Count yourself in....or you might be costing Airdrie money!

The annual Airdrie census begins this weekend.  Pink door hangers will be delivered over the next week, starting tomorrow (April 1st).  They'll contain a PIN code that residents can use to complete the census online at www.airdrie.ca/census.  If you don't do the census online, census workers will be coming to collect the census at your door 

Kari Kitiuk, Team Lead for Legislative Services for the city says doing the census is a simple matter as it only asks a few, basic questions.  

"We're anticipating that the census will only take a few minutes to complete this year.  It's going to ask for demographic information and information on where residents have moved from if they've lived in Airdrie for less than two years."

Kitiuk says it's extremely important to the city that people take the time to complete the census because it dictates just how much federal and provincial grant money Airdrie will receive.

"Airdrie is receiving about $332 per person in grant money.  We use this grant money for a variety of items including policing, our FCS programs which is things like the Boy's and Girl's Club, Meals on Wheels.  We also apply to operating and capital grants such as buildings roads, parks and recreation.  We also use the information to plan for our future needs.  Those are things like schools, recreation facilities, and decisions regarding dwellings and services."

Kitiuk says that sometimes people can be difficult to reach and some can have reservations about providing information.  She wants to assure everyone that the information the city receives is kept strictly confidential.

"We only release it in the aggregate form," explains Kitiuk.  "The census is not mandatory, but we do ask, even if people are uncomfortable, if they give us the number of people in the home so we can get those grant dollars."

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