Statistics Canada<\/a>, the Kelowna CMA \u2014 ranging from Lake Country in the north to Peachland in the south \u2014 saw its population grow to 222,162 in 2021, an increase of 14 per cent from 194,892 in 2016.<\/p>\nLocated in the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack\u2019s population grew 12.1 per cent during the five-year period, increasing from 101,512 to 113,767. That spike in population was second fastest among Canada\u2019s 41 CMAs.<\/p>\n
Overall, Canadian CMAs \u2014 urban centres with a population of at least 100,000 \u2014 had an average population growth rate of 6.1 per cent during the five years leading up to the 2021 census.<\/p>\n
British Columbia had four of the nation\u2019s top five fastest growing CMAs. Kamloops placed third with approximately 10 per cent population growth, while Nanaimo finished behind London, Ont. for fifth.<\/p>\n
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Looking at wider population trends across the country, StatsCan found downtown cores becoming increasingly densified in larger urban centres, while significant growth occurred in the suburbs around smaller CMAs, due in part to rising home prices.<\/p>\n
\u201cHigher housing prices may be a factor, with\u00a0new home prices\u00a0up\u00a011.3 per cent year over year nationally in May\u00a02021, the largest increase since November\u00a02006,\u201d StatsCan noted in a report detailing the numbers. \u201cHigher housing prices may have tempted Canadians to move to more distant suburbs, where larger houses could be available at a lower cost than closer to downtown.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to leading the nation in population growth, Kelowna also had the third fastest growing downtown core among CMAs, with a growth rate of 23.8 per cent, ranking behind Halifax (26.1 per cent) and Montreal (24.2 per cent).<\/p>\n
Downtown populations have accelerated as a result of government initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply, while the desire to live close to amenities remains high. However, the pandemic\u2019s full impact on population trends won\u2019t be reflected until the next census cycle.<\/p>\n
\u201cDowntowns are growing fast, and more rapidly than before,\u201d said StatsCan. \u201cFrom\u00a02016\u00a0to\u00a02021, the downtown populations of the large urban centres grew faster (10.9 per cent) than the urban centres as a whole (6.1 per cent). The populations of downtowns also grew at over twice the pace compared with the previous census cycle (4.6 per cent).\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/kolby-milton-z5jXAMKlHso-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo: Kolby Milton<\/a> \/ Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n