At Calgary’s Centre for Newcomers, where Kelly Ernst serves as chief program officer, the staff are feeling the pressure. According to Ernst, they’ve been “run off their feet” trying to keep up with the demands of their non-profit organization. The Centre offers services and language training to immigrants and refugees in Alberta’s largest city, and last year, they served an astonishing 50,000 clients. This figure represents a dramatic increase from the previous year and a significant uptick from pre-pandemic times. Ernst highlighted that these numbers are over 100 percent greater than the previous year and triple what they were five years ago. Some services have experienced a surge of over 400 percent in just two years.
This surge in demand for newcomer services in Calgary is a direct result of Alberta’s record-breaking population growth, which has brought both benefits and challenges. In 2023, the western province witnessed a staggering surge in its population, with 202,324 new residents bringing the total to 4.8 million, as reported by Statistics Canada. This represents the largest annual increase in Alberta’s history, equivalent to 550 people moving to the province every day. While much of this growth stemmed from international migration, Alberta also set a national record for interprovincial migration, welcoming a net gain of 55,107 people, the highest ever recorded by any province.
The majority of these interprovincial migrants originated from Ontario and British Columbia. For instance, Statistics Canada estimates that 38,236 Ontarians migrated to Alberta last year, compared to only 14,860 Albertans who moved to Ontario.
Alberta has historically experienced periods of rapid population growth, primarily driven by its oil and gas-based economy during times of high commodity prices and bustling oil patch activity. However, the current situation in Alberta differs from the past, according to Mark Parsons, chief economist for ATB Financial. Parsons noted that Alberta’s relatively robust economy and rapid job growth are major factors contributing to the influx of people into the province. However, what sets this period apart is the role that affordability, particularly housing affordability, plays in attracting new residents.
Experts attribute Alberta’s appeal to its real estate market’s affordability compared to major urban centers like Toronto and Vancouver. The Alberta government even capitalized on this advantage with its “Alberta is Calling” ad campaign in the spring of 2023, targeting residents of southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada. The campaign encouraged Canadians unable to afford homes in their current locations to consider relocating to Alberta, boasting higher salaries and lower real estate prices.
The surge in newcomer services demand is straining resources at the Centre for Newcomers and other similar organizations across Calgary. Ernst emphasized the need for additional funding and support from both government and private sectors to meet the growing needs of immigrants and refugees settling in Alberta. As the province continues to attract newcomers at unprecedented rates, ensuring their successful integration and access to essential services remains a pressing challenge for communities and policymakers alike.