Mayors reflect on how best to grow

As the Edmonton region's population continues to grow, it's not easy to keep current residents happy while still making room for new ones, three mayors said during an Oct. 15 event to launch the State of the Region report from BILD Edmonton Metro. Some don't want their communities to change at all. "I think my residents are the first to tell you to stop building," said Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Lisa Makin. "(They don't) really understand the consequences of that action." The BILD report shows Fort Saskatchewan had an average five-year population growth rate of 2%, which put it fifth behind Beaumont's 5.1%, Edmonton's 3.4%, Leduc's 3.2%, and Spruce Grove's 2.8%. Makin said people may fear change, but new neighbourhoods bring new amenities, and they are attractive. "They're rich in what they offer these residents," she said at the launch event at the Royal Glenora Club. "Kids can still walk to school, and I think that that is what residents still want it to feel like in 10 years."

Sturgeon County's average five-year population growth rate was just 0.2%. Mayor Alanna Hnatiw wants to drive that number up, but her constituents are not so sure. "I think residents would like to see it look like it did 10 years ago," she said with a laugh. Sturgeonites are tied to their agricultural roots and are used to open spaces; meanwhile, big changes are coming with the Meta data centre. It's a lot to adjust to. "We have an AI hyperscaler coming in, and half my residents don't even have broadband," Hnatiw said. However, residents are coming to terms with some variations of housing stock, Hnatiw added. "People are aging out that don't want to leave the community, but also don't want another 4,000-square-foot home anymore, but they're still tied to Sturgeon County," she said. That said, residents remain concerned about gentle densification such as secondary and backyard suites.

Strathcona County residents are similarly concerned about getting too cityfied while still welcoming a variety of housing options, suggested Mayor Rod Frank. "You have to react to the market, and we have such a variety of housing now in our community — we never say the word 'infill' lately, but other than that, things are going well," he said, acknowledging Edmonton's infill debate. All in all, these are good problems to have, he said. "I'd much rather have to deal with growth than try to find growth."