Across Southwestern Ontario, smaller communities creak under rapid growth

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The province estimates Southwestern Ontario’s population will jump more than 40 per cent to 2.6 million people by 2051. London and Middlesex County are expected to lead the way, growing by 56.7 per cent to about 880,000 people over the next 25 years, with nearby Oxford County close behind at 51.9 per cent. But rapid growth comes at a price. LFP reporter Brian Williams looks at some growing pains regional municipalities face.

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LUCAN-BIDDULPH

Increasing sewage treatment capacity is a top priority for this Middlesex County township, about 30 kilometres northeast of London, as the local population rises, says Mayor Cathy Burghardt-Jesson.

“(It’s) the biggest pressure that we have right now,” she said. They’ve been planning an expansion for four years because their system is at “full capacity,” got there “much quicker” than expected, and will be a “significant cost” to expand.

Lucan-Biddulph also is considering its recreational areas. Politicians just accepted a staff report for a 10-year strategy to build up its parks, recreation and trail systems. The same report indicated its population has grown from about 4,400 people in 2012 to about 5,800 now, and could hit 7,000 over the next 10 years. Burghardt-Jesson, citing higher demand on the community’s ice rink, said the township is considering a new ice pad “much sooner” than anticipated.

STRATHROY-CARADOC

Mt. Brydges, a village about 25 kilometres southwest of London in the municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, has what Mayor Colin Grantham called “a classic example of the pressures (of) urban rapid growth.” Once a “nice, quiet little farming village,” it will have to expand its wastewater treatment plant to accommodate “rapid growth,” he said.

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And with more people drawn to Southwestern Ontario, the region’s roads are becoming more congested. Grantham cited the Glendon corridor – a route on London’s west side linking Middlesex County communities like Komoka, Mt. Brydges and Strathroy – as an example of a road that will eventually “have to become a four-lane road” to support greater traffic volume.

WOODSTOCK

Woodstock is “seeing a huge increase” in its population, says Mayor Jerry Acchione. “The problems we’re facing right now are definitely infrastructure,” he said, saying the city will have to address “water, sewer, roadways and parking” if growth continues over 15 to 25 years “as forecasted.”

The Oxford County city of about 46,000 people is eyeing a new arena, and an increased interest in sports is driving the need for “more gymnasiums and even pools,” the mayor said.

Adding homes is also a priority for the expanding municipality, he said, citing the necessity of “intensification” by constructing duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes, and “even an apartment building” where possible.

INGERSOLL

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Ingersoll does “everything strategically,” said Mayor Brian Petrie, and is planning ahead for a growing population.

The Oxford County town underwent a boundary adjustment in 2021 to make way for both industrial and residential growth, and 16 hectares (40 acres) of property was set aside to build “medium-density residential” housing.

Like Woodstock and Lucan, Ingersoll is considering its needs for recreational spaces and activities, Petrie said. The town plans to break ground on a new recreation centre in 2026.

The town also is looking at the potential need for another school as its population grows, the mayor added. “We’ve also partnered with the school board to get ahead of the growth.”

ZORRA TOWNSHIP

Housing costs are surging in this township about 20 kilometres northeast of London as residents of larger cities flock to the community, Mayor Marcus Ryan said.

Where housing was once affordable, some townhomes now fetch more than $700,000, too high in some local eyes, but appealingly low to transplants from Toronto. “They had completely different perspectives on what affordability was for the exact same building,” Ryan said.

Like other Ontario communities, a shortage of doctors is straining Zorra, Ryan said. “We’re experiencing growth like we never had before, and no growth in the number of doctors.”

bwilliams@postmedia.com

@BrianWatLFPress

The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada

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