New population data from Statistics Canada shows that Canadians are continuing to move away from large, urban centres amid the COVID-19 pandemic, opting instead to live in smaller communities located near big cities.
The new report, released Thursday, found that Carleton Place, Ont., which is located approximately 46 kilometres outside of Ottawa, saw its population grow by nearly four per cent last year, making it the fastest-growing community in Canada.
According to StatCan, Cowansville in Quebec came in second with a 3.7 per cent growth rate, followed by Wasaga Beach in Ontario at 3.7 per cent and then Woodstock, Ont., which saw its population grow by 3.1 per cent.
The report combined areas considered to be a census agglomeration (CAs) -- having a core population of at least 10,000 -- and census metropolitan areas (CMAs), which have a total population of at least 100,000, of which 50,000 or more live in the core.
Overall, the number of Canadians living in rural areas has increased by 0.7 per cent between July 2020 and July 2021, with Ontario and Quebec reporting the highest number of city dwellers relocating to rural areas within their respective provinces since at least 2001.
The report found that Ontario and Alberta recorded the greatest number of residents moving to other provinces, with the exception of the Ottawa-Gatineau region and the city of Lethbridge.
"These estimates, the first to give us a look at a subprovincial level for an entire year of the COVID-19 pandemic, tell of an accelerating trend in migration from large urban centres, leaving their continued growth largely supported by international migration," StatCan said in the report.
StatCan says that population growth in urban regions – both large and small – has slowed for a second consecutive year.
According to the report, a record number of people have opted to relocate outside of some of Canada's biggest CMAs, with Toronto and Montreal seeing the largest net losses to migratory exchanges with other regions in their respective provinces since at least 2001.
StatCan says personal health, the ability to work remotely, and higher housing costs are among the "most important factors" contributing to the decision of many Canadians to no longer continue living in large urban centres.
The report says permanent immigrants to Canada accounted for the majority of population growth seen between July 2020 and July 2021, while losses of non-permanent residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to "significantly reducing the growth."
According to Statistics Canada, the communities with the highest population growth rates in the last year are:
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Fire crews battled a massive blaze in downtown Langley Saturday morning.
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Lethbridge police executed dozens of warrants and laid numerous charges in another targeted enforcement project in the downtown area.
Environment Canada has issued a frost advisory as temperatures across Ottawa and eastern Ontario are expected to dip near the freezing mark this evening.
Fair season continues in the Ottawa area, the Ottawa 67's and Senators play on home ice, Carleton University and the University of Ottawa meet in the Panda Game and a former Backstreet Boy is in town.
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The two people who died in a major fire in Old Montreal on Friday were a mother and her seven-year-old daughter, sources told Noovo Info.
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Montreal police say a business in the city's Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood was hit with Molotov cocktails two nights in a row.
An estimated four billion birds will navigate man-made environments as they travel south from North America during fall migration. Tens of million of them will die en route due to human-created hazards.
A 79-year-old woman is dead after the vehicle she was driving crashed into an east Edmonton building late Friday afternoon.
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jack Campbell has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
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A two-storey house that was under construction was the scene of a Saturday morning fire in Winnipeg’s Glenwood neighbourhood.
Highway 12 has been reopened following a single motor vehicle collision Saturday morning in the RM of Brokenhead, Man.
A wind warning has been issued for parts of southern Saskatchewan, with gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour (km/h) possible in some areas on Saturday, Environment and Climate Change Canada says.
Regina police are investigating after guns were fired at two homes last week, with one home being shot at on multiple occasions.
A permanent memorial at the site of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash is about to be a step closer.
The Huron Ontario Provincial Police said they responded to a “downed airplane” just after 11 a.m. Saturday.
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Police have laid charges after a car crashed into the side of a Kitchener home early Friday morning.
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The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation hosted a virtual election forum on education Thursday evening, giving candidates in the provincial election a chance to share their thoughts and answer questions on issues teachers find most important.
A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
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The St. Thomas Panthers organization held ‘Panther Day’ focusing on recognizing IIAF World Girls Hockey weekend.
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