Did you know that Canada’s population is growing faster than that of any other G7 nation? As with most other countries in the world, these new Canadians (native-born and immigrated alike) are concentrated within urban centers. This presents many unique challenges for the fastest growing cities in Canada, one of which is a lack of adequate infrastructure.
In this post, we’ll take a detailed look a detailed look at the 15 fastest-growing cities in Canada. We’ll also explore the massive construction projects being undertaken within them to support this growth.
We’re compiling this data from a variety of sources, including Statistics Canada and MacLeans.
1. Airdrie, Alberta
Alberta is one of Canada’s most prosperous provinces. It should come as no surprise, then, that many of the nation’s fastest growing cities lie within it.
Airdrie has completed a number of substantial construction projects to support its growth in recent years. These projects include residential, commercial, and educational facilities.
General contractors based in the city include Daley Construction and Longboard Construction.
Population: 75,395
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 5.7%
2. Milton, Ontario
Milton more than leads the pack in terms of fastest growing cities in Ontario. A major, 10-year roadway expansion and urbanization project on Louis St. Laurent Avenue is currently slated for completion in 2020.
General contractors headquartered in Milton include Italocon Building Company Inc and Everstrong Construction.
Population: 132,508
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 5%
3. Chestermere, Alberta
3. Chestermere, Alberta
Chestermere is yet another city within the vicinity of Calgary that is experiencing massive growth. What was once considered just another Calgary commuter town is coming into its own with projects such as the Township Road 240 Upgrade.
Local leadership hopes to transform Chestermere into a strong urban center with roughly 52,000 inhabitants by 2040.
Population: 23,360
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 4.6%
4. Spruce Grove, Alberta
Located west of Edmonton, Spruce Grove will, next year, be able to gauge the results of its 2010-2020 Municipal Development Plan. The plan includes a spate of affordable housing, heritage, economic development, and recreational construction projects.
Population: 40,484
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 4.5%
5. Beaumont, Alberta
Beaumont, Alberta is another one of the fastest growing cities near Edmonton, Alberta. Major construction projects include the Beaumont Sport and Recreation Centre, which is scheduled for completion in July 2020. It’s a $29.5 million project that hits home just how aggressively authorities and construction companies in Beaumont are preparing for the city’s future.
Population: 20,339
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 4.3%
6. Bradford West Gwillimbury, Ontario
Alberta may be dominating this list but many of the fastest growing cities are in Ontario, too. Bradford West Gwillimbury is undergoing a number of major projects, such as the Holland Street Reconstruction (general contractor: Ainley & Associates) and South West Arterial Road (SWAR).
Population: 41,055
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 4.2%
7. Greater Vancouver, British Columbia
If you’re not from one of the cities above (or their respective provinces), you’d be forgiven for never having heard of them before. Vancouver, however, is one of Canada’s most internationally-recognizable cities. The metropolitan area surrounding Vancouver is home to more major construction projects than one can count. Particularly noteworthy examples include upgrades to watershed infrastructure and expansion of the numerous reservoirs.
Population: 18,851
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 3.9%
8. Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
The City of Fort Saskatchewan lies along the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta. As part of their expansion initiatives, they are working on a list of pre-qualified contractors for work totaling $50,000 or less.
These contractors will support major projects in the city, which include numerous transportation infrastructure endeavors.
Population: 28,041
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 3.9%
9. Mirabel, Quebec
Mirabel, Quebec is a suburb of Montreal. The city is already a hub for some major companies. Bombardier and Bell Helicopters both have manufacturing facilities at the Montreal-Mirabel International Airport. Major companies working on projects in the city include Construction JF Trudeau, Duroking Construction, and Construction Génération Lacroix Inc.
Population: 56,984
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 3.5%
10. Langford, British Columbia
Langford follows Vancouver as far as the fastest growing cities in BC go. The area is seeing a noteworthy boom in rental housing construction. One developer, DB Services Victoria, is so busy working on these urban development projects that it rejects new ones each month.
Population: 39,476
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 3.4%
11. Saint-Colomban, Quebec City
Saint-Columban’s population has more than doubled since 2002. Its population is expected to reach 20,000 within the next 10 years. The city is notably lacking in infrastructure that would support this growth, however. There are no high schools within Saint-Colomban, for example, and no municipal sewage system.
In other words, legislators — and the construction companies that will ultimately build this supporting infrastructure — have their work cut out for them.
Population: 17,717
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 3.3%
12. Leduc, Alberta
Leduc is yet another one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities in Alberta. An Amazon warehouse within Leduc County is one of the most noteworthy construction projects the area has seen recently. This warehouse (which is set to open in 2020) will almost certainly lead to yet more population growth and a need for more infrastructure.
Population: 34,100
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 3.2%
13. Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Quebec
This Quebec gem is actually the birthplace of famed former Canadian Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. As with many of the other fastest-growing cities in Canada, Saint-Lin-Laurentides is undergoing major transportation infrastructure upgrades. Crucial to these upgrades is a bypass spanning 6km in the city’s western portion.
Population: 23,215
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 3.2%
14. Winkler, Manitoba
Winkler, Manitoba is a small but mighty city in the province’s southern region. With an annualized five-year growth rate of 3.2%, Winkler — which is already a major commerce and agriculture hub — is poised for major infrastructural growth.
Projects include the Meridian Exhibition Centre and a prospective four-line Highway.
Population: 14,165
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 3.2%
15. Steinbach, Manitoba
Last but certainly not least, we have another up-and-coming Manitoba city. One of Steinbach’s major construction projects is the Mitchell Elementary School. Gateway Construction received the contract for the project, valued at north of $4 million.
This school will provide major support for Steinbach’s population, which has grown at an annualized five-year rate of 3.2%.
Population: 17,797
Five-Year Growth Rate (Annualized): 3.2%
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