The mayor of Dryden is confident their population will rebound.

Jack Harrison told Ontario’s Standing Committee on Finance back in December that Dryden’s population was losing residents to the unincorporated areas.

But he says recent housing developments are a cause for optimism.

“Since 2021, we have added an additional 68 units of multi-residential apartments…we have another 48-unit apartment building (being) constructed even as we speak,” Harrison told Dryden city council at their meeting on Monday night.

“These initial 68 units were for seniors, and so that freed up housing for the younger folks in our area.”

Harrison points out the most recent census showed Dryden’s population shrinking by 361 people, while the unincorporated areas outside of Dryden rose by a similar amount.

“So, I anticipate the next census will reverse that decline.  Developers have spoken very highly of our city staff as being helpful and efficient, and so I feel we’re on the right track to see investment in housing development come our way.”

Harrison is one of three people from the city going to the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto this weekend, and one of the meetings will be with the Minister of Infrastructure.

They will be asking for the province to free up some land for housing development and provide funding for underground infrastructure, like sewer and water, to allow for the building of more homes in the city.