PG’s population cracks the 82,000 mark

Over the past five years, Prince George’s population has spiked by 6%.

According to Stats Canada, the northern capital went from 77,490 residents in 2016 to 82,290 people in 2020.

Mayor Lyn Hall told MyPGNow.com the city continues to be viewed as a major hub, providing services to a large trading area.

“The resource sector is driving much of what we are seeing in the community right now from a business perspective. That is big news and we have seen a continuation of that particularly in our record-setting building permits that have taken place year-over-year over the last few years.”

Hall is also of the opinion the city can be a major economic catalyst as we slowly head out of the pandemic.

“When you talk about the economic restart I quite frankly believe Prince George is that economic restart engine in the central and northern part of the province, perhaps the entire province. This is because of what’s going on in various sectors in BC.”

He added the city is a huge attraction to young families due to a much lower cost of living when compared to the Okanagan and the Lower Mainland.

“That affordability piece is still very, very attractive to people. Particularly if you are coming from the Lower Mainland or the Okanagan or Vancouver Island. There is no comparison, we have the most affordable rates.”

In July, the City of Prince George noted 89 building permits worth approximately 100-million dollars have been awarded for single and multi-family homes according to city officials.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, 210 building permits worth nearly 109-million dollars were issued as of the end of May according to city officials.