Summerland’s population has surpassed 12,000, according to the latest census data collected by Statistics Canada.
The 2021 census showed a population of 12,042, up from the 2016 population of 11,615. This is a growth of 3.7 per cent. The community, with an area of 74.04 square kilometres, has a population density of 162.6 people per square kilometre.
The census also shows a total of 5,426 private dwellings in the community. Of these, 5,084 are occupied by usual residents.
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Summerland mayor Toni Boot said the population statistics and the number of dwelling units shows a need for a variety of housing types in the community. She said at present there is a disproportionate number of single-family dwellings, even though the municipal council has changed zoning regulations and bylaws to allow for secondary suites, carriage homes and other types of housing.
“We need mixed housing,” she said. “Not everybody wants to live in a big house or 10 minutes out of town.”
The municipality has been working to address issues of growth and housing in Summerland. The community completed a housing needs assessment study in 2021 and is working on a downtown neighbourhood plan.
Summerland’s rate of growth is lower than the provincial average of 7.6 per cent. It is also less than the growth seen in many other communities in the South Okanagan and Similkameen. Penticton saw a population growth of 9.3 per cent, Osoyoos grew by 10 per cent, Oliver had a 3.4 per cent growth and Keremeos saw its population increase by 7.1 per cent. The community of Princeton had a 2.3 per cent growth from the 2016 census to the 2021 census.
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