Fairwindsin Nanaimo E, British Columbia

Most households in Fairwinds own their home: 91%, more than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns

A year’s rent came to 24% of the median household income, about level with British Columbia’s towns (24%) and above Canadian towns (20%). 13% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, below both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%).

The police who cover Fairwinds record less serious crime than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: a Crime Severity Index of 45

These figures come from the closest detachment: none reports for Fairwinds itself

The violent index for its police area came to 43, below both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). Across its police area, there are 21 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year. The force’s area logs 9.8 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

Winters are mild in Fairwinds: January nights hold at 1.5°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

Snow peaks in December: 17 cm in a normal year. Frosty days number 46 in a normal year, below British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159) alike. Gardeners get 218 frost-free days, from 1 April to 6 November. July afternoons in Fairwinds average 23.1°C.

Older than 99% of Canadian towns: half of Fairwinds is over 61.6

3.7% of residents belong to a visible minority, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%). First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 2.8% of residents, lower than British Columbia’s towns (5%) and near Canadian towns (2.8%).

Fairwinds’s teenagers travel 13 km to the nearest high school

On results, 2 of its 3 tested schools sit in the lower two fifths in British Columbia. Elementary school is 2.3 km away at the nearest, above both British Columbia’s towns (0.6 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km).

Fairwinds is a driving town: 94% of commuters go by car, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

The average trip to work took 27 min, close to both British Columbia’s towns (26 min) and Canadian towns (26 min).

Expect November days around 9°C in Fairwinds, nights around 3°C

Rain and snow over a typical November come to 189 mm. ECCC’s forecast for Qualicum Beach is on the Weather page, hour by hour.

Courtenay—Alberni was won by 8,431 votes in 2021, a tighter race than two in three ridings

The riding (a federal electoral district, which elects one MP) covering Fairwinds is Courtenay—Alberni, and Gord Johns (New Democratic Party) represents it in the House of Commons.

No public library stands in Fairwinds: the closest, VIRL: Parksville Branch, is 11 km away

Step out of Fairwinds into Arbutus Grove Park

Within 5 km are 15 beaches; Wall Beach is the nearest. A drive of 61 km reaches Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, the nearest national park. The 10 km around town hold 23 protected areas. Parks and reserves take up 2.2% of the ground within 10 km, about level with Canadian towns (2.3%) and below British Columbia’s towns (6.7%).

Fairwinds’ region trails the typical Canadian town by 1.7 years: life expectancy 79.8

12% of adults smoke, daily or now and then, above British Columbia’s towns (9%) and close to Canadian towns (12%). In the health survey, 47% of adults in the region rate their health very good or excellent, fewer than British Columbia’s 50%. The town’s own part is the trip to care, and Fairwinds’ is long: 11 km to a hospital on average, against 3.7 km typical.

Shaking costs buildings in Fairwinds $0.34 a year per $1,000 of value, 11 times the typical town’s

In Health Canada’s survey, just 0.9% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). Wildfire is rare near Fairwinds: 0.2% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, a burn rate of 0.006% a year. No flood study for Fairwinds is on the national inventory.