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By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

changing landscape

Immigrants now make up 16.4% of Red Deer’s population

Oct 27, 2022 | 5:07 PM

The number of immigrants in Red Deer is up 12.6 per cent from 2016 to 2021.

The new numbers are part of Statistics Canada’s latest data dump from the 2021 federal census, released Wednesday.

In 2016, the census found there were 14,685 immigrants in Red Deer, a number that’s grown to at least 16,540.

From 2016 to 2021, there were 3,920 newcomers that found homes in the city, compared to 5,240 in the five-year period prior.

The 16,540 makes up 16.4 per cent of the city’s population, compared to 14.6 per cent in 2016.

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That compares to about 23 per cent of the national population who are immigrants.

One local agency helping newcomers is FRAP — or Francophonie Albertaine au Plurielle — says the numbers are excellent news for Red Deerians.

“We still need more people for business and services. FRAP is anticipating and we are expanding our services from settlement to settlement in school and employment for youth,” says Yic Camara, FRAP Program Director.

“There is still a gap in services for newcomers in Red Deer. FRAP will be working with both levels of government to seek more funding and be able to adapt and strengthen our services to better serve the increasing number of newcomers.”

Places of birth for recent immigrants to Red Deer (2016 to 2021) – total approx. 3,920

Americas – 360
Europe – 395
Africa – 405
Asia – 2,740
Australia – 0

Top 5

Philippines – 1,820
Syria – 290
India – 250
Ukraine – 180
USA – 90

The new data also shows a breakdown of religion, something not included in every census.

In 2021, the most identified religion in Red Deer was Christianity, with 50,345, or 49.9 per cent of the population.

In 2001, when the entire population was just 67,707, there were about 47,900 Christians counted, then about 70.8 per cent of Red Deerians.

After Christianity, which in the 2021 census includes everything from Catholic to Orthodox and everything in between, the most common religion is Islam, with 2,055 people identifying as Muslim. That’s equal to 2.1 per cent of today’s population. In 2001, there were 415 self-identified Muslims in Red Deer, or 0.61 per cent.

For a more in-depth look at the latest 2021 census numbers, visit statcan.gc.ca.

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