CRD 2011 Census Numbers

I am not including the Gulf Islands or Port Renfrew in this

1. Saanich        109,752 108,265  +1.4%
2. Victoria        80,017  78,057  +2.5%
3. Langford        29,228  22,459 +30.1%
4. Oak Bay         18,015  17,908  +0.6%
5. Esquimalt       16,209  16,840  -3.7%
6. Colwood         16,093  14,687  +9.6%
7. Central Saanich 15,936  15,745  +1.2%
8. Sooke           11,435   9,699 +17.9%
9. Sidney          11,178  11,315  -1.2%
10. North Saanich   11,089  10,823  +2.5%
11. View Royal       9,381   8,768  +7.0%
12. Indian Reserves  5,186   4,574 +13.4% (Esquimalt rez not counted)
13. Metchosin        4,803   4,795  +0.2%
14. Juan de Fuca     4,173   4,250  -1.8% (not with Port Renfrew)
15. Highlands        2,120   1,903 +11.4%

The biggest growth was in Langford at 30.1%, but several other areas grew at over 10%, Highlands and Sooke.   Also, interestingly, the population on reserve has grown by 13.4%.

Even though the regional growth strategy calls for higher density in the core, the four core municipalities only gained 2923 people or by 1.3%.   The Westshore has gained 10,749 people or 16.2%.   The census has showed that Saanich, Oak Bay, Victoria and Esquimalt do not care about the regional growth strategy and how they have been dealing with developers and subdivsions has had the effect of forcing people to live on the Westshore.   In absolute terms, the population increase in the core has to be larger than the Westshore to make the regional growth strategy work.

This works out to adding 1% to the population of each of the core municipalities per year.

The growth on the Westshore means that Langford has a very strong case to be made that they should get a second seat on the CRD board.