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List of communities in British Columbia

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List of communities in British Columbia

Communities in the province of British Columbia, Canada can include incorporated municipalities, Indian reserves, unincorporated communities or localities. Unincorporated communities can be further classified as recreational or urban.

Contents

Municipalities

The majority of British Columbia's municipalities are incorporated as cities, district municipalities, towns or villages. Other types of municipality in the province include an Indian government district, an island municipality, two mountain resort municipalities, a regional municipality and a resort municipality.

Cities

Under current legislation, a community may incorporate as a city if its population is greater than 5,000 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation. British Columbia has 50 cities. Greenwood incorporated as a city in 1897 prior to the current legislation and retains this status despite its population of 708 being less than the current 5,000 threshold. Six other cities also have populations less than 5,000 yet retain their status.

District municipalities

A community may incorporate as a district municipality if it has area greater than 800 ha (2,000 acres) and has a population density of less than 5 people per hectare, and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation. British Columbia has 50 district municipalities.

Indian government districts

British Columbia has one Indian government district. The Sechelt Indian Government District comprises 33 separate pieces of land, all of them formerly Indian reserves.

Island municipalities

British Columbia has one island municipality, Bowen Island.

Mountain resort municipalities

British Columbia has two mountain resort municipalities, Jumbo Glacier and Sun Peaks.

Regional municipalities

British Columbia has one regional municipality, Northern Rockies.

Resort municipalities

British Columbia has one resort municipality, Whistler.

Towns

A community may incorporate as a town if its population is greater than 2,500 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation. British Columbia has 14 towns. The former Town of Fort Nelson amalgamated with the Northern Rockies Regional District on February 6, 2009 to form the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality.

Villages

A community with a population less than 2,500 may incorporate as a village if the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation. British Columbia has 42 villages.

List of municipalities

British Columbia is the third-most populous province in Canada with 4,648,055 residents as of 2016 and is the second-largest in land area at 922,503 km2 (356,180 sq mi). British Columbia's 162 municipalities cover only 7001110000000000000♠11% of the province's land mass yet are home to 7001890000000000000♠89% of its population. A municipality is a local government incorporated by the province allowing a community to govern itself and to provide and regulate local services. These services typically include, but are not limited to, the provision of drinking water, sewers, roads, fire protection, street lights, garbage/recycling collection, land use planning, building inspection, and parks.

Within their limited jurisdictions, municipalities are autonomous, responsible and accountable to their citizens, to the province and their future residents in the case for the unpopulated Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality. Their powers and responsibilities are regulated through the Local Government Act of British Columbia, the Community Charter, and, in the case of Vancouver, the Vancouver Charter. They have the power of a natural person, the power to expropriate, and the power to establish and enforce bylaws. They are able to raise funds through property taxes and user fees, and borrow a limited amount through the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia to pay for capital costs.

Municipalities are governed by a mayor and council who are democratically elected every 4 years on the third Saturday in October or appointed by the province such as the council for Jumbo Glacier. The most recent election took place on November 15, 2014; the next election will take place on October 20, 2018. Each municipality is a member of a regional district to which their councils elect representatives. The board of directors of the regional district is used as a forum to discuss regional issues.

To become a municipality, a community, with the assistance of the provincial Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, defines its borders and holds a referendum on the issue. In the case of Jumbo Glacier, a request to incorporate the unpopulated municipality was submitted by the Regional District of East Kootenay. If successful the Cabinet of British Columbia issues a letters patent incorporating the community. Part 2 of the Local Government Act sets out a classification scheme that gives each new municipality a designation. If the population is less than 2,500 people the new municipality is designated a village, if between 2,500 and 5,000 a town, and if greater than 5,000 a city. If the new municipality has an area greater than 800 hectares (2,000 acres) and an average population density of less than 5 persons per hectare then is it designated a district municipality. The municipality must request change in designation but is not compelled to do so, despite population growth or loss - Greenwood has retained its city status, for example, rather than relinquishing it as other boomtowns of its era have done. There is no longer any legal difference between the designations.

Cities

A city is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor in Council may incorporate a community as a city by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if its population is greater than 5,000 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.

British Columbia has 51 cities, had a cumulative population of 3,225,586 in the 2016 Census. British Columbia's largest and smallest cities are Vancouver and Greenwood with populations of 631,486 and 665 respectively. The fastest-growing city in British Columbia is Langford, which grew 20.9% between 2011 and 2016, while the fastest-shrinking is Greenwood, which shrunk by 6.1%. The largest city by land area is Abbotsford, which spans 375.55 km2 (145.00 sq mi), while the smallest is Duncan, at 2.07 km2 (0.80 sq mi). The first community to incorporate as a city was New Westminster on July 16, 1860, while the most recent community to incorporate as a city was West Kelowna on June 26, 2015.

District municipalities

A district municipality is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor in Council may incorporate a community as a district municipality by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if the area is greater than 800 ha (2,000 acres) and has a population density of less than 5 people per hectare, and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.

British Columbia has 50 district municipalities that had a cumulative population of 770,148 in the 2016 Census. British Columbia's largest and smallest district municipalities are Langly and Wells with populations of 117,285 and 217 respectively. The fastest-growing district municipality in British Columbia is Invermere, which grew 14.8% between 2011 and 2016, while the fastest-shrinking is Tumbler Ridge, which shrunk by 26.7%.

Of British Columbia's current 50 district municipalities, the first to incorporate as a district municipality was North Cowichan on June 18, 1873, while the most recent community to incorporate as a district municipality was the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) on February 6, 2009. Although portrayed as a regional municipality in its official name, the NRRM is actually classified as a district municipality.

Indian government districts

The lone Indian government district was granted by the federal Sechelt Indian Band Self-Government Act and provincial Sechelt Indian Government District Enabling Act to the Sechelt Indian Government District which governs the Sechelt Indian Band lands consisting of 33 former Indian reserves.

Island municipalities

If the community wishing to incorporate is located within a trust area under the Island Trust Act, it must incorporate as an island municipality. A single island municipality designation has been granted to Bowen Island.

Mountain resort municipalities

A mountain resort municipality designation is granted by the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development through the Local Government Act if there exists alpine ski lift operations, year-round recreational facilities, and commercial overnight accommodations. There are two mountain resort municipalities in British Columbia: Sun Peaks and Jumbo Glacier.

Resort municipalities

A single resort municipality designation has been granted to Whistler by the Resort Municipality of Whistler Act.

Towns

A town is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor in Council may incorporate a community as a town by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if its population is greater than 2,500 but not greater than 5,000 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.

British Columbia has 14 towns that had a cumulative population of 91,057 in the 2016 Census. British Columbia's largest and smallest towns are Comox and Port McNeill with populations of 14,028 and 2,337 respectively. View Royal and Port McNeill are the fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking towns in the province, growing by 10.9% and shrinking by 6.7% respectively between 2011 and 2016. Of British Columbia's current 14 towns, the first to incorporate as a town was Ladysmith on June 3, 1904, while the most recent community to incorporate as a town was View Royal on December 5, 1988.

Villages

A village is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor in Council may incorporate a community as a village by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if its population is not greater than 2,500 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.

British Columbia has 42 villages that had a cumulative population of 44,454 in the 2016 Census. British Columbia's largest and smallest villages are Cumberland and Zeballos with populations of 3,753 and 107 respectively. Keremeos and Port Clements are the fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking villages in the province, growing by 12.9% and shrinking by 25.4% respectively between 2011 and 2016. Of British Columbia's current 42 villages, the first to incorporate as a village was Kaslo on August 14, 1893, while the most recent community to incorporate as a village was Queen Charlotte on December 5, 2005.

Former municipalities

Communities in British Columbia that once held their own municipal status include Aennofield, Alberni, Brocklehurst, Chapman Camp, Chilliwhack, Columbia, Cranberry Lake, Dewdney, Dufferin, Fort Nelson, Fraser Mills, Glenmore, Guisachan, Kinnaird, Marysville, Matsqui, Mission City, Natal, Nicomen Island, North Kamloops, Phoenix, Point Grey, Sandon, South Fort George, South Vancouver, Sumas, Tadanac, Valleyview and Westview. The majority of these former municipalities ceased to exist as a result of amalgamation with or annexation by another municipality. Others, such as Phoenix and Sandon, were dissolved from their municipal status as a result of population decline, while Dewdney dissolved due to financial reasons.

Indian reserves

Indian Reserves are administered under a separate legal designation from other communities. Under the division of powers in Canadian law - First Nations (formally and still legally defined as Indians) fall under federal jurisdiction, while non-Aboriginal communities are part of a separate system that is largely the responsibility of the Provinces.

Communities

A community in British Columbia is an "unincorporated populated place". British Columbia has 889 communities, some of which are located within municipalities or Indian reserves.

Recreational communities

A recreational community in British Columbia is an "unincorporated place with seasonal or year-round services, accommodation and amenities associated primarily with recreational or leisure activities". British Columbia has 11 communities that are classified as recreational communities.

Urban communities

An urban community in British Columbia is a "separately named area within the limits of an incorporated municipality". British Columbia has 10 communities that are classified as urban communities.

Localities

A locality in British Columbia is a "named place or area, with or without a scattered population". British Columbia has 556 localities, not including those that have been abandoned or are classified as former localities.

Abandoned localities

An abandoned locality in British Columbia is a "previously populated place with no current population; often a modern landmark in a remote location". British Columbia has 18 localities that are considered abandoned.

Former localities

A former locality in British Columbia is a "once-populated place with no current population or that is usually uninhabited". British Columbia recognizes eight places as former localities.

Landings

"Landings", formerly classed as "steamer landings" are found along coastal BC an on certain inland waterways and lakes. They were often associated with mining and logging camps or fish canneries, or local agricultural settlements.

  • Jedway
  • Kootenay Landing
  • Company towns

    Company towns were once common in British Columbia. Many were large, but never had municipal government and were largely located on company-owned land. A few such as Granisle, Tumbler Ridge and Wells became municipalities, while others have become ghost towns. Among the largest were Anyox, Bralorne, Ocean Falls, Cassiar, Gold Harbour (Tasu) and Kitsault.

    References

    List of communities in British Columbia Wikipedia


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