U-Haul Migration Trends: Kamloops Tops Canadian Growth Cities of 2016

PHOENIX and KAMLOOPS, British Columbia, Feb. 6, 2017 /CNW/-- Kamloops headlines the list of Canadian Growth Cities as U-Haul International, Inc. presents its 2016 migration trends reports.

The central British Columbia city, with its picturesque location along the Thompson River and a population nearing 90,000, climbed six spots from its 2015 ranking to become the U-Haul No. 1 Canadian Growth City for 2016. Toronto held that distinction for 2015.

Growth cities are calculated by the net gain of arriving one-way U-Haul trucks over departing one-way U-Haul trucks for a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 1.7 million one-way U-Haul truck rental transactions that occur annually.

Reserve U-Haul trucks and trailers, self-storage, moving supplies and more at facilities near you by visiting uhaul.com/locations. Find additional U-Haul migration reports at myuhaulstory.com.

"U-Haul migration trends data is among the most sought after in the industry because it is the most comprehensive, dotting the map in more places with more equipment and reaching more customers than anyone else," U-Haul Executive Vice President Stuart Shoen said.

Kamloops: Friendliest City in B.C.
Kamloops saw 55.2 percent of U-Haul truck rental customers coming into the city as opposed to 44.8 percent leaving last year. There was a 16-percent surge in arrivals in 2016 compared to 2015. Departures also rose 7 percent as overall U-Haul traffic increased.

"Kamloops is considered a very affordable option for people looking for full city living without being in a metropolitan area," Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar said. "We have a well-diversified economy. There's been a push in tech jobs, education and health care jobs. People are moving here, and U-Haul provides an option for them. U-Haul gives people the option to move on their own time while saving money."

Kamloops is known as B.C.'s friendliest city and lays claims to the title of Canada's Tournament Capital for sporting events with its high-end facilities. It is home to major employers such as the Interior Health Authority, Highland Valley Copper Mine and Thompson Rivers University.

"It is a very beautiful, affordable place to live," said Horace Martin, U-Haul Company of British Columbia president. "It has Riverside Park, a world-class ski resort and the right mix of big-city and small-town feel. There's no shortage of activities in one of the sunniest cities in Canada."

Ontario Cities Dominate List
Nineteen of the top 25 U-Haul Canadian Growth Cities are in Ontario, including the next seven cities after Kamloops. Five B.C. cities are represented, and Halifax is the lone city outside B.C. or Ontario to make the list.

Ottawa is the largest growth city on the list at No. 10. U-Haul locations there saw 50.7 percent of truck rental customers coming into the city as opposed to 49.3 percent leaving in 2016. Overall U-Haul traffic increased considerably in Ottawa as arrivals rose 14 percent and departures rose 13 percent year-over-year.

"Being a capital city, Ottawa sees a lot of movement," said U-Haul Company of Western Quebec president Claude Boucher, whose territory includes Ottawa. "It is home to Parliament Hill, which brings new jobs and residents every year. Ottawa has museums, the government buildings and 35 major festivals a year. It's one of the most family-oriented places I've been. They do it right."

U-Haul 2016 Canadian Growth Cities

1.      Kamloops, B.C.

2.      Belleville, Ont.

3.      Guelph, Ont.

4.      Gravenhurst, Ont.

5.      North Bay, Ont.

6.      Parry Sound, Ont.

7.      Woodstock, Ont.

8.      Trenton, Ont.

9.      Chilliwack, B.C.

10.   Ottawa, Ont.

11.   Midland, Ont.

12.   Strathroy, Ont.

13.   Chatham, Ont.

14.   Kingston, Ont.

15.   Vernon, B.C.

16.   Orillia, Ont.

17.   St. Thomas, Ont.

18.   Penticton, B.C.

19.   Peterborough, Ont.

20.   Halifax, N.S.

21.   Huntsville, Ont.

22.   Nepean, Ont.

23.   Simcoe, Ont.

24.   Merritt, B.C.

25.   Elliot Lake, Ont.

U-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The geographical coverage from more than 21,000 U-Haul locations, including Company-owned and -operated stores as well as neighborhood dealers, provides a comprehensive overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry.

While migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, U-Haul growth data is an effective gauge of how well cities are attracting and maintaining residents.

About U-Haul
Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 21,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to more than 139,000 trucks, 108,000 trailers and 38,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers more than 536,000 rooms and more than 50 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S. www.uhaul.com

Contact
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SOURCE U-Haul