Didn't we just do a federal census last year?

Yes, however there are a few reasons why it's important we conduct our own municipal census, focused solely on the city of Cold Lake.

• Historically, the City’s municipal census data has reported slightly higher population counts than the federal census, likely as a result of additional local knowledge that municipalities have, in relation to capturing every resident in their count. 
• Data from the federal census shows population statistics from spring 2021. The municipal census will show updated population data from spring 2022. There may have been changes in population, as we see the economic situation in the community improving. The City is seeing increased interest in investment in the community. Many investors are interested in the city’s population and growth trends, so having access to exact statistical information is important.
• The municipal census gives us an opportunity to ask important local questions that directly impact the people of Cold Lake. This census will include questions about the availability of family doctors in Cold Lake. More on that below under "What questions will be asked?"

How will the municipal census work? 

The 2022 municipal census will be completed mostly online. In early May, each household will receive a census letter with a unique access code, or PIN. Using that PIN, an adult member of the household can log on to the secure census website to complete their household's census. Beginning in mid-May, census enumerators will be going door-to-door, to assist and encourage households that have not yet filled out their census, to do so. City staff will also be calling a random sampling of households to ask if they have completed their census. 

1. Having the most complete population data possible assists the City in making decisions about community programming and services. Furthermore, your assistance in answering questions about physician availability in Cold Lake will provide City Council with accurate and complete information to understand the full extent of physician access issues and advocate effectively for the residents of Cold Lake.
2. Completing your census online will prevent an enumerator from attending your home in person.
3. You can win some cash! Those who complete their census online by May 15, 2022 will be entered into a draw to win one of two $250 Visa gift cards. 

The census questions are divided into three categories.

• The first category will ask for the number of people living in the household, and each person's age and gender.
• The second category is about the workforce. It will ask what industry each person works in and the location of their employment.
• The third category is about the availability of family doctors in Cold Lake. It will ask if the residents have a family doctor in the community, how long they've had to wait after making an appointment with their doctor, and if they've had to travel outside of Cold Lake to see a doctor. 

Since 2006, the City has identified a critical shortage of family physicians in Cold Lake. In an attempt to help with physician recruitment and retention, City Council and administration have worked closely with Alberta Health Services and Hearts for Healthcare to ensure Cold Lake is competitively positioned to attract new physicians to the community, and to ensure that physicians feel welcome and choose to stay in Cold Lake.

Despite these efforts and a growing population in Cold Lake, there has not been a significant increase in available physicians since 2006, as the number of physicians recruited to the community is offset by the physicians that have left. 

Having a well-staffed hospital and well-staffed medical clinics are crucial to Cold Lake residents' quality of life. While the City cannot hire physicians directly, City Council and administration have an important advocacy role to play. In order to advocate for Cold Lake residents as strongly as possible, the City needs to understand the true number of available physicians in the community and number of residents that are currently without a family physician.

The City has carefully crafted questions that will allow City Council gain the information it requires to understand the current state of medical care available in Cold Lake.

What is the timeline for the census?

May 1 - Secure PIN numbers are delivered to residents.

May 2 - Online census opens.

May 2 -15 - Complete your census online to be entered to win one of two $250 gift cards.

May 16 - Census enumerators begin going door to door to encourage and assist with census completion. 

June 22 - Online census closes.

Summer 2022 - Census data and results will be posted at www.coldlake.com/census and on social media.

Please contact the City of Cold Lake census team at 780-594-7933 or email legislative@coldlake.com.

If there is incorrect information on your PIN letter, please contact the City of Cold Lake census team at 780-594-7933 or email legislative@coldlake.com.

The 2022 municipal census is electronic only; paper copies are not available. The census can be completed using a computer, tablet, or smart phone. If you do not have access to any of these devices, or if you require assistance to complete your census, there are several options:

• The Cold Lake Public Library has computers available for public use at both the north and south branches. To avoid waiting for a computer, call ahead to confirm availability. South branch: 780-594-5101. North branch: 780-639-3967.
• The City of Cold Lake is holding several drop-in sessions to assist residents with completing their census. Computers will be available at all sessions and City staff will be on hand to provide assistance. Residents must bring the census letter and PIN number in order to complete their census at a drop-in session. See dates and times at the top of this page.

A person’s usual residence is the place where they most often live and sleep, and the place that when they are absent from it, they intend to return. This includes:

• Any person who usually lives in the dwelling even if they are temporarily away, and have not established a usual residence elsewhere. College/university students should be included as usual residents at their home (i.e. parents' home), even if they rent temporary accommodation elsewhere for the purposes of attending an educational institution, but usually reside with family members who are usual residents in Cold Lake,
• Any person staying at or visiting the dwelling if they have no other usual home,
• Any person serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, even if away on tour/rotation,
• Any infant born on or before May 2, 2022,
• Any deceased person who was alive on May 2, 2022,
• Any person who usually lives in the dwelling, but is currently in an institution such as a hospital or correctional facility. *If they have been in the institution for more than six months, do not include them as a usual resident of the dwelling.

Note: A person can have only one place of usual residence. If a person has more than one residence in Alberta, they must designate one place of residence as their usual residence, in accordance with the following factors in order of priority:

1. The address shown on the person’s driver’s licence or on an identification card issued by or on behalf of the Government of Alberta,
2. The address to which the person’s income tax correspondence is addressed and delivered,
3. The address to which the person’s mail is addressed and delivered.

How is my privacy and personal information protected?

All City of Cold Lake census workers are required to make a statutory declaration, Statement of Census Worker, declaring that they will maintain strict confidentiality of any and all information that they become aware of while working as a census worker. After a census survey is complete, it will be stored on a secure server where only limited, designated staff members have access to it.