BONNYVILLE - The Town of Bonnyville is getting set to conduct a municipal census in the months ahead.
Renee Stoyles, general manager of Corporate Services for the Town of Bonnyville, confirmed the census will be conducted from May 1 – July 31 through an online census, as well as enumerators going door-to-door.
“We aim to contact and survey all residential properties,” Stoyles said. “The last census was completed in 2017 and is conducted at council’s discretion.”
According to information released by the Town of Bonnyville, the purpose of conducting a municipal census is to ensure that the municipality has accurate population counts.
“Having accurate population counts helps to better plan for community services such as core infrastructure needs like transportation, solid waste, utilities, protective services... as well as the value-added services such as recreation and parks.”
The 2023 interim operating budget for the Town of Bonnyville includes $45,000 to complete the census, which will also include Bonnyville’s shadow population. The shadow population includes temporary residents in a municipality employed by an industrial or commercial establishment and who work at least 120 hours for that employer in the three-month period immediately preceding Census Day.
“Our previous census had a decline in population from 6,422 to 6,404,” Stoyles noted.
