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Canada's Pacific Coast: Expansion to contraction
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We live in the last half of the one hundred year revolution shaped by the transition from above to below replacement fertility, longer life expectancy, and changing migration, with reverberations coursing throughout society.
Seldom do societies experience the transition from exponential growth levelling out towards stability with oscillating/ fluctuating age distributions.
Never have we had access to so much information, with the internet and personal computers, helping to create the information age into which our children are growing.
Unfortunately, our traditional sources for demographic information, Canada's Official Statistical Agencies (we have 4) as well as main stream media, may not publicize or may overlook important demographic trends. For example, apparently:
Curiously, this demographic trend, the increase in the number of females of reproductive age along with the increase in births, was explained clearly to School District administrators and trustees since 2007 more than once but not accepted. The lack of understanding may be the result of our official sources not informing media, as well as with people seeing only what they want to see.
How can we, as active and involved citizens - local and global community members - intelligently participate in the setting of priorities if we do not understand where we are and where we are heading on current demographic trends?2
Unfortunate, most people are not familiar with how to examine statistical data to understand demographic trends and will not sift through the enormous volumes of data in order to find the occasional golden nuggets.
Here you will find independent and non-partisan Articles explaining where we are and where we are heading on current demographic trends using charts and maps to help provide perspective and proportion.
To learn how to create well defined population projection scenarios for Canada's census areas based on current demographic trends reflected in Canada's Census of Population visit the Population Projection Project.
Here's how we can participate in setting priorities from national to local levels - participate in populating a wikipop!
I add the following note in an effort to prepare people interested in a career in Population Studies for what I call the politics of population estimates and projections or forecasts.
Anyone planning a career in Population Studies should be aware of the potential of persecution for promoting the study and development of the science of demography. This is not the only time scientists have been persecuted, nor (likely) the last; therefore, scientists should coordinate efforts to protect scientific standards. Join a society that protects people (such as Population Analysts, Population Geographers, and Applied Demographers) who promote the study and development of the science of demography. Such a society would promote integrity by protecting Population Analysts et al who insist that correct methods and data accompany "findings" rather than incorrect methods and data accompanying "unfounded" population numbers.
Correspondence with Canadian Population Society addressing the science of demography Videos:
1) false Official Statistical Agency population methods and data
2) CPS President reply: "the Society will never propose standards..."
3) To CPS President: the CPS Constitution Section 2.2 (c) states "to offer professional comments and to counsel outside bodies".
The Economist magazine called the lack of integrity in so called 'science' the "replication crisis" (July 16, 2016). This replication crisis exists in the science of Demography. What to do? Demographics instructors could show students how estimates and projections are created as well as how to reproduce population estimates created by tax-funded agencies. If the population numbers, issued by people in positions of governmental authority, presented to the public as evidence upon which to set priorities, cannot be reproduced, Population Societies' members should inform the government - public service providers - and if the government representatives do nothing but defend the unfounded numbers (and ridicule those who raise concerns) the society should inform the public. For demographic trends, the public should have alternatives such as the Population Projections Project.
1 "Canada’s latest baby boom caught experts by surprise" (Sarah Boesveld, National Post, July 4, 2014). Boesveld pointed out that the latest baby boom was felt all across Canada and that while retailers and real estate agents responded to the changing demographics:
Having worked for government as a Population Analyst, I have another explanation. If you are interested read all about it.
Also, here is a 4 page summary of my presentation "Population Projections for Community Members" at the Methods for Projections session hosted by the Canadian Population Society, 2013 Congress organized by the Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences.
2 This question is adapted from