Statistics Canada describes this country as "a nation on the move." According to the most recent Census, four in 10 Canadians picked up and moved between 1996 and 2001. Research shows Canadians are still heading west, but stopping at the Rockies. Young adults continue to flock to large metropolitan areas while those over 65 leave urban areas for smaller cities or rural locations.

Although 11,710,300 individuals aged five and over changed addresses during the five-year period between 1996 and 2001, the overall rate at which Canada's population moved declined to its lowest level in more than two decades.

Movers represented 41.9% of the total population aged five and over in 2001, down from 43.3% in 1996 and down sharply from 46.7% in 1991. Statistics Canada analysts credit this decline to growth in the older population who have tended to move less than young adults.

Almost half of the moves were short-distance transplants within the same municipality. About 12.8% of movers uprooted to another municipality inside the same province. Only about 905,700, or almost 3.2%, moved from one province or territory to another and only a fraction of those Canadians were over age 65.

Statistics Canada analysts see the decline in mobility beyond age 25 as a reflection of the aging of children in a family and their enrolment in school. Compared to 50% of the population aged 15 to 29 moving between 1996 and 2001 and about 5% leaving their province, only 27 % of adults aged 45 to 64 changed addresses and only 2.0% changed province or territory. Similarly, among adults aged 65 and over, only 18.3% changed addresses while 1.2% changed province or territory.

Moving involves more than a change of address. Whether you live in a house, semi, condominium, apartment or any other type of housing, your home:

Published: July 15, 2003

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Futurist and Strategist PJ Wade is "The Catalyst" - intent on "Challenging The Best to Become Even Better." PJ earned this title by translating the dynamic impact of Boomers and their multi-generation families into relevant insights that start people thinking and taking action—in business and in life. Author of 8 books and more than 1800 published articles, PJ encourages individuals to become their own futurist. PJ writes and speaks about the insight, knowledge and solid decision-making skills that professionals and their clients need to live and work in this vortex of change. For instance, since PJ knows that home is headquarters for the new decades-long "unretirement," she wrote the popular book "Reverse Mortgages: Best Friend, Worst Enemy...Your Choice!", which is filled with suggestions and cautions on protecting, building and managing home equity. Her new business book, "What's Your Point?: Cut The Crap, Hit The Mark & Stick!" will be published in 2012. As The Catalyst, PJ provides strategic communication, client appreciation and advanced education services to the financial, tourism, lifestyle and service sectors - and the clients they serve. A frequently-quoted financial and business commentator, PJ is a thought-provoking strategic speaker who offers practical, real-life suggestions on leaving "the box" behind and embracing Forward Thinking - a talent she regularly demonstrates in this column. For more on keynotes, blogs, books and information on a range of 21st-Century topics, visit TheCatalyst.com.