The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Flin Flon has among the oldest populations of any sizable Manitoba community, with nearly four in 10 residents aged 50 or over. Data from the 2011 census shows Flin Flon has a median age of 41.9, ranking it the third-oldest among the province's 12 largest communities. Of those dozen cities and towns, only Dauphin (44.1) and Selkirk (43.9) have higher median ages. Flin Flon is Manitoba's 11th largest community. Flin Flon is far older than its northern neighbours in The Pas (34.1) and Thompson (30.6), and nearly three years older, on average, than Winnipeg (39.0). Also younger are Brandon (35.6), Steinbach (34.8), Portage la Prairie (40.8), Winkler (33.6), Morden (37.9) and Norway House (23.1). Manitoba as a whole has a median age of 38.4, 3.5 years below that of Flin Flon. According to the census, Flin Flon has 660 residents (11.81 per cent) aged nine and under. Another 730 residents (13.06 per cent) are between 10 and 19. Residents between 20 and 29 total 645 (11.54 per cent), while those between 30 and 39 amount to 655 (11.72 per cent). The age category of 40 to 49 has 755 citizens (13.51 per cent). In the 50 to 59 category, the number is 1,100 (19.68 per cent). Flin Flon has another 510 residents (9.12 per cent) between 60 and 69. Between the ages of 70 and 79, the number is 290 (4.87 per cent). In the final category, aged 80 and over, the city has 245 citizens (4.38 per cent). All told, 38.37 per cent of Flin Flon's population is 50 or older. Across the border, Creighton has a younger median age of 40.4. Those aged 50 and up account for 36.12 per cent of the total population. See 'Ten...' pg . 3 Continued from pg.1 There are 195 residents (13.04 per cent) under the age of 10. Another 220 (14.72 per cent) are between 10 and 19. Creighton has 150 residents (10.03 per cent) between 20 and 29, and 165 (11.04 per cent) between 30 and 39. In the 40 to 49 age category, the town has 215 residents (14.38 per cent). In the 50 to 59 category, it's 270 citizens (18.06 per cent). Creightonites between 60 and 69 total 130 (8.70 per cent), and between 70 and 79 total 80 (5.35 per cent). The town has another 60 citizens (4.01 per cent) aged 80 and up. Creighton has a higher median age than Saskatchewan as a whole, where the figure is 38.2. In Denare Beach, the median age is 40.8 with 35.82 per cent of residents aged 50 or older. The village has 100 residents (14.93 per cent) aged nine and under, and 105 (15.67 per cent) between 10 and 19. Another 70 citizens (10.45 per cent) are between 20 and 29, with 55 residents (8.21 per cent) between 30 and 39. Denare Beach has 105 residents (15.67 per cent) between 40 and 49, and 115 citizens (17.16 per cent) between 50 and 59. Residents between 60 and 69 total 65 (9.70 per cent), while those between 70 and 79 amount to 50 (7.46 per cent). Denare Beach has another 10 residents (1.49 per cent) who are 80 or older. The growing number of seniors in all three communities poses challenges for civic officials. The need for additional seniors housing is increasingly apparent, prompting a proposal last year for a new affordable housing complex for elderly residents of Flin Flon. However, the Manitoba government denied a funding application for the project earlier this year. In Creighton, town council continues with lobbying efforts to bring a personal-care home to the community. Mayor Bruce Fidler previously said council has fielded numerous requests for a personal care home that would allow more elderly citizens to stay in Creighton. In terms of seniors' accommodations, Creighton already has the Heritage Manor on Elander Avenue and, on Broderick Avenue, the Bedrock and Coppermill manors. While those facilities certainly fill a need, they do not offer the around-the-clock care of the Personal Care Home and Northern Lights Manor in Flin Flon. But even in Flin Flon there have not always been enough beds to meet the demand. Last fall, Northern Regional Health Authority CEO Helga Bryant said staff were 'very concerned' with the number of seniors living in the hospital until a care home bed opens up. She said the Manitoba government has committed to more care home beds and that the Authority would make its needs in this area known to the powers that be.
