Community Profile

Welcome to North Vancouver

Nestled between the coastal mountains and Burrard Inlet and home to acres of world-famous West Coast Rainforest, North Vancouver epitomizes British Columbia’s famed outdoor lifestyle.

North Vancouver is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ ílwətaʔ/ Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The region remains home to the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, as well as the City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver.

In North Vancouver, you will find a strong business community, friendly people, a growing infrastructure, and a focus on a sustainable future. It’s the ultimate “work, live, play” community located a short SeaBus ride from downtown Vancouver, the second largest metropolitan area in Canada.

The region is committed to a green lifestyle through transportation and housing policies, efficient utilities, and sustainable business practices.

Average yearly rainfall (mm): 1,699
Average yearly snowfall (cm): 26
Average temperatures: It is coldest in North Vancouver, B.C. in December when the temperature drops to 0.8 °C and warmest in July when it hits 22.2 °C.

LOCATION:

Location: 49.32°N, -123.07°W
Geographical size: 173 square kilometres
Elevation: 108.73 metres • City of North Vancouver City is 12 sq km
District of North Vancouver is 161 sq km

Our People

Total population: 139,658
According to Statistics Canada, the Aboriginal population was 2,510 in 2016, made up of 1,415 First Nations, 10 Inuit, and 960 Métis. The local Aboriginal population is the fastest – and youngest – growing population in Canada.
Median age: 44.3 • Presently, there are around 21,400 people who will reach retirement in the next 15 years – the average age of retirement in Canada is 61.

POPULATION GROWTH:

In recent years. the main source of population growth has been migration, with close to a 9% growth rate.
The overall population grew by 1,523 people, an average growth rate of 0.36%, from 2011 to 2016.
The 10-year projections (2018-2028) for the region foresee positive population growth of just over 2% – a slower rate of growth compared to the metro Vancouver region, which is predicted to grow at a rate of over 11%.

HOUSEHOLDS:

Most popular dwelling size: 4 or more bedrooms
Least popular dwelling size: 1 bedroom or less
41.6%, which is the majority of homes in North Vancouver, B.C., have 4 or more bedrooms. Homes with 3 bedrooms are also very popular, with 9,010 homes built with this number of bedrooms. The third largest category of homes according to a number of bedrooms are 2 bedrooms representing 19.76% of dwellings.
Median 3 bedroom housing price: $1,198,000
Median 3 bedroom apartment price: $998,000
Median household income: $103,981 per year

Workforce and Industry

Total Labour Force: 78,675 • Resident Workforce: 71,365
Labour Force Participation Rate: 69%
Employment: North Vancouver contains 80 jobs for every 100 employed residents. In other words, it is a net exporter of 20% of its workforce. As a result, local businesses who offer local jobs and shorter commutes create attractive opportunities for residents.
Employment rate: 65%
The sales and service sector employs 17,800 resident, the business, finance, and administration sector employs 13,140 residents, and 11,245 residents hold management positions.
The most concentrated occupations are in management, art, culture, recreation, and sport.
The fastest growing occupations between 2011 and 2016 were in arts and recreation, and in manufacturing and utilities. Natural and applied science occupations are a strong and growing labour pool as well.
Business Sizes: 69.6% of North Vancouver businesses have fewer than 4 employees, and 97.9% employ 49 staff or less.

Educational Attainment

47% of North Vancouver residents age 25 to 64 years hold a university certificate, degree, or diploma at a bachelor level and above. This is substantially higher than the metro average of 37.5% for post-secondary attainment.
Residents in the region of North Vancouver frequently attend post-secondary school – 24.5% of the population hold a Bachelor’s degree, which is 9% higher than the rest of the population of B.C.

Transportation

North Vancouver is connected to the rest of the region through road, rail, sea, and air. 33% of commuters travel to work within the region, while 58% travel outside the region.
YVR airport is only a 35-minute drive away and the Abbotsford International Airport is a 45-minute drive away. • The Trans-Canada Highway runs across North Vancouver, connecting the region to Whistler and to the ferries that travel to Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and Bowen Island.
North Vancouver is connected to Vancouver by two bridges: the Lions Gate and the Ironworkers Memorial, both spanning the Burrard Inlet. There is also a passenger ferry, the Seabus, which crosses the Inlet in just 12 minutes.

Getting around North Vancouver:

Translink buses travel over land and sea
E-bikes Share Pilot Project: City of North Vancouver council unanimously voted to support an e-bike program in November of 2018.
Car Shares: Evo & Car2Go

Utilities

North Vancouver strives to ensure a business-friendly tax environment, while offering high-quality infrastructure and services to support the needs of the economy. Both the District and the City of North Vancouver offer competitive tax rates for business and industrial classes.
Electricity service is run by BC Hydro.

Natural gas basic rates: Natural gas is provided by FortisBC. In North Vancouver, there is a local provider of dependable, clean, and competitively priced energy: The Lonsdale Energy Corporation.