Shades of grey across BC, finds latest census statistics

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The wave of retiring baby boomers is now firmly crashing down on Canada’s demographic shores with newly released census figures painting more shades of grey of the population.

The figures released today show the number of seniors grew by 20 per cent between 2010 and 2016 — the fastest rate the census has recorded in 150 years.

When it comes to demographics, almost one-in-five British Columbians is older than 65, according to Statistics Canada. The agency says that puts BC near the top. On the other hand, we have the lowest proportion of children under the age of 14 in Western Canada.

Statistics Canada adds the census counted 5.9 million seniors and 5.8 million youth last year, marking the first time there were more Canadians over the age of 65 than under age 15.

Associate Professor Paul Kershaw with UBC’s School of Population and Public Health says the new figures should trigger a national discussion about the challenges the country faces in the coming years. “We’re caught in a vice grip between time and money pressures right now. And if we could invest some additional dollars as urgently in young people, as we currently are doing in response to the aging population, then that might ease some of our financial squeeze now.”

Statistics Canada also found that 8,230 people had reached the age of 100 last year, making centenarians the fastest growing segment of the Canadian population at 41.3 per cent. The agency says the aging of Canada’s population is only going to accelerate over the coming decades as more and more baby boomers march towards retirement.

The figures also show there were 97 men for every 100 women, a figure that has held relatively steady over 15 years based on data from Statistics Canada. At the youngest age range, men outnumber women, but their lead diminishes over time and evaporates between the ages of 35 and 64, thanks to the longer lifespans of women.