The population of the Town of Ladysmith increased by 7.8 per cent over the past five years, growing faster than the Cowichan Valley as a whole, according to Census data released by Statistics Canada.
Ladysmith’s population was 8,537 on Census day last May 10, with 616 more residents than in 2011. There were also 3,754 private dwellings recorded, representing a change of 8.8 per cent compared five years ago.
A BC Stats population estimate from 2015 found the town had roughly 8,177 residents.
Across the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), the population increased 4.2 per cent from 80,332 to 83,739.
In North Cowichan, the population grew by three per cent to 29,696, while the change in private dwellings was up 5.9 per cent at 12,769.
According to the town, the CVRD is expected to top 100,000 by 2032 and Ladysmith will grow at a rate of more than 35 per cent during the same time period.
The overall response rate of the mandatory long form census in 2016 was 98 per cent compared to the 68 per cent from the voluntary National Household Survey (NHS) completed in 2011.
The next census release is scheduled for May 3 when population by age and gender, as well as type of dwelling, will be published.
