Electoral Area C, qathetBritish Columbia

With 2,409 residents, it is a town in British Columbia. Its population rose 6% from 2016 to 2021.

3 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain

Population

2,409

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

56%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Electoral Area C, qathet a good place to live?

Health is its strong suit (A+). Homes are dear (D). It lags on jobs & income as well (D). Elsewhere it is close to typical: B− for safety and C+ for hazard risk.

Canadian towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Electoral Area C, qathet has subject grades only.

Safety less sure: no police service names this town, so its crime figure is the nearest police detachment's, shared with a wider area. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestA⁺HealthWeakestDCost of living DJobs & income

How Electoral Area C, qathet grades

Each subject compares Electoral Area C, qathet with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.

How grading works

Canadian towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Electoral Area C, qathet has subject grades only.

HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedA⁺Open →Cost of livingIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedDOpen →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentDOpen →SchoolsSchools are among the weakest comparedC⁻Open →WalkabilityBelow the middle of the towns comparedC⁺Open →Hazard riskBased on earthquake losses and radon in homes; a high wildfire risk can pull it downC⁺Open →SafetyAbout average among the towns comparedB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Electoral Area C, qathet stand out

The 3 things Electoral Area C, qathet does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Immigrants

Who lives here

15% are immigrants

Canadian towns centre on 6%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Health

Better than 98%

of Canadian towns on health

Its health grade: A+.

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

34% are 65 or over

Next to 19%, the median among Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Electoral Area C, qathet.

HealthHealth A⁺

For health, Electoral Area C, qathet gets an A+

59%very good or excellent healthA⁺Health Grade

Health survey and life expectancy for the North Shore/Coast Garibaldi Health Service Delivery Area

Chronic conditions run at 12% of adults, age-standardised, below both British Columbia’s towns (15%) and Canadian towns (17%). A baby born in the region can expect 84.3 years, 86.3 for a girl and 82.3 for a boy (2022/2024). At 6.5%, the share of adults who smoke sits under the 8.9% for British Columbia. Adults here are more upbeat about their health than the province: 59% very good or excellent, against 50% in British Columbia.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Electoral Area C, qathet59%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Electoral Area C, qathet	British Columbia	Canada
Very good or excellent health	59%	50%	52%
Chronic conditions (average share)	12%	15%	17%
Life expectancy at birth	84.3	81.0	81.5
Smokers	6.5%	9%	12%

84.3

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

15 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

6.5%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

14 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey59% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care15 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 14 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 86.3, men 82.3 Conditions and habits12% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

HousingCost of living D

Measured against local pay, Electoral Area C, qathet costs more to live in than 92% of Canadian towns

$500,000median home value, 2021DCost of living Grade

Source area for rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom: the Powell River metro area

A year’s rent came to 22% of the median household income, lower than British Columbia’s towns (24%) yet higher than Canadian towns (20%). Owners put the median home at $500,000, between British Columbia’s towns ($720,000) and Canadian towns ($406,000).

What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census

Electoral Area C, qathet$500,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Electoral Area C, qathet	British Columbia	Canada
Median home value, 2021	$500,000	$720,000	$406,000
Rent as a share of income	22%	24%	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	20%	21%	18%

$1,182

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$645

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Cost of living7.7 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $500,000, against the median household income Renting$1,182 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Owners and renters76% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · The 2021 census asked owners what their home was worth; those values, and 2020 incomes, are what this compares.

Work & commuteJobs & income D

Most of Electoral Area C, qathet works elsewhere: the town has 0.5 jobs for each resident in work

4%walk, cycle or take transit

The average trip to work takes 25 min. The car took 91% of commuters, above British Columbia’s towns (87%) and close to Canadian towns (89%).

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van91%

Walk3%

Public transit2%

Census 2021	Electoral Area C, qathet	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	25 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	91%	87%	89%

$65,000

median household income, 2020

21%

worked from home, May 2021

18%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment13% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work4% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to315 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Powell River

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · The 2021 census was taken in May 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions: more people than usual worked from home or were off work.

SchoolsSchools C⁻

The nearest high school to Electoral Area C, qathet is 11 km away

1school within 3 kmC⁻Schools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Kelly Creek Community School Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn Electoral Area C, qathetElementary	Elementary	–	English public

Schools within 3 km	Electoral Area C, qathet	British Columbia	Canada
Nearest secondary school	11 km	1.8 km	1.2 km

11 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school1 elementary school Results0 of 1 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language0 of 1 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Electoral Area C, qathet?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Climate

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

23.1°CJuly afternoons

Midsummer afternoons in Electoral Area C, qathet peak at about 23.1°C. Frost comes on 46 days a year, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). Gardeners get 218 frost-free days, from 1 April to 6 November. December is the wettest month, with 194 mm of rain and snow on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter6.6°C

Spring13.2°C

Summer22.0°C

Autumn13.6°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Electoral Area C, qathet	British Columbia	Canada
Days with frost a year	46	60	159
January night low	1.5°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
July afternoon high	23.1°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
Snowfall a year	51 cm	51 cm	141 cm

51 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

218

frost-free days, 1 Apr to 6 Nov

131

days with precipitation a year

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 23.1°C, January lows 1.5°C Rain and snow1,152 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow51 cm of snow a year Weather station38 km to the station · Comox

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Comox)

Who lives here

A median age of 56: Electoral Area C, qathet is older than 96% of Canadian towns

56median age

Visible minorities make up 4.6% of the population, below British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 6% of residents, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (5%) and Canadian towns (2.8%).

Electoral Area C, qathetBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

34%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree14%

Postsecondary qualification56%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 49.1% of Electoral Area C, qathet

Census 2021 put women at 1,080 and men at 1,120; women are 50.9% of Canada.

Who lives in Electoral Area C, qathet
	Electoral Area C, qathet	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	12%	14%	16%
15 to 64	54%	64%	64%
65+	34%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	14%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	56%	56%	56%

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages56 median age · 34% are 65 or over Households1,020 households · 2.1 people per household Immigrants15% are immigrants · 5% belong to a visible minority English and French8% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; British Columbia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

Natural hazardsHazard risk C⁺

Electoral Area C, qathet has one of Canada’s highest earthquake risks: $0.38 a year per $1,000, 13 times the typical town’s

Lowwildfire bandC⁺Hazard risk Grade

Fewer homes than usual carry radon here, 2.5% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. The national flood inventory has no study for Electoral Area C, qathet.

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Electoral Area C, qathet2.5%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Electoral Area C, qathet	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.38	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	2.5%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.38

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

Low

wildfire band

11 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Earthquakes$0.38 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Radon2.5% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Area behind the radon tests figures: the North Shore/Coast Garibaldi health region

Weather

Electoral Area C, qathet in November: highs near 9°C, lows near 3°C

9°Ca normal November afternoon

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

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November9°C

December6°C

January6°C

February7°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	7°C	1°C	483 mm
Spring	13°C	5°C	212 mm
Summer	22°C	13°C	97 mm
Autumn	14°C	7°C	361 mm

3°C

a normal November night

189 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest February

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Comox); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Electoral Area C, qathet sends Aaron Gunn (Conservative Party of Canada) to the Commons from North Island—Powell River

In the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Electoral Area C, qathet belongs to Powell River-Sunshine Coast; who holds it as MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the provincial or territorial legislature) isn’t on an open record, so no one is named.

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itRegional District Electoral Area

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade A

The nearest public library to Electoral Area C, qathet is Powell River Public Library, 13 km away

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Places to belong0 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

18 named trails run within 2 km of Electoral Area C, qathet

5.9%of the land within 10 km protected

The protected share of the 10 km around the town is 5.9%, between British Columbia’s towns (6.7%) and Canadian towns (2.3%). Within 5 km are 12 beaches; Mahoods Beach is the nearest. No national park lies within 100 km. CPCAD lists 9 protected areas within 10 km.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Electoral Area C, qathet5.9%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Electoral Area C, qathet	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	5.9%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	8	14	4

At the edge

to Saltery Bay Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Footpaths & routes18 named routes · Sunshine Coast Trail Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas9 protected areas within 10 km · Inland Lake Park National & provincial parksAt the edge to a provincial park · Saltery Bay Park

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

SafetySafety B⁻

For safety, Electoral Area C, qathet gets a B−

65Crime Severity Index

These figures come from the closest detachment: none reports for Electoral Area C, qathet itself

The index for the force that serves it came to 65, below British Columbia’s towns (83) and close to Canadian towns (67). For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 14.6 violent incidents are reported each year. Across its police area, there are 24.6 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Behind Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 sits data gathered across the Powell River detachment area, with Electoral Area C, qathet one part of it.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202371

202476

202548

2023–2025	Electoral Area C, qathet	British Columbia	Canada
Property crime per 1,000	24.6	31	31.2
Violent Crime Severity Index	97	76	86
Crime Severity Index	65	83	67
Violent crime	14.6	12.5	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

34%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageElectoral Area C, qathet’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety65 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Electoral Area C, qathet’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Electoral Area C, qathet safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Electoral Area C, qathet

15pages on Electoral Area C, qathet

The big questions

SafetyB⁻Crime Severity Index 65 Housing & costDHomes 7.7 × income Property pricesSchoolsC⁻One school within 3 km HealthA⁺Life expectancy 84.3 in its region Work & commuteD41% of adults in work Natural hazardsC⁺Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors5.9% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 23°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 56 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from around Electoral Area C, qathet

No notable person born in Electoral Area C, qathet is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.

How we find them →

Connie Polman-TuinCanadian heptathlete · born in Powell River · born 1963

Brad BombardirCanadian ice hockey player · born in Powell River · born 1972

Don ThompsonCanadian musician · born in Powell River · born 1940

Drew FergusonCanadian soccer player-coach · born in Powell River · born 1957

Kyla BremnerAustralian wrestler · born in Powell River · born 1977

Katrine ConroyCanadian politician · born in Powell River

Photo credits

Don Thompson: Courtesy the Fraser MacPherson estate c/o Guy MacPherson, CC BY 2.0 · Katrine Conroy: BC NDP, CC BY 2.0

About Electoral Area C, qathet

Town in British Columbia

The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Electoral Area C, qathet is one census subdivision in British Columbia, and TownRatings describes all of it.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 2,409 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Powell River
Metro area: Powell River
Census subdivision: 5927016

Electoral Area C, qathet’s neighbours

The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada

Electoral Area B, qathetElectoral Area D, qathetPowell RiverElectoral Area C, qathet

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Electoral Area C, qathet	2,409	—	—	D	B⁻	A⁺
Electoral Area B, qathet	1,714	8.9	—	D	B⁻	A⁺
Electoral Area D, qathet	1,221	13	—	D	B⁻	A⁺
Powell River	14,947	13	C	D	C⁻	A⁺

People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.

Questions about Electoral Area C, qathet

What kind of homes are in Electoral Area C, qathet?

Single-detached houses make up 91% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 33% of households are one person, and the average is 2.1.

How old are the people of Electoral Area C, qathet?

The median resident is 56 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 12% are under 15 and 34% are 65 or over.

Has Electoral Area C, qathet grown?

It grew from 2,064 people in 2016 to 2,197 in 2021, up 6.4%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 2,409.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2023–25 (35-10-0026, 35-10-0183 to 35-10-0190) · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.

Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).