Coffee Talk audio -

I was skimming over some of the Stats Can information from the 2011 Census. 

Canada’s population grew nearly 6% since 2005 and sits at close to 33 ½ million.  69% of Canadians live in one of the country’s 33 census metropolitan areas (Saskatoon is one) and Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver together account for 35% of the total population.  Canada’s population growth is the highest among G8 countries.  We certainly know how Saskatoon and Saskatchewan in general have been growing.  Our city, with the largest population and being the economic engine of the province, has been expanding so fast it’s almost mind-boggling.  I moved here from Calgary in the summer of 1983 and there was a big difference coming from a city with long commutes and a downtown skyline adorned with construction cranes to what was at the time a much smaller city with a slower, prairie town pace…. and a steady trickle of people heading west….to Calgary.  29 years later in spite of our growth we’re still about ¼ the size of Calgary but the slower pace has certainly disappeared and those big cranes and longer commutes are here as well. These are exciting times to be in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and, assuming circumstances beyond our control such as European financial folly or American political folly doesn’t bring the walls crashing down around us, the future looks promising.  Oh, and don’t forget your mom this weekend.

That’s Coffeetalk. I’m Vic Dubois.