Census

A census is an official count of the number of people living in a community at a given time. 

Collecting up-to-date population data is an important and effective way to plan for the needs of our growing and diverse City. Census information is used by various City departments, organizations, and stakeholders to deliver a wide range of municipal services including schools, recreational centres, emergency services, and major infrastructure.

How often is a Census conducted?

The City of Fort Saskatchewan conducts a municipal census every year, or when required. A municipal census will not be conducted the year a federal census is taking place.

Where can I access the Census?

Fort Saskatchewan's Municipal Census is conducted online. Residents will be able to log in online and answer a few short questions, for example:

• The number of residents in the home; and
• The age and gender of each resident.

All information collected will be kept confidential and used only for the production of aggregated statistics. Responses will remain anonymous – names will not be collected and exact dwelling addresses will not be associated with the questionnaire responses.

How do I access the Census online?

What if I do not respond online?

If you do not respond online before the provided deadline, an enumerator will visit your household to take your census information at the door. It will only take a few minutes of your time, and all enumerators will carry proper identification. Remember, if you submit your census information, online it will not be necessary for an enumerator to visit your household.

Who do I include in the Census when filling it out?

Include:

• all persons who usually live in the dwelling, even if they are temporarily away (such as on a business trip or at school), such as college/university students* who have not established a usual residence elsewhere;
• any persons staying at or visiting the dwelling if they have no other usual home;
• in the case of joint custody, children staying at the dwelling on April 1, 2023 are to be counted;
• hotel residents and employees who have no usual home elsewhere;
• persons in the Armed Forces even if away on tour/rotation;
• infants born before or on April 1, 2023;
• deceased persons who were alive on April 1, 2023;
• any persons who usually live in the dwelling, but are currently in an institution (such as a hospital or correctional institution). However, if they have been in the institution for more than six months, do not include them as a usual resident of the dwelling.

Do not include:

• temporary residents (those who have a usual residence elsewhere);
• members of the household who are now in an institution and have been there for the past six months or longer;
• visitors and those persons who have a usual residence elsewhere;
• infants born after the census date (April 1, 2023);
• college/university students who have a usual residence elsewhere;
• members of the household who live elsewhere;
• persons living at temporary residences, such as vacation homes.

*Students are included as usual residents at their home (i.e. parents' home) if they have not established a usual residence elsewhere. If the student rents accommodation for the purposes of attending an educational institution but usually resides with other family members who are usual residents in the City, the student is still deemed to reside with those family members.

NOTE: A person can have only one place of usual residence. If a person has more than one residence in Alberta, that person shall designate one place of residence as the person's usual residence. A person's usual residence is the place where the person lives and sleeps and to which, when the person is absent from it, the person intends to return. A person shall designate the person's usual residence in accordance with the following factors in the following order of priority:

1. the address shown on the person's driver's licence or motor vehicle operator's licence issued by or on behalf of the Government of Alberta, 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.