Shawniganin Cowichan Valley B, British Columbia
It lies in Cowichan Valley. The town, home to 9,903 people, lies in British Columbia.
Is Shawnigan a good place to live?
Mostly strong, with a single weak spot. With a B overall, Shawnigan is better than 56% of Canadian towns. The ranking puts it #64 of 250 in British Columbia. Its strongest is schools (A+). It is a safe place by the numbers (B+). Buying in is costly (D). Its other grades sit near the middle: C+ for health, B− for jobs & income, B− for walkability and B− for hazard risk.
This town's rent is the 2021 census rent scaled to 2025 by its province's ratio of surveyed to census rents: no rental survey covers it, so its Cost Grade is less sure. Safety is the police detachment's figure, shared with the towns and countryside around it. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
How Shawnigan grades
Each subject compares Shawnigan 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 TownRatings grades Canadian towns →
What makes Shawnigan stand out
The 3 things Shawnigan does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Shawnigan.
Independent schools are common around Shawnigan: 5 of 10
5 of 9 schools with results score above the middle in British Columbia. In or within 3 km of Shawnigan: 6 elementary schools, 3 secondary schools and 1 school for every grade.
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery Elementary Bottom fifth in British ColumbiaIn ShawniganElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Shawnigan Lake IndependentIn ShawniganSecondary | Secondary | – | Independent |
| Brentwood College IndependentResults in the top fifth in British ColumbiaSecondary | Secondary | – | Independent |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26
More households own their home in Shawnigan than in British Columbia’s towns or across Canadian towns: 87%
Rent took 20% of household income, about level with Canadian towns (20%) and below British Columbia’s towns (24%).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Shawnigan | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 87% | 76% | 74% |
| Rent as a share of income | 20% | 24% | 20% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 20% | 21% | 18% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Values come from owners at the 2021 census and incomes from 2020, so they predate the later rise in rates.
Winters are mild in Shawnigan: January nights hold at 1.6°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
Frost comes on 45 days a year, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). Gardeners get 213 frost-free days, from 4 April to 4 November. July afternoons in Shawnigan average 22.7°C. Snow peaks in December: 12 cm in a normal year.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Shawnigan | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days with frost a year | 45 | 60 | 159 |
| January night low | 1.6°C | 0.5°C | −13.5°C |
| July afternoon high | 22.7°C | 23.1°C | 25.5°C |
| Snowfall a year | 39 cm | 51 cm | 141 cm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Victoria (Airport))
Shawnigan is 11 km from Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Protected areas open to the public, within 10 km of the town: 31, above British Columbia’s towns (14) and Canadian towns (4) alike. Within 10 km of the town, just over a fifth of the land is protected, against 2.3% around a typical Canadian town. 8 beaches are mapped within 5 km, none with a name.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Shawnigan | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 22% | 6.7% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 31 | 14 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
For the force that serves Shawnigan, the Crime Severity Index is 50, below British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
Property crime in its police area ran at 17.3 per 1,000 residents a year, below both British Columbia’s towns (31) and Canadian towns (31.2). The violent index for its police area came to 53, below both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86).
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Shawnigan | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 17.3 | 31 | 31.2 |
| Crime Severity Index | 50 | 83 | 67 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 53 | 76 | 86 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Area behind the Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 figures: the Shawnigan Lake detachment area
Shawnigan is graded a C+ for health
Measured across the Central Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area: health survey and life expectancy
Just over one in ten adults smoke, daily or now and then, about level with Canadian towns (12%) and above British Columbia’s towns (9%). Lives in the region last 79.8 years on average (2022/2024): 82.6 for women, 77.1 for men. Across the region, 47% of adults say their health is very good or excellent; British Columbia as a whole reaches 50%. The town’s own part is the trip to care, and Shawnigan’s is long: 15 km to a hospital on average, against 3.7 km typical.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Shawnigan | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very good or excellent health | 47% | 50% | 52% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.8 | 81.0 | 81.5 |
| Smokers | 12% | 9% | 12% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 16% | 15% | 17% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Expect November days around 10°C in Shawnigan, nights around 3°C
At the extremes, July afternoons reach 23°C and February nights 1°C. December follows at 7°C by day and 2°C by night. A normal November brings 146 mm of rain and snow. ECCC’s forecast for Malahat is on the Weather page, hour by hour.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 8°C | 2°C | 386 mm |
| Spring | 14°C | 5°C | 165 mm |
| Summer | 22°C | 11°C | 73 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 6°C | 278 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Victoria (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page
Shawnigan sends Jeff Kibble (Conservative Party of Canada) to the Commons from Cowichan—Malahat—Langford
For local government, Shawnigan falls under Cowichan Valley B, a regional district electoral area.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
The nearest public library to Shawnigan is VIRL: South Cowichan Branch, 6.4 km away
After it comes VIRL: Cowichan Branch (North Cowichan), 15 km away.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Fewer of Shawnigan’s people belong to a visible minority than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 3.6%
Immigrants make up nearly one in ten residents, between British Columbia’s towns (12%) and Canadian towns (6.4%). One measure of family life: 17% of residents are under 15. Over-65s are 18% of the population.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 49.9% of Shawnigan
4,510 men and 4,485 women lived here in 2021, against a share of women of 50.9% for Canada.
| Shawnigan | British Columbia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 65% | 64% | 64% |
| 65+ | 18% | 21% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 12% | 13% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 56% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; British Columbia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Earthquakes are Shawnigan’s biggest hazard: $0.57 of damage a year per $1,000 of buildings, 19 times the norm
Cowichan Valley Regional District has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory. Health Canada’s survey found radon above the guideline in 0.9% of homes, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (1.8%) and Canadian towns (6.6%). Wildfire is rare near Shawnigan: 0.3% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, a burn rate of 0.008% a year. Shawnigan doesn’t get its own radon tests figures; the ones here come from the Central Vancouver Island health region.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Shawnigan | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.57 | $0.36 | $0.030 |
| Radon tests above the guideline | 0.9% | 1.8% | 6.6% |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Commuters in Shawnigan travel further than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns, 34 min on average
The car took 92% of commuters, above British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%) alike.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Shawnigan | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 34 min | 26 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 92% | 87% | 89% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Counted in May 2021, under pandemic rules: fewer commutes and more people between jobs than in a normal year.
Canada’s registers list 1 historic place in Shawnigan
8.1% of its homes were built before 1961, below both British Columbia’s towns (11%) and Canadian towns (18%).
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
| Heritage | Shawnigan | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 8.1% | 11% | 18% |
Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period
Everything we know about Shawnigan
Shawnigan Lake Museum and 4 more in and around Shawnigan
From museums to parks and historic sites: Shawnigan’s places to visit and those just beyond its edge, most famous first.
Famous people from around Shawnigan
One notable person was born in Shawnigan; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.
Photo credits
Frances Oldham Kelsey: The photographer is unknown., Public domain · Mac DeMarco: Paul Carless from St Albans, UK, CC BY 2.0 · Matt Ellison: This photo is a work by Artem Korzhimanov . You can find more of my works in my gallery and in the category Photos by Artem Korzhimanov . Even more of my works can be found in my galleries at Pic, CC BY 3.0 · Russ Courtnall: Horge, CC BY 3.0
About Shawnigan
Town in British Columbia
Shawnigan is a municipality in British Columbia, read by TownRatings as Statistics Canada draws it: one census subdivision, so its figures cover the whole municipality.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 9,903 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Census division
- Cowichan Valley
- Census subdivision
- 5919046
Shawnigan’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnigan | 9,903 | — | B | D | B+ | C+ |
| Electoral Area A, Cowichan Valley | 5,156 | 6.6 | B− | D | B+ | B− |
| Cobble Hill | 5,074 | 7 | B | D− | B+ | C+ |
| Cowichan Bay | 3,713 | 9.6 | D | D | D | B− |
| Cowichan | 2,509 | 13 | — | — | — | B− |
| Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley | 4,482 | 13 | D | D | D | B− |
| Duncan | 5,745 | 15 | D− | D− | D− | B |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Shawnigan
Who are the people of Shawnigan?
At the 2021 census, 9% were immigrants and 4% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 6% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.
What kind of homes are in Shawnigan?
Single-detached houses make up 88% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments.
Has Shawnigan grown?
It added people: 8,558 in 2016, 8,994 in 2021, 5.1% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 9,903.
Is Shawnigan a young town or an old one?
The median resident is 44.4 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 17% are under 15 and 18% are 65 or over.
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).