New Glasgow only bright spot

New Glasgow’s new branding ‘flourish’ seems to have inspired people to flock to the area. According to Census Canada, it is the only town in the county to see an increase in their population between the 2006 census and the 2011 census.
Canada as a whole saw the largest population increase in all of the G8 nations with a 5.9 per cent increase, due mostly to increased fertility and non-permanent residents and immigrants.
Nova Scotia saw an increase, but it was the smallest of all of the provinces aside from Ontario which saw a decrease.
The Town of New Glasgow increased its population by 1.1 per cent, or 107 people, since the last census.
“In the past two census periods, we have had stability and a slight increase in our population,” says Kim Dickson, director of Marketing and Communications for the Town of New Glasgow. “We are confident in our stable position and hopeful of the small increase, but at the same time are realistic that this is no huge population boom.”
Dickson hopes the increase is by no small accident. The town and council have been investing in the continued growth and development with key strategies and focus areas including the new branding.
“We needed a strong identity for the community,” she says. “We believe that adds strength to Pictou County as a region as well. A saying our mayor has is, ‘A rising tide lifts all boats,’ so anything good in any community adds strength and is good for all communities in the county.”
New Glasgow Mayor Barrie MacMillan said, “We are encouraged by the census growth New Glasgow experienced as a town. This means stability and even small growth during very difficult times when provinces and even countries are competing hard for population increases. It also is an improvement over the 2006 census which showed population stability.”
Pictou County saw a decrease in population from 46,513 in 2006 to 45,643 in 2011. The towns of Pictou decreased from 3813 to 3437; Westville from 3805 to 3798; Stellarton from 4717 to 4485 and Trenton from 2741 to 2616.
Dickson explains, New Glasgow is a service centre for Northern Nova Scotia which is a blessing and a challenge serving its own population of 9,562 as well as the approximately 46,000 people in Pictou County and the other 100,000 people that frequent the town on a regular basis.
“We have to keep working together as a region for regional growth,” she says.
CAO Lisa MacDonald says, “Having a population increase of any amount is a substantial success as it goes against the trend of what is happening in rural towns across Canada… Together with our citizens and businesses we are building a strong community that is more welcoming and inclusive to newcomers and we appreciate and value a rich cultural mosaic.”