KAMLOOPS — Kamloops’ population has outpaced the national growth rate, but it hasn’t outpaced expectations.
The city’s population grew by 5.4 per cent since the last census in 2011. The country as a whole saw a 5 per cent population increase.
Kamloops’ population is now over 90,000.
“I think it speaks to us having a strong and diverse economy,” Kamloops mayor Peter Milobar said. “We’re seeing a wide age group of people moving here. It’s not all seniors, it’s not all young families, it’s a good mix. That’s bearing out with the kind of housing stock we’re seeing built and the enrollment numbers in schools, and it’s a good news story.”
An estimate based on previous censuses placed Kamloops’ population around 91,000. The city’s community planning supervisor, Jason Locke, says that estimate is being used to create Kamloops’ official community plan.
“We had calculated an estimate that was pretty similar to what we’re at right now, so we’re not far off in terms of our future planning,” Locke said. “As we factor that in, and these numbers are super important in terms of understanding future growth and how that effects land use and where we grow in terms of what kind of housing options we’re providing people as well.”
