Stuck between significant growth in Olds and spectacular numbers in both Penhold and Springbrook, Innisfail finds itself facing the big question of what does the town want to become.
Do residents want to stand pat and trudge forward into the future as a bedroom community where growth is stagnant, a place few driving along Highway 2 will show any excitement whatsoever to visit, never mind giving any serious thought of moving into a town once known as the Isle of Destiny?
The Statistics Canada numbers released last week from the 2016 census data revealed Innisfail stuck on population growth after a respectable increase in the 2011 federal numbers that showed a 7.4 per cent population jump over the 2006 national census. But the town's own census in 2015 showed growth was slowing down with only a 0.1 per cent increase over the 2012 municipal count.
It is also worth noting that last week's federal numbers also showed Innisfail's 0.4 per cent decline from the 2011 national population count put the town in the unenviable status as one of only three municipalities along the Highway 2 corridor from Calgary to Edmonton to be in negative numbers. Millet had a seven per cent decrease while Bowden had just one citizen less than in 2011 when 1,241 citizens were counted.
Last week the mayor and deputy mayor were not available to comment on this, which was unfortunate as population growth for this town of nearly 8,000 citizens is critically important, because more permanent citizens means potentially more federal and provincial grant money, particularly for essential costly capital projects.
However, Coun. Doug Boss was available and he correctly opined that the town has to find a way to attract at least some of the nearly two million people who drive by the community along Highway 2 every month. He also correctly noted that Innisfail has much to offer in the way of recreational and cultural amenities that are unique compared to any other community of the same size in the province.
But then again the town has been struggling for years on finding the right formula to market itself, and like the 2016 census proves, not enough of the folks motoring along Highway 2 are coming in to visit or to set permanent roots.
There is a new CAO coming to town on July 1, and an election in October, both opportunities for new beginnings, ones that could potentially and hopefully generate new and progressive ideas for future growth.
The town deserves that chance.
Johnnie Bachusky is the editor of the Innisfail Province.
