North Shore Community Profile published

With an 850 per cent increase in single family development permits for new houses in the City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver and the City of West Vancouver, it seems like many people know what United Way’s comprehensive community profile reveals: the North Shore appears to be a good place to live with relatively high incomes and relatively low unemployment and crime rates. However, 23,225 individuals are classified as low income, and rental properties are non-existent to scarce. The 2014 Homeless Count found a total of 119 homeless individuals living on the North Shore. A comprehensive report published today by United Way British Columbia, breaks down population, economic and social statistics in five communities on the North Shore: City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Lions Bay and Bowen Island. The United Way British Columbia North Shore Community Profile includes information on:

• Population (demographics, growth trends, languages spoken)
• Economic factors (income, unemployment rates, education, housing)
• Social factors (homelessness, family structure, childhood vulnerability, causes of death)
• Data on calls handled by bc211, the 24/7 multilingual social service help line that United Way funds

  In 2015, United Way invested $1.2 million on the North Shore funding 36 organizations that deliver 44 programs and services to residents. Programs and services supported by United Way include early childhood development, after-school programs, senior support, refugee support, and food security. “Neighbourhood-specific research like this helps not only United Way but also municipalities, school districts and other social service organizations plan for the future,” said Michael McKnight, President & CEO, United Way British Columbia. “Research also helps United Way make smart community investments.” This is the sixth Community Profile published by United Way over the past 18 months. United Way’s Surrey/White Rock Community Profile was published in September, Richmond Community Profile in December, Tri-Cities Community Profile was published in the spring, Delta Community Profile in October, and New Westminster Community Profile in December, 2016. North Shore Community Profile Highlights Population

• The North Shore’s population in 2011 was 180,022 residents. From 2001 to 2011, the region experienced an 11% growth rate, relatively low when compared to Surrey’s 35% growth rate during the same time period. Population projections estimate that by 2041, 243,700 people will live on the North Shore.
• 5% of North Shore residents are seniors (the highest proportion of the comparison municipalities)
• 34% of residents of the North Shore are foreign-born.
• In 2011, there were 60,205 immigrants living on the North Shore. 44% of that group came to Canada when they were between 25 and 44 years of age.
• In the North Vancouver School District, 23.8% of students speak languages other than English at home and in the West Vancouver School District, 35.2% of students speak languages other than English at home.
• In 2015/16 Persian was the most common other home language after English in the North Vancouver School District and Mandarin was the most common other home language in the West Vancouver School District.
• From 2007 to 2011, 7,000 babies were born on the North Shore.

  Economic indicators

• The median family income in the City of North Vancouver was $79,132; District of North Vancouver was $103,206; $109,563 for Lions Bay; and $115,425 for West Vancouver.
• 3% of the North Shore population living in private households were classified as low income.
• The top three occupations on the North Shore were: sales and service (21.6%); business, finance and administration (18.5%); and management (15.8%).
• The North Shore’s total unemployment rate in 2011 was 6.2%, lower than all other comparison municipalities.

  Social indicators

• The City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver reported 0 vacancies for bachelor, one bedroom, or three bedroom apartments. West Vancouver had 0 vacancy for all apartment types except 1.2 % for bachelor apartments.
• Crime rates on the North Shore are low: the violent crime rate is 1.8%; property crime, 4.7%; vehicle theft, 1.5%.

  Calls for assistance to the bc211 help line

• In 2015, there were 1,000 calls to bc211 from the North Shore. The top reasons for calls were housing and homelessness; health; and mental health.

  Read the report here. United Way British Columbia North Shore Community Profile Data sources: 2011 Census; bc211; UBC HELP.