Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Vol. 45, No. 11
Your LOCAL Paper
Census shows 9 per cent population drop in Viking, Irma
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Taekwon Do Club takes home several medals
Patricia Harcourt Editor
The 2021 Statistics Canada population census reveals a rural countryside experiencing declining numbers of people living in its small urban centres, and farmers and others in its rural municipalities. This trend is also reflected in local towns and villages, as well as people living in Beaver County and the MD of Wainwright. No local centres or rural municipalities in this area saw an increase in its populations between the 2016 census and last year’s gathering of statistics. In fact, all have experienced a decrease in numbers, some more than others. Viking and Irma populations were hit the hardest by this drop. The Town of Viking population fell by 9 per cent in the five years between the federal government’s census taking. In 2016, the population was 1,083 people. But this fell to 986 in 2021 which means that 97 fewer people live in Viking as of last year. The Village of Holden’s population dropped from 350 in 2016 to 338 in 2021, a loss of 3.4 per cent or 12 persons fewer. Beaver County’s population has dropped the least, by only 0.6 per cent. Figures show the population in 2016 was 5,905 compared to 5,868 in 2021. This is a drop of 37 people in five years. Beaver County’s statistics include the hamlets of Bruce and Kinsella, which aren’t separated out from the overall population statistics. The Village of Irma’s population has also decreased almost as much as Viking’s, in terms of percentages. Irma had 521 residents in 2016 compared to 477 last year. This constitutes a drop of 8.4 per cent, or 44 fewer people. And the MD of Wainwright No. 61 has lost more population percentage-wise than its neighbour to the west in Beaver County. The population of the MD of Wainwright is down 4.2 per cent from the previous census. In 2016 there were 4,464 people compared to See CENSUS P3
A group shot of the Viking Adrenaline Taekwon Do Club at the national championships held in Regina March 11-12 where the club brought home13 medals in all three categories. The Viking Adrenaline Taekwon Do club made the long trek to Regina on March 11-12 to attend the ITF Canadian National Taekwon Do Championships. David Andreson had nine students attending the event to compete from white belts up to black belt. There were over 200 competitors in attendance from all across Canada. There has not been an in-person competition to attend in over two years, so everyone was very excit-
ed to get out there and compete. In total our little club took home five Bronze, three Silver and five Gold medals! Mr. Andreson was very proud of all his students who participated. Adrenaline Taekwon Do is excited to be expanding to Killam starting in April, and is always open to new members in Viking. The club will be preparing for another tournament in June and Westerns in the fall.