OliverBritish Columbia

Hazard risk in Oliver is higher than in almost every Canadian town

Radon tests for the Okanagan health region

Earthquake risk in Oliver is ordinary: NRCan’s model puts building losses at $0.028 a year per $1,000 of value, close to the typical town’s $0.030. With 0.98% of the land around it burning each year, Oliver sits in the high wildfire band (37% within 25 km since 1986). In Health Canada’s survey, 17% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). Okanagan Basin Water Board has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory.

Measured against local pay, Oliver costs more to live in than 92% of Canadian towns

Rent took nearly a quarter of household income, close to British Columbia’s towns (24%) and above Canadian towns (20%). 78% of households are owner-occupiers.

Oliver has warmer summers than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: July afternoons reach 31.6°C

In January, overnight lows in Oliver settle at −3.8°C. Precipitation totals 344 mm a year, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (1,152 mm) and Canadian towns (883 mm). Snow peaks in December: 20 cm in a normal year. June is the wettest month, with 44 mm of rain and snow on average.

For safety, Oliver gets a D

Violent incidents came to 18.1 per 1,000 residents a year, above both British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12). Each year brings 54.9 property incidents per 1,000 residents.

Results around Oliver split both ways in British Columbia: 2 of 4 schools high, 1 low

Counting a 3 km margin, Oliver has 3 elementary schools, 1 secondary school and 3 alternative or adult schools.

Very good or excellent health for 52% of adults in Oliver’s health region

12% of adults smoke, daily or now and then, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (9%) and Canadian towns (12%). Women in the region live to 84.1 and men to 78.2, 81.0 years taken together (2022/2024). The town’s own part is the trip to care, and Oliver is well placed: 1.2 km to a hospital on average, against 3.7 km typical. Nobody publishes health survey and life expectancy for Oliver alone, so this card uses the figure for the Okanagan Health Service Delivery Area.

Commuters in Oliver have a short way to work, 17 min on average, less than in British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

The car took 87% of commuters, in line with British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%).

Oliver is older than 98% of Canadian towns: a median age of 58

First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 5.2% of residents, about level with British Columbia’s towns (5%) and above Canadian towns (2.8%). Visible minorities make up 15% of the population, higher than British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and near Canadian towns (15%).

In Oliver, November normally means 7°C afternoons and freezing nights

For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Osoyoos forecast. A normal November brings 28 mm of rain and snow. By December, a normal day reaches 2°C and a night falls to −3°C. Snow is normal by November, about 8 cm over the month.

Oliver’s MP is Helena Konanz (Conservative Party of Canada), for Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay

Of the 43 Commons seats from British Columbia, the Liberal Party of Canada holds 20.

Oliver has two public libraries, ORL: Oliver Branch and Oliver Branch

Oliver has no library board of its own in the provincial statistics, so no visit or loan figures appear here.

Protected land around Oliver beats 9 in 10 Canadian towns

No national park lies within 100 km. A provincial park, Inkaneep Park, lies 2.0 km away. The largest named area nearby is South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area, 9,364 ha, 4.4 km away. Within 10 km are 24 protected areas.