which time census takers will head door-to-door to make sure everyone is covered. The results help with grant funding requests and evaluating local services.
Residents will be asked how many people live with them, their ages, genders, and residency statuses, what kind of home they live in, where they lived before Alberta, and the primary language used in the home. There are also questions on their usual mode of travel to work or school, how long they’ve lived in the city, and if they would vote online for the 2021 municipal election if possible.