Williams LakeBritish Columbia

For hazard risk, Williams Lake gets a D−

6.4% of radon tests in the survey area came in above the guideline, higher than British Columbia’s towns (1.8%) and near Canadian towns (6.6%). Wildfire is a real hazard for Williams Lake: 16% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, 0.45% a year, in the high band. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory. Earthquakes matter little: NRCan’s model puts building losses at $0.011 a year per $1,000 of value, against $0.030 for the typical town.

Violent crime weighs more on Williams Lake than on British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 249

Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 89.6 per 1,000 residents a year. Police recorded 40.6 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, above both British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12).

8 of Williams Lake’s 9 tested schools score in the lower two fifths in British Columbia

Fewer households own their home in Williams Lake than in British Columbia’s towns or across Canadian towns: 60%

Area-wide: rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom, counted over the Williams Lake metro area

14% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%). A year’s rent came to 23% of the median household income, lower than British Columbia’s towns (24%) yet higher than Canadian towns (20%).

January nights in Williams Lake drop to −10.9°C (British Columbia towns 0.5°C, Canadian towns −13.5°C)

Snowfall adds up to 176 cm a year, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (51 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). The frost-free season runs from 21 May to 14 September, 114 days. Expect July highs of around 22.7°C in Williams Lake. Snow peaks in December: 42 cm in a normal year.

Trips to work from Williams Lake are shorter than from British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 16 min on average

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

People in Williams Lake’s health region live to 78.8 on average, 2.7 years short of the typical Canadian town

Residents have 1.7 km to cover to reach a hospital, below both British Columbia’s towns (4.4 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). The region has more smokers than British Columbia, 13% of adults to 8.9%. On the other hand, in the health survey, 48% of adults in the region rate their health very good or excellent, fewer than British Columbia’s 50%.

More of Williams Lake’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 24%

Under-15s account for 17% of the population. Nearly one in ten residents came to Canada as immigrants, between British Columbia’s towns (12%) and Canadian towns (6.4%). Those 65 and older account for 20% of residents.

Williams Lake has more protected land around it than 9 in 10 Canadian towns

There is a beach within 5 km, unnamed on the map. 5.2 km from town is Fraser River Breaks Park, the nearest provincial park. No national park lies within 100 km. 8.3% of the town lies within a protected area.

In Williams Lake, November normally means 2°C afternoons and −5°C nights

The year peaks in July (23°C) and bottoms out in January (−11°C). Next comes December, with normal highs of −3°C and lows of −10°C. November normally sees 42 mm of precipitation. Snowfall in a normal November: 31 cm.

A 15,448-vote win for Todd Doherty made Cariboo—Prince George safer in 2021 than 79% of ridings

Statistics Canada lists Williams Lake as a city.

CRDL: Williams Lake Library is Williams Lake’s public library

From the centre of Williams Lake, it is 0.6 km away.