20192 2019 Approved Operating & Capital Budget - Town of High River, Alberta, Canada Table of Contents A. 2019 MUNICIPAL CENSUS Introduction 7 Messages from Mayor, Town Manager Town

1 2019 Approved Operating & Capital Budget - Town of High River, Alberta, Canada

Municipal Census Making a positive difference now and for generations to come

2019 Town of High River


Table of Contents

A. 2019 MUNICIPAL CENSUS

Introduction 7

Messages from Mayor, Town Manager and Manager of Legislative Services

7

Town of High River Profile, History 8

Map 10

Council & Administration 12

Council 12

Administration 13

2019 – 2022 Strategic Plan 14

2019 Business Plan 29

Municipal Census Overview 30

Authority for Conducting a Municipal Census

30

Why Undertake a Municipal Census? 30

Who is Eligible to be Enumerated in a Municipal Census?

30

Application of FOIP Act 33

Methodology 33

Key Municipal Census Documents and Dates

35

Municipal Benchmarking 35


Municipal Census Financials 36

Budget 36

Government Grants 37

B. MUNICIPAL CENSUS RESULTS

General Population 38

Age Demographics 41

Gender 43

Length of Residency 44

Residency Five Years Ago 46

Home Ownership 47

Employment 48

Business Ownership 51

Occupational Fields 52

Employment Location 54

Mode of Travel (to work) 55

Mode of Travel within Town (non-work) 56

Leaving High River 57


Primary Reason for Leaving High River 58

Secondary Reason for Leaving High River 59

Secondary Suites 60

Quality Assurance 61

Conclusion 62

Summary 62

C. GLOSSARY

Definitions 64



Municipal Census

7 2019 Municipal Census - Town of High River, Alberta, Canada

Introduction Message from Mayor Craig Snodgrass On behalf of Council, I would like to thank the community, Town staff and members of Council who worked collaboratively together to ensure that all of High River was counted as part of this year’s municipal census.

With an impressive 100% completion rate, Council is confident that it has the demographic information needed in order to make positive decisions regarding the current and future needs of our community.

The continued trend in High River’s growth illustrates that the vibrancy and spirit of High River continues to attract new residents to our community, which is exciting for not only our population demographic but also future economic development opportunities.

Message from Acting Town Manager Nicole Chepil As noted in Council’s Strategic Plan, the Town of High River is a people first community. This year’s success with the municipal census would not have been possible without our residents. On behalf of Town Administration, I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every resident, neighbour and business owner that provided information leading to the successful completion of the census.

Town Administration is dedicated to implementing Council’s Strategic Plan and the municipal census provides key demographic information that will aid Administration in this regard. The Town’s dedication and passion to organizational excellence has clearly come through with the outcomes of this year’s municipal census.

Message from Manager of Legislative Services Kara Rusk The 2019 business plan identified the opportunity to complete the municipal census in order to support the financial strength of the Town. Through accurate population counts, the Town can make better informed decisions regarding the needs of our residents. In addition, many grant opportunities are based on the Town’s population and, therefore, with an accurate representation of our population, the Town will not only be able to fully recoup the costs of conducting the census but also obtain increased funding to support important projects and initiatives.

On behalf of Legislative Services and the census enumerators, I want to thank residents, Town staff and Council for their support with this important initiative. There have been many lessons learned through this project that will benefit future municipal census initiatives and, more importantly, the residents of High River.


Town of High River Profile The Town of High River is a dynamic and growing community in the Alberta foothills, 67 kilometres south of the City of Calgary.

High River’s central location within the Foothills, proximity to Highway 2, the City of Calgary, and the YYC Airport positions it as a regional hub able to support the needs of the Town and surrounding communities.

High River is a regional service centre with a diversified economy driven by several strong sectors, including agriculture; technology; health and wellness; lifestyle services; construction; automotive; creative arts; film and television production; and industry leaders.

The Town has seen over 285,000 square feet of new development since 2015. High River was ranked as #5 in Canadian Business Magazine’s (2016) list of Canada’s best places for business based on operational costs, market growth, and a business-friendly local government.

Culturally and socially rich, High River is a people-first community. It offers residents an exceptional quality of life and the opportunity to live in a picturesque, peaceful rural setting while still being close to the amenities of a larger urban centre like Calgary.

High River is home to 14,052 people. The population has increased by 3% since 2016.

Town of High River History The area was originally used as a gathering spot by the Blackfoot who called it ‘a place of high trees along the water’ referring to the many cottonwood trees which line the river. European settlers arriving in the 1880’s named the river Highwood and the town was incorporated as High River in 1906.

The arrival of a north/south rail line spurred growth of the town as a hub for ranching and farming industries. A major redevelopment of the downtown core occurred in the 1970’s promoted and paid for by local business owners and residents who were tired of waiting for provincial and/or federal funding.

In recent years, the Town has become a favourite location for film and television productions such as Heartland and Tin Star.



Map


Aerial view of High River

looking southeast (Tyrone Morales)


Council & Administration Council Council is the legislative function of the municipality and represents the residents of High River. Council’s role is to set policy and objectives for the Town. Council also sets the strategic priorities for municipal staff. The Town’s new Strategic Plan 2019 to 2022 focuses on our ‘Why’ as a community and government. The members of the Town of High River Council 2018 – 2022 are:

• Mayor Craig Snodgrass • Councillor Cathy Couey • Councillor Jamie Kinghorn • Councillor Carol MacMillan • Councillor Bruce Masterman • Councillor Don Moore • Councillor Michael Nychyk

Back row: Councillors Jamie Kinghorn, Bruce Masterman, Don Moore, Michael Nychyk

Front row: Councillor Cathy Couey, Mayor Craig Snodgrass, Councillor Carol MacMillan

(Photo Ewan Nicholson)


Administration Nicole Chepil, Acting Town Manager Nicole is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) with 23 years of public sector experience including 15 years in municipal government. Nicole started with the Town in 2012 and accepted the role of Director of Corporate Services in 2016. She is currently filling the Acting Town Manager position while Mayor and Council recruit for the position. Kola Oladimeji, CPA, CGA, FCA(Ng), MBA – Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Kola is a Chartered Professional Accountant with more than 20 years post designation experience and 7 years municipal government experience. He has more than 15 years of leadership experience with multi-national companies. Tracy Buteau – Acting Director of Corporate Services Tracy has more than 14 years of experience as a Director of Corporate Services. Certifications include National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration and Municipal Management and Leadership. Reiley McKerracher – Director of Engineering, Planning & Operational Services Reiley is a Professional Engineer registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) with 16 years civil engineering experience, 13 of which have been in municipal government. Reiley started with the Town in 2009. Kara Rusk – Manager of Legislative Services Kara holds a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science), Master of Public Administration (Management) and a National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration with over 12 years of legal administrative experience and 4 years of municipal experience.


Council’s Strategic Plan
















2019 Business Plan

2019 to 2022 Strategic Plan and 2019 Business Plan Activities

Stra

tegi

c P

lan

Dir

ect

ion

Vibrant Community Safety and Security Organizational Excellence Responsible Development Healthy Urban Environment The Town of High River provides the foundation The Town of High River provides community The Town of High River is a leader, partner and The Town of High River considers the impact of The Town of High River stewards natural

for an inclusive, engaged and thriving support, protection and emergency services. steward of excellent municipal services. development on residents, infrastructure and the resources and the built environment. community. environment.

Strategically invest in community amenities, facilities, services and events

Increase opportunities for youth Encourage community leadership and

ownership Consider accessibility and inclusion in Town

decision-making Increase community connection

Enhance resident confidence through education and readiness with protection services and emergency preparation

Promote coordination of support, protection and emergency service delivery

Coordinate community safety concerns Committed to be the most flood-protected

community

Financial Strength Provide value today and reserves for the

Establish growth direction and strategy Foster regional partnerships to enhance

opportunities Align revenues (taxes, fees, levies), water and

land use policies Strategically increase commercial

development

Consistently uphold and/or surpass legislated environmental standards

Preserve, protect and maintain our natural and built surroundings

future Effectively manage the Town’s assets Pursue revenue diversification Service Excellence Strive for excellent and sustainable service

delivery Develop staff commitment to the Health &

Safety Management program Develop and nurture productive partnerships Engaged Workplace Develop effective leadership Develop engaged and motivated staff Align staff to organizational values and culture

Bu

sin

ess

Pla

n A

ctiv

itie

s

V1. Revitalize the Culture Centre and establish a community endowment fund to support community leadership

V2. Establish a sustainable funding model for Our High River to support and grow citizen leadership capacity

V3. Develop sustainable funding model for the Foothills Community Counselling Program

V4. Develop a Community Youth Strategy V5. Implement 1-year pilot transportation

initiative for families with young children residing on the east side of High River

V6. Complete updates to the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex

V7. Increase physical activity by partnering with Library to offer members a two-week complimentary pool pass

V8. Establish a volunteer greeter position for Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex to enhance customer service

V9. Advocate for a wider variety of affordable housing options with local developers

V10. Identify best practices and set priorities for inclusion

V11. Identify indicators of community belonging and increase awareness

V12. Implement recommendations from Town Board and Committee Audit to develop and nurture productive partnerships with volunteers in the community

V13. Strategy developed for non-profit real property requests

S1. Promote pre-disaster Recovery Plan Guides and facilitation tools for other municipalities

S2. Update Business Continuity Plan to ensure continuity of municipal services

S3. Evaluate performance of the transfer of Town Municipal Enforcement services to the MD of Foothills

S4. Finalize flood mitigation projects to support community flood protection

O1. Complete the Municipal Census to support the financial strength of the town

O2. Develop a long-term Fiscal Management Strategy and Financial Performance Evaluation

O3. Review Town owned lands inventory for contaminated sites liability assessment

O4. Establish strategy to manage potential risk and/or loss of Town assets

O5. Develop a communications framework to enhance internal and external communications

O6. Determine future of Information Services shared services arrangement between the Town and MD of Foothills

O7. Update and rescind municipal bylaws to achieve excellent and sustainable service delivery

O8. Implement new Agenda Management Software to support accessibility and improved meeting management

O9. Research and prepare for implementation of new financial, human resources and payroll software for sustainable service delivery

O10.Implement corporate customer service objectives

O11.Study and consider Lean Management techniques to improve and streamline service delivery

O12.Review and establish municipal service levels O13.Align employee support programs to culture

and strategic priorities

R1. Protect our water resources R2. Conduct a major review of the Municipal

Development Plan to align with Council strategic vision

R3. Review progress of new Land Use Bylaw R4. Drive High River Connect (broadband project)

revenue growth R5. Automate and simplify Town processes for

businesses and commercial property developers

R6. Finalize High River participation in AFICA partnership focused on economic growth within the Aldersyde/Highway 2A corridor

H1. Complete a Community Open Space Master Plan to provide strategic direction and identify priorities to meet community needs for all open space within Town boundaries


Municipal Census Overview Authority for Conducting a Municipal Census Section 57 of the Municipal Government Act provides the authority for municipalities to conduct a census.

The Determination of Population Regulation defines municipal census and usual residence and provides the timeframe to conduct a municipal census and submit the results to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Municipal Affairs has developed a Municipal Census Manual which also provides an overview of the legislation and other key factors that municipalities must consider.

Why Undertake a Municipal Census? There are many potential benefits of conducting a municipal census in addition to the census conducted by the federal government every five years. The Town of High River chose to conduct a municipal census with the objective of obtaining an accurate population count and relevant information about the community. The information collected from the census allows the Town to more effectively plan and deliver municipal services that align to the needs and demographics of the population. With this information, the Town is better able to serve, not only the needs of existing residents but also future generations to come.

Many of the grant opportunities that the Town receives are awarded based on the population of the municipality. An updated and more accurate population count will result in additional provincial and federal grant funding. Such increased funding can be used to support new projects, initiatives or upgrade existing infrastructure.

Who is Eligible to be Enumerated in a Municipal Census? Alberta Municipal Affairs prescribes who is eligible to be enumerated in a municipal census. Residents must be counted at their usual residence. What this means is that a family who has a vacation property in another Province but usually resides in High River, should be enumerated in High River. The following table highlights who should and should not be enumerated in a municipal census.


Enumerate Do Not Enumerate

Canadian citizens (by birth or naturalization)

Resident of another country, province or municipality (for example on vacation or on a business trip)

Landed immigrants (persons who have been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by Canadian immigration authorities)

Government representatives of another country who are assigned to an embassy, a consulate, a high commission, or any other diplomatic or military mission, and family members living here with them (unless family members are considered usual residents).

Persons from another country with a work or study permit and family members living here with them.

Members of the armed forces of another country who are stationed in Canada, and family members living here with them (unless family members are usual residents).

Persons in Canada who claim refugee status and family members living here with them.

Babies born on or after the census date (April 1, 2019).

Persons who died on or after the census date (April 1, 2019)

Persons who died before the census date (April 1, 2019).

The following table explains where individuals should be enumerated:

If the person: Enumerate them:

Has one residence At their usual residence, even if they are temporarily absent. This is their main residence.

Has more than one residence At the residence where the person spends most of their time; for persons who spend equal time at each residence, or if unsure which to choose, include them at the address


where they spent census day. If the residence where they should be enumerated is not in the municipality, these persons should not be enumerated.

Example: Children in joint custody or persons staying at a cottage or secondary home.

If the person is: Then enumerate them:

A student who lives elsewhere during the school year or for their summer job but returns to live with their parents during the year.

Example: on weekends, semester breaks after completing their studies.

At the residence of their parents even if the student spends most of the year elsewhere.

A spouse who is temporarily absent because of their work or studies but periodically returns to their family’s residence.

Example: on weekends or days off from work, etc.

At their family’s residence even if the spouse spends most of the year elsewhere.

Has no main residence

At the residence where they stayed on census date.

Example: in transition between two residences, no fixed address, etc.

Is in an institution If the person is: Then enumerate them:

A resident less than 6 months from the census date.

At their main residence.


A resident for 6 months or more

At the institution.

Admitted on any date and has no other place of residence.

At the institution.

Application of FOIP Act The Town’s information collection and privacy practices are governed under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Regulation. As a result, the Town of High River was only able to collect personal information that relates directly to and is necessary for operating its programs or activities.

All personal information for the municipal census was collected in accordance with the FOIP Act and individual personal information will not be released for any purpose without the express written consent of the individuals involved.

Methodology As set out in the Determination of Population Regulation, the Town of High River must conduct its census between April 1 and June 30 of the same year. During the years in which a federal census is undertaken, a municipality may conduct the census from March 1 to May 31 or May 1 to July 31 of the same year. The next federal census is scheduled to occur in 2021.

The Town of High River conducted the municipal census by enumerators from April 1, 2019 to May 17, 2019. In order to ensure a 100% completion rate, information was also collected from neighbours and residents by Town staff from May 18, 2019 to June 30, 2019. The Town utilized a hybrid strategy in order to ensure the maximum return on our population counts and to increase the amount of data collected from residents, which included the following approaches.

• Electronic Census – Online

• A secure access code for each dwelling was printed on a door hanger and delivered to each residence in High River along with the link to the census website.

• Residents were invited to bring their secure access code cards to the Library and Recreation Centre so that Town staff could assist them with completing the census online.


• The High River Library offered free Wi-Fi access and use of the computers to complete the census online.

• Telephone Interviews

• Residents were provided with the option to call the Town office and complete their census questionnaire over the phone with the secure access code.

• Interviews at the Door

• Enumerators attended at the homes where residents were unable to complete the census online in order to obtain the necessary information.

• Neighbour Counts

• In circumstances where the enumerators were unable to contact the resident directly, they approached neighbours to obtain the count for the household. Enumerators were not able to collect other information such as age, gender, etc.

These various strategies were undertaken by three general components:

1. Online

o These were the counts submitted electronically by residents.

2. Enumerators

o The Town hired a team of diligent enumerators who were assigned to various regions of the Town. These individuals knocked on doors to obtain census information and collected household counts from neighbours.

3. Administration/Council

o The Town’s Customer Care Representatives received and processed requests to complete the census over the phone. By using the secure access code, these individuals were able to enter resident data directly into the electronic census database.

o Legislative Services staff members enumerated doors, conducted telephone interviews, tracked down difficult counts and assisted residents with completing the census online at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Centre and High River Library. Members of Council also assisted in collecting counts and enumerating some doors.

Together, the Town was able to complete 100% of the count, ensuring that every household has been accounted for.


Key Municipal Census Documents and Dates The following summarizes the key dates for the 2019 municipal census:

• PIN Door Hanger Delivery – April 1, 2019 – April 8, 2019

• Only Online Census Participation – April 1, 2019 – April 21, 2019

• Round 2 PIN Door Hanger Delivery – April 22, 2019 – May 17, 2019

• Door to Door Census Collection & Online Census Participation – April 22, 2019- May 17, 2019

• Quality Assurance & Final Counts – May 17, 2019 – June 30, 2019

Municipal Benchmarking A municipality will generally successfully collect data or a count from 90-95% of dwellings. The Town of High River accomplished a 100% completion rate. Note that this includes counts taken with the help of neighbours. The Town is grateful to all residents who generously assisted the Town in not only providing their own census data but also providing counts for those that were difficult to reach.

Enumerators, 38%

Online, 42%

Town Administration/ Council, 20%

DWELLINGS COUNTED


Municipal Census Financials Budget The following chart summarizes the projected budget to actual costs incurred for undertaking the municipal census.

Item Budget Actual

Census Training $200 $109

Municipal Census Advertising

$5,000 $5,771

Contracted Services $30,000 $26,418

Supplies $2,000 $1,220

TOTAL $37,200 $33,518

Prior to embarking on a municipal census, the Town conducted financial analysis and conservatively projected that the population would be 13,775. It was determined that the Town would earn $220.00 for every resident in High River.

The current population of High River is 14,052. The following chart summarizes the positive financial impact regarding Town grants and funding.

Population 2020 2021 2022 Total Increase in Grant Funding

14,052 $69,442* $102,960 $102,960 $275,362


Note: In 2020, the total increase is decreased by $33,518 to offset the expenses incurred for conducting the municipal census.

Government Grants The Town notified residents that, by completing the municipal census, the municipality would receive $220 per person accounted for. There are four grants that make up the projected $220 per person, which includes the: two Municipal Sustainability Initiatives (MSI-Capital & MSI-Operating), Basic Municipal Transportation Grant (BMTG) and Federal Gas Tax Fund (FGTF). The following breaks down and explains the purpose of each grant:

Grant

Purpose

Amount

MSI-Capital (Municipal Sustainability Initiative – Capital)

In support of large municipal capital projects, such as Recreation Centres or Fire Halls

$60 / person

MSI-Operating (Municipal Sustainability Initiative – Operating)

In support of municipal administration

$47.85 / person

BMTG (Basic Municipal Transportation Grant)

Provides annual allocation-based funding for capital construction and rehabilitation of local transportation infrastructure including roads, bridges, and public transit.

$104.87 / person

FGTF (Federal Gas Tax Fund)

Projects affecting roads, water, sewer, and the improving our environmental sustainability

$7.28 / person


Municipal Census Results General Population Question: Including yourself, how many persons usually live at this address on April 1, 2019? Answer Choices: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Vacant Under

Construction Bare Land Commercial/Non-

Residential Non-Contact Refusal

Reason: The Town requires frequent and accurate population counts in order to plan and deliver the services required for the community. Result: The Town continues to see an increase in its population. It is up 468 people since 2016 and has experienced 3% growth in that time. It has grown 9% since 2011, 31% since 2006 and 50% since 2001. Of note there were 293 ‘vacant’ dwellings, 23 ‘under construction,’ and 75 ‘bare land’ lots.

293

75

23

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Vacant Bare Land Under Construction

UNINHABITED OR POTENTIAL DWELLINGS

Vacant Bare Land Under Construction

Town of High River Administration Offices


The following graph illustrates the population breakdown by neighbourhood.

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

1901 1911 1941 1971 1981 1991 2001 2006 2010 2016 2019

1531,182 1,430

2,6764,792

6,269

9,34510,716

11,78313,584

14,052Po

pula

tion

Year

POPULATION COUNT

208% (1109)

604% (510)

6% (910)9% (1195)

3% (397)14% (2026)

4% (535)7% (1032)

5% (744)3% (491)

5% (729)212

292235

7% (975)15% (2040)

4% (538)

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Annexed LandsCentral

DowntownEagleview Estates

Emerson Lake EstatesGolf Course

Hampton Hills EstatesHighwood Village

Lineham AcresMcLaughlin Meadows

MontroseNorth Central

Old Rodeo GroundsRodeo Grounds

Southeast CentralSouthwest CentralSunrise Meadows

Sunshine MeadowsVista Mirage

NEIGHBOURHOOD BREAKDOWN

POPULATION BY ZONE


This map shows the population by broken down by each neighborhood.

2040

1032

744

1109

910

491

292

975

397

235

729

212

2026

1195

538

535

510

60

0

2

20


Age Demographics Question: In what age category does this person belong?

Answer Choices:

0-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101 and over

Prefer not to answer

Reason: The Town requires information regarding age demographics in order to plan for the community’s needs, such as schools, recreation facilities, housing requirements and seniors’ attractions. Result: There is a misconception that High River is made up mostly of seniors; however, the census results indicate that approximately 25% of the population are children or young adults (0-20 years), 44% of the population are adults (21-60 years) and one third of the population are seniors (61+ years).

Children (0-20)25%

Adults (21-60)44%

Senior's (61+)31%

AGE DEMOGRAPHICS BY PERCENTAGE


The breakdown of the age demographics by neighborhood illustrate the general age composition of each neighbourhood within High River. The darker colors correspond to the younger ages (the darkest being the youngest), with the lighter colors reflecting the older ages (the lightest reflecting the oldest age). As illustrated by the following graph, Sunshine & Sunrise Meadows, Highwood Village, Hampton Hills, Emerson Lake, and Eagleview areas are predominately populated by middle-aged adults and children (family areas); whereas Vista Mirage, McLaughlin Meadows, and the Golf Course areas are predominately populated by older adults and seniors.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-100

1782 1695

1092

1656 16711835

2078

1671

532

40

AGE DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% 140% 160%

CentralDowntown

Eagleview EstatesEmerson Lake Estates

Golf CourseHampton Hills Estates

Highwood VillageLineham Acres

McLaughlin MeadowsMontrose

North CentralOld Rodeo Grounds

Rodeo GroundsSoutheast Central

Southwest CentralSunrise Meadows


NEIGHBOURHOOD AGE DEMOGRAPHICS

0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-100


Gender Question: What is this person’s gender?

Answer Choices:

Male

Female

Other


Reason: Gender-specific information is essential in any population analyses. It helps to indicate demographic changes in our society and, when used with other characteristics, it is an important criterion in research and planning. In addition, given that the Town of High River is an inclusive community, Council and Town staff wanted to ensure that our language focused on how the person identifies themselves, rather than biologically.

Result: The Town’s population total of 14,052 is comprised of approximately 51.23% female, 48.76% male and 0.00869% other.

51.23%48.76%

0.0087%0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

Female Male Other

GENDER

Female Male Other


Length of Residency Question: How long has this person resided in High River?

Answer Choices:

<1 year

1-5 years

5+ years


Reason: The Town requested the length of residency in order to learn how long our residents have lived in High River. In addition, this information is used towards understanding the growth of our community.

Result: The responses to this question indicate that almost three quarters (72%) of the population have lived in High River longer than 5 years and 28% of the population has lived in High River less than 5 years, meaning that the Town is seeing an influx of new residents within the last 5 years, with 7% of the population has lived here less than a year,

FUTURE CONSIDERATION

Given the number of individuals who have lived in High River beyond 5 years, it is recommended that the next municipal census include additional answer choices so that greater analysis in this area can be undertaken


0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

CentralEagleview Estates








LENGTH OF RESIDENCY BY ZONE

< 1 Year 1-5 Years 5+ Years

7%(957)

21%(3004)

72%(10,091)

LENGTH OF RESIDENCY

< 1 year

1-5 years

5+ years


Residency Five Years Ago Question: Where did this person live 5 years ago, that is, on April 1, 2014?

Answer Choices:

Born after April 1, 2014

Lived at the same address as now

Lived at a different address in High River

Lived in a different City, Town, Village, Township, municipality or Indian reserve in Alberta

Lived in a different City, Town, Village, Township, municipality or Indian reserve in a different Province besides Alberta but within Canada

Lived outside Canada


Reason: The Town requested the location of residency 5 years ago in order to learn where new residents are coming from. In addition, this information is used towards understanding the growth of our community.

Result: The responses to this question indicate that 18% of the current population have recently moved to the community from somewhere else in Alberta, 5% have relocated to High River from somewhere else in Canada and 3% have moved to High River from another country altogether.

57% (8,038)

17% (2,382)

18% (2,484)

5% (657)

3% (491)

Same Address

Elsewhere in High River

Elsewhere in Alberta

Elsewhere in Canada

Lived outside Canada

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000

RESIDENCE 5 YEARS AGO

Residence 5 Years Ago


The following chart breaks down the past-residency demographics by the different neighborhoods.

Home Ownership Question: Do you rent or own your home?

Answer Choices:

Rent

Own


Reason: Information on the dwelling status of a residence provides important data on vacancy rates, home ownership, and other characteristics of the housing market. In conjunction with the data on dwelling structure, this information contributes to decisions regarding the types of housing that may be needed by the Town of High River.

Result: The responses to this question indicate that 78% of residents live in a home owned by the family-unit in which they live; whereas, 22% live in a rented dwelling.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%









RESIDENCE 5 YEARS AGO (BY ZONE)

Same Address High River Alberta Canada World


Employment Question: What is this person’s current employment status?

Answer Choices:

Full-time

Part-time

Seasonal

Unemployed/Seeking employment

Unable to work

Other


Reason: The Town requested employment status information in order to identify potential growth sector opportunities.

Rent , 22%

Own, 78%

OWN/RENT


Result: The responses to this question indicate that over half (52%) of the population is employed to some extent and that 9% of the population are currently not employed (either due to health issues, disability or unemployment). 39% of the population are involved in alternatives to employment, or “other.” (ie. educational studies, homemaking or retirement).

Employed, 52%

Non-employed, 9%

Other, 39%(school, homemaking,

retirement)

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

FUTURE CONSIDERATION

It is recommended that categories of retired and homemaker are added to the list of employment status options for this question in future municipal census projects.


The following chart represents the breakdown of the employment demographics by neighborhood.

The following chart illustrates the various employment demographics for the town.

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%









EMPLOYMENT DEMOGRAPHICS BY NEIGHBORHOOD

Employed Non-employed Other (School, Retired, Homemaker)

40%

11%1% 5% 4%

39%

EMPLOYMENT DEMOGRAPHICS


Business Ownership Question: Do you own your own business?

Answer Choices:

Yes

No


Reason: The Town requested business ownership information in order to identify potential growth sector opportunities when this information is analyzed with the industry data.

Result: The responses to this question indicate that just over 10% of the Town’s employed residents own their own business, meaning that the majority of residents work as employees to other companies and organizations.

Owners, 11%

Employees, 89%

BUSINESS OWNERS (PERCENTAGE OF THOSE EMPLOYED)


Occupation Fields Question: Which employment type best describes the occupation which provides the primary source of income for this person?

Answer Choices:

Managerial and related occupations

Natural sciences, engineering and mathematics

Religion

Teaching and related fields

Banking and financial services

Medicine and health

Government

Non-profit or social profit sector

Artistic, literary and recreational fields

Clerical and administrative occupations

Sales

First responders

Correctional workers

Courts

Farming, horticulture and animal husbandry

Fishing and trapping activities

Forestry and logging occupations

Mining and quarry occupations (includes oil and gas field employment)

Processing

Machinery

Product fabrication, assembling and repair

Construction and trades

Transports equipment

Materials handling

Other


Reason: The Town requested employment industry information in order to identify potential growth sector opportunities when this data is used in conjunction with the information about whether individuals work in High River or elsewhere.

Result: Approximately 20% of employed residents work for some kind of government service provider, with another approximately 20% working in the trades. Most of the 20% that work in the “Other” category is made up primarily of “Oil & Gas” (see additional note below) and the service industry (restaurants and retail).


Additional Note: A portion of the “other” category includes oil field workers as there was some misunderstanding with where “oil field work” would best fit (due to it being included under the “mining” category). Therefore, the “Mining / Oilfield” category should be higher and the “Other” category lower. Many of those who also answered “other” for their industry indicated they worked in the service or retail industries.

Managerial, 6%Engineering, 1%

Education, 6%

Banking, 3%

Healthcare, 9%

Government, 4%

Non-profit, 2%

Artistic, 1%

Administrative, 5%

Sales, 9%

Emergency, 1%

Farming, 2%

Mining/Oil Field, 3%

Processing, 4%

Machinery, 1%

Factory, 3%

Construction / Trades, 15%

Transportation, 2%

Materials, 1%

Other, 20%

INDUSTRY BREAKDOWN

FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS

Given the large number of individuals that selected “other,” it is recommended that the next municipal census include additional answer choices like “retail,” “restaurant,” and “oil & gas” (as a stand-alone topic) so that greater analysis in this area can be undertaken.


Employment Location

Question: Is the business that you work for or own located in High River?

Answer Choices:

Yes

No


Reason: The Town requested business location information in order to identify potential growth sector opportunities when this information is analyzed with the industry data.

Result: The responses to the census reveal that just over half of the working population work within High River. Interestingly, the results also reveal that the majority of those working in High River are female. It should be noted that the 0.0087% that identified as ‘other’ also work within High River.

53%

47%

63%

37%

44%

56%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

High River Out-of-Town

EMPLOYMENT LOCATION

Total Female Male

0.0087%Other


Mode of Travel (to work) Question: Please select the primary mode of travel this person uses to commute to work.

Answer Choices:

Drive

Bike

Walk

Taxi, Handi-bus services

On-it Transit

Other


Reason: The Town asked travel related questions so that we can understand the current and future needs of our residents from a transportation perspective.

Result: The census responses indicate that a significant majority of employed individuals in High River drive to work.

The following graph illustrates the breakdown in terms of how individuals commute to work.

88%(5664)

1.03%(66)

5.42%(348) 0.43%

(27)0.16%

(10)

4.59%(294)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Drive Bike Walk Taxi/Handi-bus On-it Transit Other

MODES OF TRAVEL TO WORK


Mode of Travel within Town (non-work) Question: Please select the primary mode of travel this person uses to travel within High River for activities other than work.

Answer Choices:

Drive

Bike

Walk

Taxi, Handi-bus services

Other


Reason: The Town asked travel related questions so that we can understand the current and future needs of our residents from a transportation perspective.

Result: The census responses reveal that over 80% of the population utilize a vehicle to travel around Town. Notably, over 10% of the population walk in order to travel around High River.

11,426 (81%)

511 (4%)

1,476 (11%)

146 (1%)

494 (4%)

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

Drive

Bike

Walk

Taxi/HandiB

Other

MODES OF TRANSPORTATION (GETTING AROUND)

Transportation Around Town


Leaving High River Question: On average how many trips does this resident make outside of High River per week?

Answer Choices:

0

1-3

4-6

7-9

10+


Reason: The Town asked travel related questions so that we can understand the current and future needs of our residents. This information when used in conjunction with the primary and secondary reasons for leaving Town assists the Town and businesses in understanding the services that residents are leaving High River for.

Result: The census responses indicate that over half of the population leave Town only 1-3 times per week with almost a quarter leaving 4-6 times per week. Notably, almost 10% of the population do not leave Town at all (on average) on a weekly basis.

1,264(9%)

7,841(56%)

3,266(23%)

1,097(8%) 584

(4%)

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

0 1-3 4-6 7-9 10+

RESIDENTS LEAVING TOWN

Trips Out of Town per Week


Primary Reason for Leaving Town Question: What is the primary reason this person travels outside of High River?

Answer Choices:

Education

Entertainment

Friends/Family

Medical Services

Religious/Spiritual

Shopping

Sports/Recreation

Work

Other


Reason: The Town asked information regarding the primary and secondary reasons for leaving Town. This information when used in conjunction with the number of times that individuals leave High River per week assists the Town and businesses in understanding the services that residents are leaving High River for.

Result: The census responses indicate that the main reasons that people leave High River are for shopping, work, friends/family, medical, sports and entertainment.

Education, 2%

Entertainment, 6%

Friends/Family, 16%

Medical, 8%

Spiritual, 1%

Shopping, 31%

Sports/Rec, 6%

Work, 27%

Other, 3%PRIMARY REASON FOR LEAVING TOWN


Secondary Reason for Leaving Town Question: What is the secondary reason this person travels outside of High River?

Answer Choices:

Education

Entertainment

Friends/Family

Medical Services

Religious/Spiritual

Shopping

Sports/Recreation

Work

Other


Reason: The Town asked information regarding the primary and secondary reasons for leaving Town. This information when used in conjunction with the number of times that individuals leave High River per week assists the Town and businesses in understanding the services that residents are leaving High River for.

Result: The census responses indicate that the secondary reason that people leave High River are for shopping, friends/family, entertainment, and sports.

Education, 1% Entertainment, 17%

Friends/Family, 24%

Medical, 11%Spiritual, 2%

Shopping, 31%

Sports/Rec, 7%

Work, 3% Other, 5%

SECONDARY REASON FOR LEAVING TOWN


Secondary Suites Question: Do you have a suite in your home?

Answer Choices:

Yes No Prefer not to answer

Reason: The Town inquired as to whether there was a secondary suite in the home for the sole purpose of ensuring an accurate population count. The individual information regarding these suites and their location will not be shared and is protected under the FOIP Act.

Result: The census data indicates that approximately 3% of dwellings in High River have a secondary suite.

3%Yes

97%No

SECONDARY SUITES (PERCENTAGE OF DWELLINGS)


Quality Assurance Question: The Town of High River is required to conduct interviews with some residents to verify the accuracy of information collected. Can we contact you at a later date? If so, please provide your name and telephone number.

Answer Choices:

Yes No Prefer not to answer

Reason: The Town asked for telephone numbers so that individuals could be contacted at a later date for quality assurance purposes. The Town is required to contact a minimum of 378 households to verify the accuracy of the population count. Result: 844 households were willing to provide their contact info to participate in the quality assurance program, which involved having town staff call them at a later time to confirm the count that was taken for their residence. 431 of these households were later contacted, verifying 100% of them that the original count taken was accurate.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

PHONE NUMBERS PROVIDED QA FOLLOW UP REQUIRED QA CALLS MADE

Phone Numbers

Provided, 844

Minimum QA Required, 378

QA Calls Made, 431

QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA) FOLLOW UP CALLS

100% Verified Correct


Conclusion Summary The municipal census results are intended to inform Town Council, Administration and entrepreneurs about the demographics, current and future needs of our residents. The next federal census will be conducted in 2021. The Town will continue to analyze and provide recommendations to Council regarding when the next municipal census should be undertaken. Future municipal census results will be compared to past indicators to ensure consistency in the questions moving forward.



Definitions Bare Land A property lot that has no current structure on it Census Date A census is a snapshot of a community’s population at one point in time. A specific census day must be chosen within the timeframe stated in the Determination of Population Regulation. The census date is either the first day of enumeration or a date prior to the start of the enumeration period. Commercial / Non-Residential A structure that is commercial in nature and does not serve as a dwelling or household. Enumerator Individual authorized by the town to collect census information from the residents. Usually an enumerator is assigned to a specific enumeration area. Enumeration Area An enumeration area (EA) is the geographic area canvassed by one or more census enumerators. An EA is composed of one or more adjacent blocks. Enumeration areas are used for census data collection. Enumeration Period Alberta municipalities must conduct the census between April 1 and June 30 of the same year. Household (or Dwelling) A household is a person or a group of persons occupying one dwelling. A household usually consists of a family group; however, it may consist of two or more families sharing a dwelling, a group of unrelated persons, or one person living alone. Neighbour A person living near or next door to the individual(s) being enumerated. Quality Assurance Checks Quality assurance checks are random calls made by the municipality to verify that the dwellings have been visited by the enumerator and provide a check on the usual resident count question.


Refusal Participation in a municipal census is not mandatory for residents. A refusal is when a household declines to participate in the municipal census. Under Construction A structure that is under development and not yet completed, inhabited, or in use. Vacant A dwelling or household that is not currently inhabited by any occupants.