The City of Cold Lake is conducting a municipal census from May 2 to June 22, 2022. It is important that all Cold Lake residents submit their census information to ensure the most accurate representation of our community and the people who live here. The City uses data collected in the municipal census to plan for the future needs of our growing and diverse city. Census data is used to deliver a wide range of municipal services including schools, roads, recreational facilities, emergency services and major infrastructure. It helps guide our Capital Projects and ensures the most appropriate use of public resources and taxpayer dollars.
We are giving away TEN Visa gift cards valued at $50 each to residents who complete their census by Friday, June 3. Enter the draw by completing your census online, over the phone at 780-594-7933, or in person at the Cold Lake Farmers' Market every Thursday at the Energy Centre. Every household that completes their census between May 2 and June 3 will be entered into the draw.
Looking for historical data from past municipal censuses? Find it here.
Date | Time | Location |
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Thursdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26 & June 2, 9, 16 |
3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Cold Lake Farmer’s Market at the Energy Centre |
Watch this video to find out why the City is conducting a municipal census and how it works!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is the City conducting a municipal census? |
The primary purpose of conducting a municipal census is to provide an accurate total population count of the community. The City of Cold Lake will ask each dwelling (house, apartment, condo, mobile home) to provide the number of people in the household that identify that address as their usual place of residence on May 2, 2022. Having up-to-date population data helps City Council make decisions about future city facilities, infrastructure needs, and programming requirements. |
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.
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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. |
Why should I complete my census questionnaire online? |
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What types of questions will be asked? |
The census questions are divided into three categories.
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Why are there so many questions about the availability of family doctors? |
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. |
What if I have not received my census letter and PIN number by May 5? |
Please contact the City of Cold Lake census team at 780-594-7933 or email legislative@coldlake.com. |
What if the address on my PIN letter does not match my actual address? |
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. |
What if I don't have a computer to complete my census? |
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:
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Who should I include as a person who usually lives at my address? |
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:
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:
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How can I confirm a census worker's identity? |
All City of Cold Lake census enumerators will carry a City-issued identification badge along with a letter of introduction. If you have any concerns about the identity of a City census worker, please call the City of Cold Lake census team at 780-594-7933. |
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. |
Where and when can I see the results of the census? |
The results of the census will be made public in the summer of 2022. They will be posted on the City website at www.coldlake.com/census and on City social media feeds. |
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