Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
From 2001-2011, Statistics Canada found that Cochrane’s population fell 6.2%,or 10.3% since
1996. Since the 2011 Census however, the municipality reports that the Town’s population has
risen by at least several hundred people. This increase can be largely attributed to the revival of
the Detour Lake mine and related exploration. It is anticipated that future growth will be
associated with a rebounding forestry sector.2
As a whole, Northeastern Ontario is projected to see slight growth of 4,100 or 0.7%, from 563,600
to 567,600 between 2011 and 2036. However, projections from the provincial government
suggest that the Cochrane District will see a population decline during that same period (Figure
4.2).3
Figure 4.2: Population Forecast, Cochrane District, 2011-2036
85,000
84,000
83,000
82,000
81,000
80,000
79,000
77,000
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
78,000
4.1.2 Age and Gender Distribution
The median age in Cochrane was 43.3, slightly higher than the provincial median of 40.4. In
2011, 83% of the population in Cochrane was aged 15 and older, which is the same as the
provincial statistic of 83% (Figure 4.3).
According to projections, by 2036 the aging of Ontario’s population will accelerate, with the baby
boomers having risen to the ranks of seniors. In the Cochrane District, 25-30% of the population
will be seniors by 2036. People in the baby boom echo population segment (children of the baby
boomers), and a new generation of immigrants will have bolstered the population aged 15–64.
2
The Working Forest Newspaper. (2013). Cochrane, Ontario, Grows for the Future. Available at:
http://www.workingforest.com/cochrane-ontario-grows-future
3
Ontario Ministry of Finance. (2013). Popiulation by five-year age group, 2012-2036. Available at:
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/economy/demographics/projections/table10ne.html
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