Because understanding growth starts with seeing it clearly.
Hi fellow economic developer,
Welcome back to Field Notes—where data meets community insight. Each week, we explore the charts, trends, and tools shaping local decisions across Canada. Whether you’re deep in strategy or just curious about what the numbers say, we’re glad you’re here.
Note 1: Where Growth Is Happening—Mapped
📍 An interactive look at active permits that helps tell your local development story.
This interactive map shows exactly what’s happening on the ground—every active development permit in the community, complete with location, type, and project details.
For economic developers, this is more than just transparency. It’s a tool for spotting investment momentum, identifying emerging growth areas, and engaging stakeholders with up-to-date, visual information. It helps local governments not only track development activity—but share that story clearly with business, council, and the community.
Interested in mapping your local growth? Let’s connect.
🎞️ An animated population pyramid reveals surprising trends—and subtle signs of renewal.
In our last Field Note, we shared a beautiful static visualization of population waves—a fan-like snapshot of aging trends and demographic shifts over time. As promised, we made the chart move.
This animated population pyramid traces a community’s demographic shift from 2016 to 2045, blending population estimates and projections into a single, dynamic story. One pattern stands out: the baby boomer generation is moving out of the population base. By 2045, their presence in the younger and mid-life age bands disappears entirely, reshaping the structure from a top-heavy bulge to a more balanced, column-like profile.
It’s not just about aging anymore. We’re seeing signs of generational renewal—with younger cohorts stabilizing and the age distribution becoming more even. It’s a subtle shift, but one with major implications for housing, workforce, healthcare, and long-term planning.
It’s one of many ways CityViz brings demographic data to life. Want to explore how your community’s story is changing? Let’s take a look together.
Every Thursday, we open the Zoom room to talk data, tools, community insight, and visual storytelling. It’s informal, wide-ranging, and open to anyone—whether you're deep in a dashboard or just exploring ideas.
