The Town of Coaldale’s 2021 Comparative Analysis, which compares its operational and financial performance with eight other similar municipalities, shows it saw the second highest population growth among its regional neighbours from 2016-2020.
Parts of the analysis, released on June 23, used a performance metric that can be revealing of the relative health and desirability of a community, especially when looked at from a regional perspective to track population growth. Coaldale placed third in population growth among its neighbouring municiaplites like Blackfalds, Innisfail, Edson, Drumheller and Ponoka — when compared to regional neighbours like Lethbridge, Lethbridge County and Taber, Coaldale ranked second.
“It’s important to keep in mind that like assessment growth, population growth is not just the product of a given municipality’s approach to taxation but of provincial, national, and even global economic forces as well,” said Cameron Mills, director of growth and investment for the Town of Coaldale.
“The fact is that a number of variables – some of which are completely outside of the control of a municipalities – impact population growth. That’s why this kind of comparison requires a regional focus. All of Coaldale’s neighbours are subject to the same external economic pressures, which in a sense levels the playing field. We know that if someone chooses to move to Coaldale over Lethbridge, it’s a reflection of what Coaldale in particular offers that Lethbridge doesn’t and vice versa.”