Port McNeill

Port McNeill is a town in the North Island region of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada[3] on Vancouver Island's northeast shore, on Queen Charlotte Strait. Originally a base camp for loggers, it became a settlement in 1936. It was named after Captain William Henry McNeill of the Hudson's Bay Company.

Port McNeill
Town
Town of Port McNeill[1]
Port McNeill is located in Vancouver Island
Port McNeill
Port McNeill
Location of Port McNeill in British Columbia
Port McNeill is located in British Columbia
Port McNeill
Port McNeill
Port McNeill (British Columbia)
Port McNeill is located in Canada
Port McNeill
Port McNeill
Port McNeill (Canada)
Coordinates: 50°35′25″N 127°05′05″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
RegionVancouver Island
Regional districtMount Waddington
Founded1936
Incorporated1966
Government
 • Governing bodyPort McNeill Town Council
 • MayorJames Furney
Area
 • Total13.77 km2 (5.32 sq mi)
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2021 [2])
 • Total2,356
 • Density170/km2 (440/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Postal code
V0N 2R0
Area code(s)250, 778
Highways19
WaterwaysJohnstone Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait
ClimateCfb
WebsiteTown of Port McNeill

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population by Statistics Canada, Port McNeill's population was 2,356, living in 1,019 of its 1,111 total private dwellings, 0.8% higher than its 2016 population of 2,337. With a land area of 13.77 km2 (5.32 sq mi), it had a population density of 171.1/km2 (443.1/sq mi) in 2021.[4]

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Port McNeill included:[5]

Tourism and location

Along with housing the headquarters of the Regional District of Mount Waddington, Port McNeill is a central hub for all of North Vancouver Island. It offers the only access to the villages of Alert Bay (Cormorant Island) and Sointula (Malcolm Island) via BC Ferries which run daily. Port McNeill Airport is five minutes to the south on highway 19.

The town is also a popular summer tourism destination. There is a large population of wildlife including black bear, cougar, elk and deer. The town has a museum and a history centred on the area's logging history.

Other information

Logging remains the primary employer in Port McNeill, accounting for 25.7% of the labour force[6] and contributing about 8% of the total BC timber harvest.[7] The main contractors are Western Forest Products and LeMare Lake Logging. Port McNeill is also the home of the world's largest burl.[8]

Orca Sand & Gravel LP, the largest sand and gravel quarry in the northern hemisphere, opened here in February 2007. Material is shipped via 70,000 tonne container ships to ports in California and Hawaii and via 7000 tonne barges to Vancouver.[9]

Kwagis Power, owned by Brookfield Renewable Power and the 'Namgis First Nation, built a 45-megawatt hydroelectric facility on the Kokish River near Port McNeill. The Steelhead Society of B.C. and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee opposed the project. The project was finished in early 2014.[10][11]

Port McNeill is the hometown of Willie Mitchell, a former NHL defenceman, and the birthplace of former NHL defenceman Clayton Stoner. It is also the hometown of Thomas Symons,[12] Canada's rookie representation at the 2022 STIHL World Timbersports Championship, which began May 27 in Vienna, Austria.[13]

The first, second and fourth seasons of the History channel television show Alone were filmed in the forest outside Port McNeill. The third season filmed in Patagonia and featured local resident Megan Hanacek.[14]

References
  1. "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. "Census Profile, 2021 Census - Port McNeill [Population centre], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province]".
  3. "Port McNeill". BC Geographical Names.
  4. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  5. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  6. BC Stats Community Facts - Port McNeill
  7. Port McNeill website
  8. Roadside Attractions website
  9. "Server Home Page".
  10. "Building a 45-MW hydro project in British Columbia". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23.
  11. Duffy, Andrew (17 December 2011). "Conservationists brace for electric fight on Kokish River". Victoria Times-Colonist. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  12. "Thomas Symons". STIHL. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  13. "A cut above: Port McNeill rookie heads to Vienna to compete in world logger sports". Victoria Times Colonist. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  14. Megan Hanacek survived in the wild for 78 days on hit TV show Alone
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