List of municipalities in British Columbia

British Columbia is the third-most populous province in Canada, with 5,000,879 residents as of 2021, and is the second-largest in land area,[lower-alpha 1] at 920,687 km2 (355,479 sq mi).[2] British Columbia's 161 municipalities cover only 11 percent of the province's land mass yet are home to 89 percent of its population. A municipality is a local government incorporated by the province allowing a community to govern itself and to provide and regulate local services. These services typically include, but are not limited to, the provision of drinking water, sewers, roads, fire protection, street lights, garbage/recycling collection, land use planning, building inspection, and parks.

Location of British Columbia in Canada
Skyline of Vancouver, British Columbia's largest city
Skyline of Surrey, British Columbia's second largest city and suburb of Vancouver
Skyline of Burnaby, British Columbia's third largest city and suburb of Vancouver
Skyline of Richmond, British Columbia's fourth largest city and suburb of Vancouver
Skyline of Abbotsford, the largest city outside of Greater Vancouver
Skyline of Coquitlam, British Columbia's sixth largest city and suburb of Vancouver
Skyline of Kelowna, the largest city in the interior of British Columbia
Aerial view of Saanich, the largest municipality on Vancouver Island and suburb of the capital Victoria

Within their limited jurisdictions, municipalities are autonomous, responsible and accountable to their citizens and to the province. Their powers and responsibilities are regulated through the Local Government Act,[3] the Community Charter, and, in the case of Vancouver, the Vancouver Charter. They have the power of a natural person, the power to expropriate, and the power to establish and enforce bylaws. They are able to raise funds through property taxes and user fees, and borrow a limited amount through the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia to pay for capital costs.[4]

Municipalities are governed by a mayor and council who are democratically elected every 4 years on the third Saturday in October. The most recent election took place on October 20, 2018; the next election will take place on October 15, 2022.[5] Each municipality is a member of a regional district to which their councils elect representatives. The board of directors of the regional district is used as a forum to discuss regional issues.[4]

To become a municipality, a community, with the assistance of the provincial Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, defines its borders and holds a referendum on the issue. If successful the Cabinet of British Columbia issues a letters patent incorporating the community. Part 2 of the Local Government Act sets out a classification scheme that gives each new municipality a designation. If the population is fewer than 2,500 people the new municipality is designated a village, if between 2,500 and 5,000 a town, and if greater than 5,000 a city. If the new municipality has an area greater than 800 hectares (2,000 acres) and an average population density of fewer than 5 persons per hectare then is it designated a district municipality. The municipality must request change in designation but is not compelled to do so, despite population growth or loss – Greenwood has retained its city status, for example, rather than relinquishing it as other boomtowns of its era have done. There is no longer any legal difference between the designations.[4]

Cities

A city is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's lieutenant governor may incorporate a community as a city by letters patent, on the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if its population is greater than 5,000 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50 percent voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.[6]

British Columbia has 52 cities,[7][8][9][10] had a cumulative population of 3,630,140 in the 2021 census. British Columbia's largest and smallest cities are Vancouver and Greenwood with populations of 662,248 and 702 respectively.[11] The fastest-growing city in British Columbia is Langford, which grew 31.8 percent between 2016 and 2021, while the fastest-shrinking is Merritt, which shrunk by 1.2 percent.[11] The largest city by land area is Abbotsford, which spans 375.33 km2 (144.92 sq mi), while the smallest is Duncan, at 2.06 km2 (0.80 sq mi).[11] The first community to incorporate as a city was New Westminster on July 16, 1860,[7] while the most recent community to incorporate as a city was Mission on March 29, 2021.[10]

District municipalities

A district municipality is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's lieutenant governor may incorporate a community as a district municipality by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if the area is greater than 800 ha (2,000 acres) and has a population density of fewer than 5 people per hectare, and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50 percent voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.[6]

British Columbia has 49 district municipalities[7][9][12] that had a cumulative population of 669,454 in the 2021 Census.[11] British Columbia's largest and smallest district municipalities are Langley and Wells with populations of 132,603 and 218 respectively.[11] The fastest-growing district municipality in British Columbia is Stewart, which grew 28.9 percent between 2016 and 2021, while the fastest-shrinking is the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, which declined by 18.8 percent.

Of British Columbia's current 49 district municipalities, the first to incorporate as a district municipality was North Cowichan on June 18, 1873, while the most recent community to incorporate as a district municipality was the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) on February 6, 2009.[7][12] Although portrayed as a regional municipality in its official name, the NRRM is actually classified as a district municipality.[12]

Indian government districts

The lone Indian government district was granted by the federal Sechelt Indian Band Self-Government Act and provincial Sechelt Indian Government District Enabling Act to the Sechelt Indian Government District which governs the Sechelt Indian Band lands consisting of 33 former Indian reserves.[13][14][15]

Island municipalities

If the community wishing to incorporate is located within a trust area under the Island Trust Act, it must incorporate as an island municipality.[16] A single island municipality designation has been granted to Bowen Island.

Mountain resort municipalities

A mountain resort municipality designation is granted by the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development through the Local Government Act if there exists alpine ski lift operations, year-round recreational facilities, and commercial overnight accommodations. British Columbia's lone mountain resort municipality is Sun Peaks.

Resort municipalities

A single resort municipality designation has been granted to Whistler by the Resort Municipality of Whistler Act.[17]

Towns

A town is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's lieutenant governor may incorporate a community as a town by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if its population is greater than 2,500 but not greater than 5,000 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50 percent voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.[6]

British Columbia has 14 towns[7] that had a cumulative population of 95,922 in the 2021 census.[11] British Columbia's largest and smallest towns are Comox and Port McNeill with populations of 14,806 and 2,356 respectively. View Royal and Smithers are the fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking towns in the province, growing by 11.2 percent and shrinking by 0.4 percent respectively between 2016 and 2021.[11] Of British Columbia's current 14 towns, the first to incorporate as a town was Ladysmith on June 3, 1904, while the most recent community to incorporate as a town was View Royal on December 5, 1988.[7]

Villages
Shoreline of Zeballos, British Columbia's smallest municipality

A village is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's lieutenant governor may incorporate a community as a village by letters patent, on the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if its population is not greater than 2,500 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50 percent voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.[6]

British Columbia has 42 villages[7] that had a cumulative population of 48,511 in the 2021 census.[11] British Columbia's largest and smallest villages are Cumberland and Zeballos with populations of 4,447 and 126 respectively.[11] Radium Hot Springs and Silverton are the fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking villages in the province, growing by 72.6 percent and shrinking by 23.6 percent respectively between 2016 and 2021.[11] Of British Columbia's current 42 villages, the first to incorporate as a village was Kaslo on August 14, 1893, while the most recent community to incorporate as a village was Queen Charlotte on December 5, 2005.[7]

List of municipalities

Former municipalities

Communities in British Columbia that once held their own municipal status include Aennofield, Alberni, Brocklehurst, Chapman Camp, Columbia, Cranberry Lake, Dewdney, Dufferin, Fort Nelson, Fraser Mills, Glenmore, Guisachan, Kinnaird, Marysville, Matsqui, Mission City, Natal, Nicomen Island, North Kamloops, Phoenix, Point Grey, Sandon, South Fort George, South Vancouver, Sumas, Tadanac, Valleyview and Westview.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26] The majority of these former municipalities ceased to exist as a result of amalgamation with or annexation by another municipality.[20][21][22] Others, such as Phoenix and Sandon,[25][26] were dissolved from their municipal status as a result of population decline, while Dewdney dissolved due to financial reasons.[23] The Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality was dissolved in 2021.[27]

See also
  • List of designated places in British Columbia
  • List of Haida villages
  • List of population centres in British Columbia

Notes
  1. Although British Columbia is the second-largest province in land area, it is third-largest in total area after accounting for freshwater area.[1]
  2. Daajing Giids was formerly known as Queen Charlotte prior to July 13, 2022.[19]

References
  1. "Land and freshwater area, by province and territory". Statistics Canada. February 1, 2005. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  2. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2021 and 2016 censuses – 100% data". Statistics Canada. March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  3. "Local Government Act". British Columbia Queens Printer. 1996. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
  4. Union of British Columbia Municipalities. "Local Government in British Columbia: A Community Effort" (PDF). 2006 Edition. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 3, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2007.
  5. "Municipal Election Schedule in Canada". Intergovernmental Committee on Urban and Regional Research. December 15, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  6. "Local Government Act: Part 2 — Incorporation of Municipalities". Government of British Columbia Queen's Printer. November 12, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  7. "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  8. "Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council: Order in Council No. 513" (PDF). Province of British Columbia. September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  9. "Order in Council No. 357". Province of British Columbia. June 26, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  10. "Order in Council 0187-2021". March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  11. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  12. "Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Order in Council No. 033)" (PDF). Province of British Columbia. January 29, 2009. p. 3. Retrieved September 20, 2014. The class of the municipality is a district municipality.
  13. "Statistics Relating to Regional and Municipal Governments in BC 2011" (PDF). Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  14. "Sechelt Indian Band Self-Government Act" (PDF). Minister of Justice. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  15. "Sechelt Indian Government District Enabling Act". Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  16. "Island Trust Act". Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  17. "Resort Municipality of Whistler Act". Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  18. "Resume of Orders in Council: Volume 37, Number 8 (Order in Council 158)". British Columbia Queen's Printer. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  19. Ministry of Municipal Affairs (July 13, 2022). "Ancestral Haida name restored to Haida Gwaii village". BC Gov News. Government of British Columbia. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  20. "Municipal Census Populations (1921–2011)". BC Stats. Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  21. "Name Details: Brocklehurst (Community)". GeoBC. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  22. "Name Details: Grand Forks (City)". GeoBC. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  23. "Profiles of Historic Sites: Dewdney Community". Mission District Historical Society, Heritage Places Branch. March 14, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  24. "Profiles of Historic Sites: Nicomen Island Community". Mission District Historical Society, Heritage Places Branch. December 6, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  25. "Name Details: Phoenix (Abandoned Locality)". GeoBC. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  26. "From Boom to Bust in 20 Years: Sandon's History as an Incorporated City". Sandon Museum. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  27. "Province of British Columbia Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council No. 699/2021". Province of British Columbia. December 13, 2021.

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