A study on the long term growth of Kapuskasing suggests that the population could rise by 850 people in the next 30 years.
Economist Eric Karvinen of Watson and Associates presented his findings during town council last night. He says that two key areas will lead the way.
“Due to an aging population, migration will be the key driver of population growth for the town over this period,” he said. “By 2051 about 45 per cent of the town’s population will be 55 years of age and older. This is compared to 41 per cent.”
Karvinen says the town will need to build 525 housing units to help with the population boom with most of construction in high density such as apartments and townhouses. He adds that the town is expected to add about 640 jobs over that period across a range of employment areas including the mining industry.
Mayor Dave Plourde says the results of the report is not unexpected news.
“It is as far as I can tell a really good news story,” he said. “I don’t know if I have seen a presentation like this. Well I know I haven’t seen a presentation like this in the last 30 years and it seems like you actually put on paper what exactly we were feeling.”
