By Mike Pearson, News Staff
The area bounded by Glancaster Road to the east, Southcote Road to the west, Garner Road to the south and Golf Links Road is the fastest growing part of Ancaster – by far.
Between 2006 and 2011, the population of southeast Ancaster grew from 7116 to 9531, an increase of 33.9 per cent.
The southeast tract, which includes the Meadowlands, accounts for 65.6 per cent of Ancaster’s total population growth over the past five years.
Overall since 2006, Ancaster’s population has increased from 33,232 to 36,911, an average annual growth rate of 2.1 per cent.
Karen Thomson, executive director of Ancaster Community Services, said the Meadowlands is experiencing steady growth among ethnic minorities.
“The Meadowlands is almost a separate community from the village core of Ancaster,” said Thomson.
New Canadians can create a unique set of challenges for social service providers such as ACS. For those in need of assistance, traditional food banks may not meet special dietary requirements, such as the need for halal foods. Newer, larger homes in the Meadowlands are attracting multiple families living under one roof. Some families act as caregivers for elderly family members which call also take a financial toll.
ACS has experienced a steady increase in demand in the Meadowlands, for services such as a food bank, referrals for housing, volunteer assisted driving and meals on wheels. ACS has a food closet and partners with Neighbour to Neighbour Centre on the west Mountain, which operates a food bank.
While concrete statistics are difficult to find, Thomson believes the number of low and middle income residents in the Meadowlands is increasing. For newcomers, unfamiliarity with the English language can be a barrier to employment, Thomson said. ACS can offer referrals for language training which is offered by other social service agencies in Hamilton.
Statistics Canada groups Ancaster into seven census tracts. While the southeast tract experienced rapid growth, two sectors saw population decrease over the past five years. A rural tract west of Jerseyville Road decreased from 1,811 to 1791 in 2011. A similar decrease is apparent in northeast Ancaster south of Governor’s Road which dropped slightly from 3,816 to 3,718.
Overall, the city of Hamilton’s population grew to 519,949, making it the 10th largest city in Canada, down from ninth in 2006.
