Calgary is gearing up for its first city-run population count in almost ten years, initiating the process by recruiting a dedicated program coordinator to manage the operation. The municipal census, scheduled for 2027, marks a return to locally gathered data after years of reliance on federal statistics.
New Role to Lead Biennial Civic Count
The City of Calgary has posted a job advertisement for a 'census program coordinator' to spearhead the upcoming civic census. This newly created position comes with a substantial salary range, estimated between $113,000 and $143,000 annually.
The successful candidate will be tasked with the comprehensive oversight of the census project. Responsibilities include developing plans, managing budgets, ensuring privacy compliance, supervising teams, and presenting final reports to both the public and city council. The city is seeking an individual with a relevant degree and at least eight years of experience in strategic planning or project management.
Return to Local Data Collection
This move follows an October 2024 council decision to reinstate a municipally administered census every two years, beginning in 2027. For decades, Calgary conducted an annual door-to-door census starting in 1958. However, the practice was halted in 2020 as a pandemic-related cost-saving measure.
Since then, the city has depended solely on the federal census, which occurs only every five years. The most recent national count was in 2021, meaning Calgary's current planning and policy decisions are based on data that is now several years old. The next federal census is set for this spring, but it will not provide the frequent, localized insights the city seeks.
Implications for City Planning and Services
Officials argue that resuming a regular civic census is crucial for accurate urban planning. A city report supporting the reinstatement highlighted that local, timely data is essential for matching municipal services with the evolving needs of residents and businesses.
With Calgary's population now believed to exceed 1.6 million people, having current demographic trends is vital for infrastructure, transit, school placements, and community services. The total budget allocated for conducting the census every two years from 2025 through 2030 is $10.7 million.
The hiring of the program coordinator is the first concrete step in this renewed commitment to data-driven governance, ensuring Calgary has the precise information needed to manage its rapid growth effectively.
