The Municipality of Westlake-Gladstone's not been left out of the population increases throughout the province in the last five years with just under a one hundred person rise. The area now sits at 3154, up 86 from 2012. Mayor David Single gives his reaction.

"I'm very pleased to hear that," says Single. "I wouldn't say I'm really surprised. By the number of building permits we had and new houses, I hoped we'd have a rise in population. It means we're doing good."

Single explains schools and hospitals will continue their work as a result. He adds next year will see a slight increase in grants issued by the provincial and federal governments who base the amount of funding on those numbers.

Five years ago, the previous census saw the Municipality decrease in rural areas except for the town of Gladstone itself. Single says this means, overall, they're increasing and moving in the right direction. He says it's fearful when the population goes down. Will you be able to keep the ratepayers going? In consideration of trying to entice a business to come to the area, increases in population cause the prospects to note services will continue to function up to par. If they decrease, Single says, it's more unlikely they'll move into the municipality.

Single notes some businesses did move in and expand including Parrish & Heimbecker, Gladstone Transfer's expanded in a major way, and Co-op has grown. A lot of other small businesses are included as well. He adds a used car dealership's doing great in Plumas. The mayor says this can't be done with a decreasing population.