A growing population is stretching Edmonton organizations that support newcomers thin.
Africa Centre supports newcomers and people of African descent in Edmonton. The centre is feeling the pressure.
“Housing is becoming a huge need. There’s been exponential growth in the need for our mental health clinic,” the centre’s executive director, Sam Juru, said.
Juru has been with the centre for less than two years.
In that time, he says the client base has exploded, as people move from other provinces and outside the country.
“It’s that duality of migration that’s coming up that we’re seeing,” Juru said.
Statistics Canada data shows Edmonton added 63,215 people to its population in 2023.
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“I don’t think we ever would have expected so many people coming to Edmonton, ward Nakota Isga councillor Andrew Knack said.
The City Plan charts Edmonton’s path to accommodate a population of 2 million people. Council says the programs are …