Alberta Is Growing Again - But With A Twist
Alberta is once again leading the nation in population growth—but this time, the story comes with an interesting twist. According to new Q1 2025 estimates from Statistics Canada, Alberta added 20,562 new residents between January and April, marking the fastest provincial growth in Canada at 0.4%. (PEI doesn’t count because they brought it grew less than 1,000 people…).
This steady rise brings Alberta’s population to just shy of 5 million people—a key milestone that investors should be watching closely. But while the growth headline is positive, what’s happening beneath the surface tells a more nuanced story—especially for those investing in Calgary’s housing market.
The Big Shift: Interprovincial Migration Takes the Lead
Alberta’s population boost wasn’t driven by international newcomers. Instead, it was Canadians from other provinces—particularly Ontario and BC—making the move in search of more affordable housing, job opportunities, and a higher quality of life. This migration wasn’t caused by the traditional energy boom but instead based on a wider range of opportunities including relative affordable housing—expect this trend to continue.
In fact, Alberta gained 7,176 people through interprovincial migration this quarter, the highest in the country. This trend marks 11 consecutive quarters where more people moved to Alberta than left—something that hasn’t been seen in decades! Alberta is currently the economic growth engine of Canada.
For real estate investors, this is a huge signal. These are not transient students or short-term visa holders. These are families, professionals, and skilled tradespeople putting down roots—and that creates demand for long-term housing, not just rentals.
Temporary International Residents Decline: What It Means
Here's the twist: while Alberta is gaining interprovincial residents, Canada overall saw a rare decline in temporary foreign residents—the first quarterly drop since 2021. These include international students, work permit holders, and refugee claimants, who often drive short-term rental and high-turnover housing demand.
This shift could lead to slightly reduced pressure on rentals near campuses and downtown job hubs, but for Calgary—where most of the growth is coming from within Canada—it reinforces the trend toward stable, long-term occupancy.
What This Means for Calgary Real Estate Investors
The growth in Alberta is real—but it’s also changing. Investors who understand this shift and tailor their strategies accordingly will be better positioned to capitalize on a more stable, less speculative phase of growth in Calgary’s real estate market. If you’re an investor in Calgary, this population report should validate your long-term strategy. We are entering a new chapter—one not driven by hype or short-term immigration booms, but by real, lasting demand from Canadians choosing to call Alberta home. Alberta is calling—will you answer?
If you’re wondering how to best align your portfolio with this trend, now’s the time to take a closer look so Book A Call today.
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