The Blue Mountains population has grown more than 33 per cent since 2016, according to the first 2021 Census data released by Statistics Canada.
According to the census, the Blue Mountains grew from a population of 7,025 people in 2016 to 9,390 people in 2021.
The only municipality in Canada with a higher growth percentage was East Gwillimbury, which saw a 44 per cent increase.
In Collingwood, there was a 13.8 per cent increase in population from 21,793 people in 2016 to 24,811 people in 2021.
Wasaga Beach, however, saw an increase of 20 per cent to its population – from 20,675 to 24,862 people, making it number 24 on the list of Canadian municipalities ranked by population growth percentage and one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Simcoe County.
The city of Barrie grew by 4.5 per cent to 147,829 from 2016 to 2021 while Ontario’s population increased 5.8 per cent to 14,223,942. That ranks Barrie as Canada’s 35th largest city, and 16th in the province.
Barrie, Innisfil and Springwater Township make up the Barrie Census Metropolitan Area, which had a collective five-year growth of eight per cent, for a total population in 2021 of 212,856 people from 197,059, representing the 13th highest growth rate in Canada and sixth-highest in Ontario.
Individually, Innisfil’s population ballooned by 18.5 per cent, to 43,326, and the population in Springwater Township went up by 13.9 per cent to 21,701.
Individually, Innisfil’s population ballooned by 18.5 per cent, to 43,326, and the population in Springwater Township went up by 13.9 per cent to 21,701.
Orillia saw a 7.2 per cent jump in its population to 33,411.
Other Simcoe County communities that saw higher than average growth rates include 5.4 per cent in Midland, 12.4 per cent in Penetanguishene, 21.4 per cent in Bradford West Gwillimbury, 28.3 per cent in New Tecumseth (third highest in Ontario), nine per cent in Essa Township, 9.4 per cent in Oro-Medonte Township, 9.4 per cent in Ramara Township, 8.3 per cent in Severn Township, 10.5 per cent in Tay Township, and 10 per cent in Tiny Township.
Nationally, the population grew 5.2 per cent over those five years to 36,991,981, growing at almost twice the rate of other G7 countries, according to the census data released Wednesday.
Between 2016 and 2021 both Edmonton and Ottawa grew to surpass the one million mark for population. Toronto grew by about two per cent (63,000 people).
“The driver of this growth was primarily inter-provincial migration,” said Karl Chastko, an analyst with Statistics Canada’s Centre for Demography, with immigration dipping during the pandemic.
With files from Marg Bruineman
