By Joel van der Veen
July 5, 2010

DAVIDSON - As the province of Saskatchewan continues to flourish, with its population reaching a new all-time record this year, Davidson's mayor says her town is also sharing in that growth.

Mary Jane Morrison said on Wednesday that the town's population is on the rise after years of decline. She attributes its growth to a variety of factors, including new development and an improved economy.

"I think Davidson always has had great things to offer," she said. "I think we're a good option for a lot of people for a variety of reasons."

The provincial government announced in a June 28 press release that Saskatchewan's population reached its highest number ever in the first quarter of 2010, now totalling 1,041,729 people.

Meanwhile, the last national census, taken in 2006, measured Davidson's population at 958 people, a marked decline from 2001, when 1,035 residents were recorded. In fact, Davidson's population has slowly eroded since the end of the 1980s, after continued growth throughout the 20th century. The 1991 census reported 1,115 residents here, and each census since then has seen the numbers continue to fall.

However, Morrison said there's been growth in recent years, and she expects the new census, due next year, will back her up. The mayor anticipates the population could be back to 1,000 or even higher.

"The economy in Saskatchewan as a whole has been up quite a bit," she said. "Our location is an advantage for more people now."

Morrison said the area has appeal for a number of different demographics, including retirees and young people, due in part to the services available here, including health care and education. The town's location also makes it ideal for people with jobs that require online-based work or quick access to either Regina or Saskatoon.

Recent development of new homes has proven successful, she added, with most of the town's current lots sold.

"I think there's a lot of optimism here for expansion," she said.

Town administrator Gary Edom agreed.

"We've had quite a few new houses built the last couple of years," he said, adding that further population growth would help the town prosper. "We need young people raising families and spending money."

Davidson grew slowly but surely through most of the 20th century. At the time of the town's incorporation in 1906, it had a population of 530.

By 1955, the town had around 700 residents. Its population would continue to grow, reaching 1,000 by the early 1980s.

During the first quarter of 2010, Saskatchewan experienced a population growth rate of 0.36 per cent. Net inter-provincial migration accounted for an increase of 1,297 people, while net international migration resulted in an increase of 1,549 people. The province also enjoyed a natural increase of 865 people, calculated by subtracting the number of deaths from the number of births.

"Gone are the days when our people were our biggest export," Rob Norris, minister of advanced education, employment and labour, and the minister responsible for immigration, said in a statement. "The new Saskatchewan is growing and moving forward."

The leaderonline is a division of The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada.