The 2016 federal census says High River's population jumped 5.1-percent from 2011 to 2016 to 13,584.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says he's pleased with the number.

"It's more than I'd expected, I thought since 2013 that we had kind of stayed where we were and maybe even a little bit below so I was actually quite surprised to see that the numbers were up, " Mayor Snodgrass says. "It proves we're on the right track I guess."

He says what it really shows is the tough decisions they made early on after 2013 gave people the confidence that they were going to see the rebuilding through and be better for it.

"I'll be honest, these census numbers, it's not my main measure of success for this community at all, communities that look at growth numbers as their only banner of success I think are doing the community a disservice," he says. "Myself, and our admin and council we're very much on the same page with paying attention to the people in this town, the health and the happiness of the people in the community and the quality of life that they're able to have."

He says if you just chase growth, you forget about the people that are here now.