Census 2016:
25 compelling stats about the people who live in the Powell River region
T
hese are based on the recently-released Statistics Canada Census 2016 numbers for the Powell River Regional District (including the city), and their equivalent Census-generated statistics in 2011 and 2006. In late November, the federal agency will release another set of Census stats on education, labour, journey to work, language of work, and mobility and migration. Two immediate take-aways from what’s been released so far: Powell River is getting older, and wow, a lot of locals live on very little money. Do you have thoughts about the changing face of Powell River, as revealed by the Census? Let us know! pieta@prliving.ca.
d r o ast W
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PIETA WOOLLEY pieta@prliving.ca
Population
13. At home, 340 people speak a non-official language. The most common are Italian and Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin).
1. Between 2011 and 2016, the population grew by 164 people, from 19,906 to 20,070. Note: many residents also died or moved out of town - so the numbers of new Powell Riverites will be much higher than 164. We’ll find out Nov. 29 (the next Census info release date) how many people have moved here since 2011.
14. Far fewer people living in Powell River have a mother tongue that’s not English or French than a decade ago. In 2006, 2,085 people learned to speak a different language at home. In 2016, just 1,575 did. Perhaps this change represents deaths among the generations who immigrated here after the World Wars?
2. From 2011 to 2016, the population here grew by just under one percent; BC’s grew by almost six percent.
Money
3. About one in three of us are over 65 – higher than the provincial average. In BC, one in five is over 65.
15. Median individual income among those aged 15 and up was $29,296. In BC, it was $33,012.
4. Median age here: 53.5. Median age in BC: a decade younger, at 43.
16. Just 760 local individuals make over $100,000 a year.
5. The median age here is up three years since 2011, and six years sinxe 2006 (when it was 47.5 years).
18. Median household income is $53,056. That’s up slightly in inflation-adjusted dollars; a decade ago, it was $51,629. Though of course, food, housing and fuel have all increased significantly over inflation during this period.
6. Powell River has lost 380 under-18s in just five years. 7. The region has gained 680 seniors over the same time. 8. More than one third of Powell River families with kids are headed by single parents: 590 women, 205 men. 9. The number of single adults who have never married is way down over 10 years – from 4,330 in 2006 to 3,590 in 2016. Still, there’s nearly 7,000 singles here – including those who are separated, divorced, or widowed. With that much choice, you’d think finding a honey would be easy!
Language
10. 100 locals have an Aboriginal language as a mother tongue. 11. There are more people who speak German as a first language here (295) than Italian (220) 12. French is the mother tongue for 490 locals; English 19,365, and just 20 people grew up speaking both English and French.
17. More than 5,000 adults earn less than $20,000 a year
19. Of the 3,185 people living alone, their median income is $27,410. 20. As many households earn under $25,000 as over $100,000. 21. Divide Powell River households into three income brackets and this is what you get: one-third earning $0 to $40,000; onethird earning $40,000 to $80,000, and one third earning $80,000 and up. In other words, if your family earns over $80,000 a year, you’re a 33 percenter. Also, you could be considered “middle class” if your household earns $40,000 to $80,000. 22. Single-parents families have a median income of $40,992. 23. Couple families with children have a median income of $97,024. 24. One in four families with children are considered low-income. 25. One in six seniors are considered low-income.
First Nations Art, Jewelry and Gifts
Gas • Grocery • Home of the Sli City Grill • Eat in / Take out • Catering • 604-414-0269 • tlaaminstore@gmail.com • 5245 Hwy 101 North
has arrived at
Pampering presents for the bath, beautifying gifts for the body and scent-sational fragrances. Run a hot bath, add the mustard bath, inhale and relax.
604 485-9493 In the Town Centre Mall
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• november 2017 • prliving.ca