People across Alberta were more generous charitable donors in 2017 from the previous year, according to Statistics Canada.

The federal agency reported on Friday that total donations reported by Alberta tax filers jumped to $1.6 billion in 2017, up 9.1 per cent from 2016.

“For Alberta, this was in sharp contrast to the decrease the previous year (-10.7 per cent from 2015 to 2016).”

In the Calgary census metropolitan area, generosity rose by 12.6 per cent to $664.3 million. In the Edmonton census metropolitan area, it was up by 6.4 per cent to $439.2 million.

StatsCan said total donations reported by Canadian tax filers rose to $9.6 billion in 2017, up 7.7 per cent from 2016.

“This increase more than offset a 2.6 per cent drop in donations in 2016, which was associated with slower economic growth that year for provinces rich in natural resources. Trends in total charitable donations do not always reflect trends in the overall economy, however, a similar rebound in donations was observed following the 2008 economic downturn,” it said.

The federal agency said Alberta had the largest decrease in the number of donors at 4.4 per cent with 585,490 donors in total.

The Calgary CMA saw a drop of 4.3 per cent to 213,050 donors while the Edmonton CMA experienced a 4.4 per cent decline to 196,180 donors.

Across Canada, the number of donating tax filers fell by 48,840 (-0.9 per cent) to 5,348,220, continuing a trend which started in 2011.

“Nationally, the median donation was $300 in 2017, meaning that half of those claiming a donation tax credit made donations of more than $300, while the other half donated less than $300. Nunavut had the highest median donation ($560) followed by Alberta with $480 and British Columbia with $460. The lowest median donation amount was in Quebec ($130),” said Statistics Canada.

“Among census metropolitan areas (CMAs), donors in Abbotsford–Mission, B.C., had the highest median charitable donation at $840. This was the 16th consecutive year that Abbotsford–Mission led the country with the highest median donation. Donors in Lethbridge, Alta., had the second highest median charitable donation ($700) among CMAs, followed by Saskatoon ($480), Vancouver ($480) and Calgary ($470).”

– Mario Toneguzzi for Calgary’s Business

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