Digby County Profile

From N.S. government


Digby County Profile



Located within the following geographies:

District Health Authority: South West Health
Province: Nova Scotia
Country: Canada

Year: 2006 2001



Demographics Income Education Households Labour

Social Health Resources Environment Production



Figure 1: Population by Age Groups



Population

Based on the 2006 Census of Population, Digby County has a population of 18,995 which is 7.3% lower than in 1996. In 2006, 20.7% of the population was under the age of 20 and 19.2% was 65 years or older.
In comparison, Nova Scotia has a population of 913,465 which is 0.5% higher than in 1996. 22.8% of the population was under the age of 20 and 15.1% was 65 years or older.

Family Structure

In Nova Scotia, family structure has shifted from the traditional larger married families to smaller married families and an increase in both common-law and lone-parent families.

Figure 2: Family Types for 2006


In 2006, for Digby County, total census families decreased 7.3% to 5,960. Married families decreased by 9.8% while common law families increased 14.6% and lone-parent families increased 21.4%. Lone female parent families were 12.3% of all families while lone male parents were 2.8% of all families.

In Nova Scotia, total census families increased 5.3% to 725. Married families increased by -1.4% while common law families increased 43.2% and lone-parent families increased 14.1%. Lone female parent families were 12.3% of all families while lone male parents were 2.8% of all families.

Citizenship & Mobility


Compared to Nova Scotia, Digby County has a relatively low immigrant population. In 2006, there were 590 immigrants which is 3.2% of the population compared to 5% immigrants for Nova Scotia. In Digby County, 98.5% of people were Canadian citizens compared to 98.3% for Nova Scotia.

86% of Digby County's population was born in the province of their residence.

Figure 3: Digby County

Figure 4: Nova Scotia



In Digby County, 24.3% of the population moved within the last five years. 13.9% moved within the municipality, 6% moved within the Province, 3.4% moved within Canada, and 1% moved outside of Canada. A lower percentage of residents moved in the last five years than in Nova Scotia (33.2%).

Figure 5: Digby County

Figure 6: Nova Scotia



Language

English is the predominant language in Digby County, with 74.7% speaking only English in the home and 69.4% speaking only English at work. This compares to 97.8% and 96% respectively for Nova Scotia. 22.1% of people in Digby County speak only French at home and 3% speak French and English at home. For Nova Scotia, 1.4% speak only French at home awhile 0.4% speak English and French at home.
Figure 7: Languages Spoken in Home for 2006
Figure 8: Languages Spoken at Work for 2006

Nurse Practioner Lost in Digby County

from CBC news.ca

MacDonald urges talks in nurse practitioner spat
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 | 8:00 AM AT Comments8Recommend8CBC News
The two sides in a dispute over a nurse practitioner in Long Island need to sit down and try to work out a solution, the Nova Scotia health minister says.

The South West Nova District Health Authority did not renew Karen Snider's contract at the health centre in Freeport, leaving Long and Brier islands, as well as part of Digby Neck, without a full-time nurse practitioner.

That has angered people in the area, many of whom don't have a family doctor.

Provincial Health Minister Maureen MacDonald said she has asked district officials to meet with community representatives.

"I think the district health authority has a responsibility to be accountable to the people of that community," she said, adding both sides need to keep "open minds."

The district health authority has not said why it decided to let Snider go. Officials say it's a personnel matter.

Public comment regarding funding cut
But some people claim Snider was targeted because she spoke out about a cut in funding for an administrative assistant position at the clinic. Snider commented in a local publication and brought the issue up with her collaborating physician and other nurse practitioners.

After a public meeting Monday night in Freeport, some people were organizing letter-writing campaigns, petitions and a march on the Nova Scotia legislature.

A community spokesperson, Andy Moir, said the community is only willing to meet with district health officials if they are willing to discuss Snider's reinstatement.

The health authority is already advertising for a replacement for Snider. In the meantime, it's bringing in nurse practitioners on rotating shifts to keep the clinic open at least two days a week.

The clinic, which serves about 1,500 people, has gone through six nurse practitioners in the last five years.
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