For EA customers and the general public, Dr. Doug Norris will host an hour-long webinar on the new data on Tuesday, June 12, at 2:00 PM. Please see below for a recent article from Environics on the Census release. For more insights and commentary on the latest Census findings, read his blog at http://environicsanalytics.wordpress.com/2012/02/.

Environics Analytics Offers Insight into the Second Wave of Census Data

Chief Demographer Doug Norris Discusses Latest Age and Sex Data

TORONTO, May 25, 2012 – With Statistics Canada set to release its second wave of data from the 2011 Census next Tuesday, the new findings are expected to show the continued ageing of the Canadian population, according to Dr. Doug Norris, Senior Vice President Chief Demographer at Environics Analytics. The new data on the age and sex of Canadians should indicate the median age of Canadians is now 40, with nearly 15 percent of the population aged 65 or older and about 17 percent of the population under 15. “The near convergence of the size of the younger and older populations reflects the long-term ageing of the Canadian population,” says Norris.

Although an ageing population isn’t unique among industrialized countries, Canada is considerably younger than most G8 nations. The segment of the population that experienced the highest growth rate for the 2006-2011 period was the Baby Boomers, whose older members in the 60-to 69-year-old age group increased by about 25 percent, reports Norris. In addition, Canadians 85 and older are expected to show a similarly high growth rate over the past five years. By contrast, the new Census data are expected to show a population decline over the same period among the “Baby Bust” generation of Canadians between 40 and 49 years old, as well as among their children aged 10 to 19.

While the national trends on ageing have been going on for several years, the new Census data are expected to show wide variations in the trend across the country. The new Census should indicate a much younger population in Alberta and the northern Territories. Meanwhile, Norris believes that the new data will also reflect emerging senior communities that are attracting retiring Boomers in communities like Collingwood, north of Toronto, Joliette, north of Montreal, and Courteney on Vancouver Island, B.C. And he sees a growing senior population in suburban areas around large cities, such as Oshawa, that attract relatively fewer immigrants and their young families.

“Such demographic changes are important for businesses to consider when opening stores, building housing developments and offering services,” says Norris. “The ageing population means many of the goods and services consumed by seniors will be in greater demand. However in addition to the increasing numbers, tomorrow’s seniors will be different that today’s seniors, and marketers will need to develop different approaches in reaching them.”

Recordings of past Environics Analytics webinars can be found here: http://www.environicsanalytics.ca/footer/webcasts