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Welland breaks through psychological barrier; Population tops 50,000
DEREK SWARTZ
Local News - Wednesday, March 14, 2007 @ 09:00
Photo: File
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Welland's population has inched above 50,000 according to the 2006 Canadian census. The city is home to 50,331 people, up from 48,402 in 2001.
That could mean the city gets a little extra funding from the provincial and federal governments, notably in the gasoline tax transfers.
But Mayor Damian Goulbourne says the population gain may be more of a psychological boost for the city than anything else.
The census results, he says, prove the city is growing.
"A lot of people look at that 'Welcome to Welland' sign and we've been stuck at 45,000 for about 20 years. It's a real positive for us to break the 50,000 mark," Goulbourne says.
"We said we were growing and this proves it. We've turned the corner."
It's also a barrier the city's planning and development general manager feels was surpassed years ago. Don Thorpe believes the national census has undercounted the city in recent years.
To address that perceived discrepancy Welland commissioned its own population study in December 2005. That study pegged Welland's population at 50,000 in 2001 based on the number of dwelling units already in the city and the number of housing starts.
The city's population is now likely between 51,000 and 52,000, he feels.
Now that the city is officially over the 50,000 mark the breaking of the psychological barrier should be accompanied by cold, hard cash. The federal government remits a portion of the taxes it collects on gasoline sales to municipalities based on their population. With the growth Welland stands to get more. Likewise the province disburses its portion of gas taxes to municipalities with public mass transit systems.
City manager Peter Simmons says the census numbers are important when it comes to attracting new business. Welland is now not only over the 50,000 mark, it is also among the top 100 largest cities in Canada. "That's the kind of information businesses want to know when they consider setting up shop in Welland," he says.
Statistics Canada conducts a national census every five years.
Between 2001 and 2006 Welland's population grew at a faster rate than that of the St. Catharines-Niagara census metropolitan area - 4 per cent compared to 3.5. Welland's growth was nearly double that of St. Catharines, which had a gain of 2.2 per cent over the same time. It was just behind Niagara Falls' 4.3 per cent growth.
But it's not all roses. The city grew slower than both the national (5.4 per cent) and the provincial (6.6 per cent) growth rates.
Hugh Gayler, a geography professor at Brock University specializing in urban planning, says Welland and Niagara's growth is modest compared to the remainder of the Greater Golden Horseshoe area, an area that stretches from Niagara around Lake Ontario to Durham Region.
That fact shouldn't surprise anyone, he says, given Niagara's loss of manufacturing jobs in recent years and the fact it isn't as easy to commute to Toronto. Slower growth has its own benefits, according to Gayler, namely lower housing prices and the ability for communities to retain their distinctions.
"Many people would consider (not commuting to Toronto) a blessing in disguise. ... You hear people cry we don't want to look like Mississauga," he says.
The downside to slower growth is that there aren't as many high-paying jobs to be found in Niagara as there are elsewhere in the province. Political leaders are then torn between chasing growth and maintaining Niagara's character.
Although the city grew at a slower rate than the province, Goulbourne says Welland can't worry about comparing itself to other cities. He feels sustaining Welland's growth will be the main challenge facing the city's politicians. To accomplish that the city has to have a viable strategy for redeveloping its brownfield sites, especially those on the old canal. The city must also examine what parts of the parks and recreation master plan can do the most to enhance the quality of life of residents. Goulbourne says it is crucial to include the city's teens and youth. Welland's 18- to 24-year-old age group have traditionally left the city for education and employment.
By focussing on young people before they reach that demographic the city has a better chance in the future at bringing them back to their hometown and maintaining its growth.
"If they're connected to Welland then they'll come back," he says.
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