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Wikipedia

Lower Mainland

January 10, 2023

The Lower Mainland is a geographic and cultural region of the mainland coast of British Columbia that generally comprises the regional districts of Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley. Home to approximately 3.05 million people as of the 2021 Canadian census,[a] the Lower Mainland contains sixteen of the province's 30 most populous municipalities and approximately 60% of the province's total population.[1]

Lower Mainland
Region
Core area of the Lower Mainland
Coordinates: 49°05′00″N 122°21′00″W / 49.08333°N 122.35000°W / 49.08333; -122.35000Coordinates: 49°05′00″N 122°21′00″W / 49.08333°N 122.35000°W / 49.08333; -122.35000
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
RegionBritish Columbia Coast
Area
 • Total36,303.31 km2 (14,016.79 sq mi)
 • Extended area31,368.24 km2 (12,111.35 sq mi)
 • Core area4,935.07 km2 (1,905.44 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total3,049,496[a][1]
 • Density84.1/km2 (218/sq mi)
 • Core area
2,924,685[b][2][3]
 • Extended area
124,811
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Postal code prefixes
V
Area codes236, 604, 672, 778

The region is the traditional territory of the Sto:lo, a Halkomelem-speaking people of the Coast Salish linguistic and cultural grouping.

Boundaries

Although the term Lower Mainland has been recorded from the earliest period of colonization in British Columbia, it has never been officially defined in legal terms. The term has historically been in popular usage for over a century to describe a region that extends from Horseshoe Bay south to the Canada–United States border and east to Hope at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley. This definition makes the term Lower Mainland almost synonymous with the regional districts of Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley.[4]

However, the British Columbia Geographical Names Information System (BCGNIS) comments that most residents of Vancouver might consider it to be only areas west of Mission and Abbotsford, while residents in the rest of the province consider it to be the Sea-to-Sky Corridor south of Whistler and west of Hope.[5]

Geography

See also: Lower Mainland Ecoregion and Puget lowland forests

The region is bounded to the north by the Pacific Ranges and to the southeast by the Cascade Mountains, and is traversed from east to west by the Fraser River. Due to its consistency of climate, flora and fauna, geology and land use, "Lower Mainland" is also the name of an ecoregion—a biogeoclimatic region—that comprises the eastern part of the Georgia Depression and extends from Powell River on the Sunshine Coast to Hope at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley.[6]

Climate

One of the mildest climates in Canada, the region has a mean annual temperature of 9 °C (48 °F) with a summer mean of 15 °C (59 °F) and a winter mean of 3.5 °C (38.3 °F). Annual precipitation ranges from an annual mean of 850 millimetres (33 in) in the west end to 2,000 millimetres (79 in) in the eastern end of the Fraser Valley and at higher elevations. Maximum precipitation occurs as rain in winter. Less than ten percent falls as snow at sea level but the amount of snowfall increases significantly with elevation.[6]

Demographics

Core area[b] population history
YearPop.±%
19711,121,018—    
19811,309,560+16.8%
19861,491,580+13.9%
19911,733,761+16.2%
19962,054,062+18.5%
20012,224,515+8.3%
20062,373,612+6.7%
20112,590,921+9.2%
20162,759,365+6.5%
20212,966,830+7.5%
Source: Statistics Canada[2][3][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

Population

As of the 2021 census, the population of the Lower Mainland core area totals 2,966,830:

These figures are slightly inflated due to the inclusion of areas within the Regional Districts which are not normally considered to be part of the Lower Mainland, notably the lower Fraser Canyon and the heads of Harrison and Pitt Lakes, which are within the FVRD, and Lions Bay and Bowen Island, which are within the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

Ethnicity

The Lower Mainland is among the most diverse regions in Canada. Europeans form a slight majority at 51.5 percent, followed by East Asians at 20.8 percent and South Asians at 12.2 percent.

Ethnic groups in the Lower Mainland (2016)[16][17] Population %
Ethnic group European 1,397,280 51.5%
East Asian 564,445 20.8%
South Asian 330,925 12.2%
Southeast Asian 173,060 6.4%
Aboriginal 98,565 3.6%
Middle Eastern 63,300 2.3%
Latin American 36,855 1.4%
Black 32,325 1.2%
Other 43,295 1.6%
Total population 2,715,000 100%

Language

Religion

The Lower Mainland includes large Christian, irreligious, and Sikh communities. The Sikh population, numbering over 265,000 persons or 9.1 percent of the total population is statistically significant across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley; proportionally, it is more than four times the national average of 2.1 percent.

Lower Mainland religious groups (2001−2021)
2021[2][3] 2011[18][19] 2001[13][14]
Population % Population % Population %
Irreligion 1,361,800 46.56% 1,042,815 40.86% 758,130 34.44%
Christianity 989,105 33.82% 1,088,160 42.63% 1,138,505 51.72%
Sikhism 265,870 9.09% 184,810 7.24% 116,110 5.27%
Islam 113,880 3.89% 74,320 2.91% 53,225 2.42%
Buddhism 72,595 2.48% 79,680 3.12% 76,140 3.46%
Hinduism 71,210 2.43% 42,205 1.65% 28,440 1.29%
Judaism 20,430 0.7% 19,125 0.75% 17,555 0.8%
Indigenous spirituality 2,895 0.1% 2,590 0.1% 2,225 0.1%
Other 26,900 0.92% 18,640 0.73% 11,015 0.5%
Total responses 2,924,685 98.58% 2,552,350 98.51% 2,201,325 98.96%
Total population[b] 2,966,830 100% 2,590,921 100% 2,224,515 100%

Regional districts

Regional districts were first created across British Columbia in 1966–1967 to form bodies for inter-municipal coordination and to extend municipal-level powers to areas outside existing municipalities. Today, the Lower Mainland includes two regional districts: the Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD) and the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD). Both regional districts, however, include areas outside the traditional limits of the Lower Mainland. Metro Vancouver includes areas like Surrey and Langley that are geographically in the Fraser Valley.

The Metro Vancouver Regional District is made up of 21 municipalities. The MVRD is bordered on the west by the Strait of Georgia, to the north by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, on the east by the Fraser Valley Regional District, and to the south by Whatcom County, Washington, in the United States.

The Fraser Valley Regional District lies east of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, and comprises the cities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack, the district municipalities of Mission, Kent, and Hope, and the village of Harrison Hot Springs. It also includes many unincorporated areas in the Fraser Valley and along the west side of the Fraser Canyon (the Fraser Canyon is not in the Lower Mainland).

Regional district powers are very limited and other localized provincial government services are delivered through other regionalization systems.

Indigenous territories

The traditional territories of the Musqueam and Tsleil'waututh lie completely within the region; the southern portion of Squamish traditional territory is also in the region. Its claims overlap those of the Tsleil-waututh, Musqueam, and Kwikwetlem. Other peoples whose territories lie within the region are the Sto:lo, Chehalis, Katzie, Kwantlen, Tsawwassen, and Semiahmoo; many of their territories overlap with those of the Musqueam, and with each other. Many other peoples of the Georgia Strait region also frequented the lower Fraser, including those from Vancouver Island and what is now Whatcom County, Washington.

Sto:lo traditional territory, known as Solh Temexw in Halkomelem, more or less coincides with the traditional conception of the Lower Mainland, except for the inclusion of Port Douglas at the head of Harrison Lake, which is in In-SHUCK-ch territory, and the lands around Burrard Inlet.

Health regions

Health system services and governance in the Lower Mainland are provided by Vancouver Coastal Health, serving Vancouver, Richmond and the North Shore, and the mainland coast as far north as the Central Coast region, and Fraser Health, which serves the area of the Lower Mainland east of Vancouver and Richmond.[20]

Natural threats

Flooding

The Lower Mainland is considered to have a high vulnerability to flood risk. There have been two major region-wide floods in 1894 and 1948, both associated with an extreme spring freshet of the Fraser River.[21][22][23] Other major floods in the Lower Mainland – including June 1972,[24][25] November 1990,[26][27] and November 2021 – have been more localized, primarily impacting areas in the Fraser Valley like the Sumas Prairie, with comparatively minor impacts to Metro Vancouver. Prior to the 2021 flood, according to the Fraser Basin Council, scientists predicted a one-in-three chance of a similar-sized flood occurring in the next 50 years.[28]

In the second quarter of 2007, the Lower Mainland was on high alert for flooding. Higher than normal snow packs in the British Columbia Interior prompted municipal governments to start taking emergency measures in the region. Dikes along the Fraser River are regulated to handle approximately 8.5 metres (28 ft) at the Mission Gauge (the height above sea level of the dykes at Mission). Warmer than normal weather in the province's Interior region caused large amounts of snow to melt prematurely, resulting in higher-than-normal water levels, which, nevertheless, remained well below flood levels.[29][30]

Flooding can cover much of the Lower Mainland. Cloverdale, Barnston Island, low-lying areas of Maple Ridge, areas west of Hope, White Rock, Richmond, parts of Vancouver, and parts of Surrey are potentially at risk. In 2007, the Lower Mainland was largely spared, although northern regions of the province, along the Skeena and Nechako Rivers, experienced floods. Climate scientists predict that increasing temperatures will mean wetter winters and more snow at the high elevations. This will increase the likelihood of snowmelt floods.[31]

The provincial government maintains an integrated flood hazard management program and extensive flood protection infrastructure in the Lower Mainland. The infrastructure consists of dikes, pump stations, floodboxes, riprap, and relief wells.[32]

Earthquakes

While earthquakes are common in British Columbia and adjacent coastal waters, most are minor in energy release or are sufficiently remote to have little effect on populated areas. Nevertheless, earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 7.3 have occurred within 150 kilometres (93 mi) of the Lower Mainland.

Based on geological evidence, however, stronger earthquakes appear to have occurred at approximately 600-year intervals. Therefore, there is a probability that there will be a major earthquake in the region within the next 200 years.[33]

In April 2008, the United States Geological Survey released information concerning a newly found fault south of downtown Abbotsford, called the Boulder Creek Fault. Scientists now believe this fault is active and capable of producing earthquakes in the 6.8 magnitude range.[34]

Volcanoes

Much of the Lower Mainland is vulnerable to explosive eruptions from the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt. Volcanoes in this zone are capable of producing large quantities of volcanic ash that may cause short and long term water supply problems for Lower Mainland communities.[35] All airports covered by the accompanying eruption column would be closed, heavy ash falls would damage electrical equipment and weak structures could collapse under the weight of the ash.[36]

Communities

The Lower Mainland's communities includes large cities in Metro Vancouver, and smaller cities, towns and villages along both banks of the Fraser River. Neighbourhoods within cities are not listed unless historically or otherwise notable and/or separate. Only some of the many Indian Reserves are listed.

Upper Fraser Valley

Central Fraser Valley

Lower Fraser Valley / Metro Vancouver

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Total population of the Lower Mainland Economic Region, which includes the Metro Vancouver Regional District, Fraser Valley Regional District, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, and Sunshine Coast Regional District.
  2. ^ a b c Combined population of the Metro Vancouver Regional District and the Fraser Valley Regional District.

References

  1. ^ a b "Data table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Lower Mainland--Southwest [Economic region], British Columbia". Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Greater Vancouver, Regional district British Columbia [Census division]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Fraser Valley, Regional district British Columbia [Census division]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  4. ^ Gentilcore, R.L., ed. 1993. Historical Atlas of Canada, Vol II, The Land Transformed 1800–1891. Plate 36, "Lower Mainland 1881." Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-3447-0.
  5. ^ "Lower Mainland". BC Geographical Names.
  6. ^ a b Environment Canada. Ecoregions of Canada – Lower Mainland 16 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Ecological Framework of Canada. Retrieved on: 9 July 2011
  7. ^ a b c Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 October 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census Greater Vancouver, Regional district [Census division], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 October 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census Fraser Valley, Regional district [Census division], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  9. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (31 May 2016). "2011 Census of Population Census Profile Greater Vancouver, RD British Columbia (Census division)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  10. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (31 May 2016). "2011 Census of Population Census Profile Fraser Valley, RD British Columbia (Census division)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  11. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (20 August 2019). "2006 Community Profiles Greater Vancouver British Columbia (Regional district)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  12. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (20 August 2019). "2006 Community Profiles Fraser Valley British Columbia (Regional district)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  13. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "Community Highlights for Greater Vancouver Regional District". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  14. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "Community Highlights for Fraser Valley Regional District". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Community Highlights for Fraser Valley Regional District".
  16. ^ Census Profile, 2016 Census: Fraser Valley, Regional district. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  17. ^ Census Profile, 2016 Census: Greater Vancouver, Regional district. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile, Greater Vancouver, RD, British Columbia, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile, Fraser Valley, RD, British Columbia, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  20. ^ BC Ministry of Health. British Columbia Health Authorities: Maps 5 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on: 10 July 2011.
  21. ^ "Flood History". Flood Wise. Retrieved 29 November 2021. The Lower Mainland has experienced two major Fraser River floods in just the past 130 years. The largest flood on written record was in 1894, and the second largest was in 1948. Earlier large-scale floods are also part of the oral history of Coast Salish First Nations.
  22. ^ "From the Archives: The 1894 and 1948 Fraser Valley floods". Vancouver Sun. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  23. ^ "This Week in History: 1894 & 1948 The Fraser Valley is inundated in a great flood". Vancouver Sun. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Flooding events in Canada: British Columbia". Government of Canada. 2 December 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2021. On June 16, the lower Fraser peaked at Hope, with a maximum instantaneous flow of 3400 cubic metres per second and a maximum elevation of 7.1 metres, well above the danger level of 6.1 metres.
  25. ^ "River flooding part of Hope history". Hope Standard. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2021. In 1972, the Fraser River again experienced record flood waters – the second highest in recorded times with a discharge of 12,900 cubic metres per second and a maximum height of 10.141 meters at Hope on June 16. Wardle Street and part of Seventh Avenue were submerged, and on Tom Berry Road 10 houses were flooded and families were forced to evacuate their properties. Pumps were brought in to remove water and residents were able to return home after approximately a week.
  26. ^ "The Fraser River doesn't pose the only flood threat to Abbotsford". The Abbotsford News. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2021. A Nooksack flood in 1990 swamped the Whatcom Road interchange and western portions of Sumas Prairie. Such a flood is expected to take place every 35 years or so. There are worries that a larger flood event would change the course of the river entirely, diverting it north into the channel of the much-smaller Sumas River.
  27. ^ "Group tasked with preventing major Fraser Valley flood hasn't met in seven years". Today In BC. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2021. In 1990, the Nooksack River in northern Washington overflowed its banks, with its waters flooding over the border and into Sumas Prairie. The flood cut off Highway 1, and also inundated the towns of Everson and Sumas.
  28. ^ . Fraser Basin Council. Archived from the original on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
  29. ^ "Fraser Valley prepares for possible flooding". CBC News. 5 June 2007. from the original on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
  30. ^ Nguyen, Linda (7 June 2007). Lower Mainland at flood risk for weeks yet 26 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved on: 18 June 2008.
  31. ^ Drake, Laura (16 June 2007). "Flooding in future may be more frequent, scientists say". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
  32. ^ Ministry of Environment. . Archived from the original on 20 June 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
  33. ^ British Columbia. Provincial Emergency Program. (1999). British Columbia Earthquake Response Plan, Appendix 2-The Earthquake Threat 13 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine. ISBN 0-7726-3924-8. Retrieved on: 7 April 2008.
  34. ^ McClatchy Washington Bureau. Earthquake risk. Retrieved on 12 May 2009.
  35. ^ . Catalogue of Canadian volcanoes. Natural Resources Canada. 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  36. ^ V. Stasiuk, Mark; J. Hickson, Catherine; Mulder, Taimi (2003), "The Vulnerability of Canada to Volcanic Hazards", Natural Hazards, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 28 (2/3): 580, doi:10.1023/A:1022954829974, ISSN 0921-030X, S2CID 129461798

External links

  •   Lower Mainland travel guide from Wikivoyage

January 10, 2023
lower, mainland, geographic, cultural, region, mainland, coast, british, columbia, that, generally, comprises, regional, districts, metro, vancouver, fraser, valley, home, approximately, million, people, 2021, canadian, census, contains, sixteen, province, mos. The Lower Mainland is a geographic and cultural region of the mainland coast of British Columbia that generally comprises the regional districts of Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley Home to approximately 3 05 million people as of the 2021 Canadian census a the Lower Mainland contains sixteen of the province s 30 most populous municipalities and approximately 60 of the province s total population 1 Lower MainlandRegionCore area of the Lower MainlandCoordinates 49 05 00 N 122 21 00 W 49 08333 N 122 35000 W 49 08333 122 35000 Coordinates 49 05 00 N 122 21 00 W 49 08333 N 122 35000 W 49 08333 122 35000CountryCanadaProvinceBritish ColumbiaRegionBritish Columbia CoastArea Total36 303 31 km2 14 016 79 sq mi Extended area31 368 24 km2 12 111 35 sq mi Core area4 935 07 km2 1 905 44 sq mi Population 2021 Total3 049 496 a 1 Density84 1 km2 218 sq mi Core area2 924 685 b 2 3 Extended area124 811Time zoneUTC 08 00 PST Summer DST UTC 07 00 PDT Postal code prefixesVArea codes236 604 672 778The region is the traditional territory of the Sto lo a Halkomelem speaking people of the Coast Salish linguistic and cultural grouping Contents 1 Boundaries 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 3 Demographics 3 1 Population 3 2 Ethnicity 3 3 Language 3 4 Religion 4 Regional districts 5 Indigenous territories 6 Health regions 7 Natural threats 7 1 Flooding 7 2 Earthquakes 7 3 Volcanoes 8 Communities 8 1 Upper Fraser Valley 8 2 Central Fraser Valley 8 3 Lower Fraser Valley Metro Vancouver 9 See also 9 1 Notes 10 References 11 External linksBoundaries EditAlthough the term Lower Mainland has been recorded from the earliest period of colonization in British Columbia it has never been officially defined in legal terms The term has historically been in popular usage for over a century to describe a region that extends from Horseshoe Bay south to the Canada United States border and east to Hope at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley This definition makes the term Lower Mainland almost synonymous with the regional districts of Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley 4 However the British Columbia Geographical Names Information System BCGNIS comments that most residents of Vancouver might consider it to be only areas west of Mission and Abbotsford while residents in the rest of the province consider it to be the Sea to Sky Corridor south of Whistler and west of Hope 5 Geography EditSee also Lower Mainland Ecoregion and Puget lowland forests The region is bounded to the north by the Pacific Ranges and to the southeast by the Cascade Mountains and is traversed from east to west by the Fraser River Due to its consistency of climate flora and fauna geology and land use Lower Mainland is also the name of an ecoregion a biogeoclimatic region that comprises the eastern part of the Georgia Depression and extends from Powell River on the Sunshine Coast to Hope at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley 6 Climate Edit One of the mildest climates in Canada the region has a mean annual temperature of 9 C 48 F with a summer mean of 15 C 59 F and a winter mean of 3 5 C 38 3 F Annual precipitation ranges from an annual mean of 850 millimetres 33 in in the west end to 2 000 millimetres 79 in in the eastern end of the Fraser Valley and at higher elevations Maximum precipitation occurs as rain in winter Less than ten percent falls as snow at sea level but the amount of snowfall increases significantly with elevation 6 Demographics EditCore area b population historyYearPop 19711 121 018 19811 309 560 16 8 19861 491 580 13 9 19911 733 761 16 2 19962 054 062 18 5 20012 224 515 8 3 20062 373 612 6 7 20112 590 921 9 2 20162 759 365 6 5 20212 966 830 7 5 Source Statistics Canada 2 3 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Population Edit As of the 2021 census the population of the Lower Mainland core area totals 2 966 830 2 642 825 in Metro Vancouver Regional District 2 324 005 in the Fraser Valley Regional District 3 These figures are slightly inflated due to the inclusion of areas within the Regional Districts which are not normally considered to be part of the Lower Mainland notably the lower Fraser Canyon and the heads of Harrison and Pitt Lakes which are within the FVRD and Lions Bay and Bowen Island which are within the Greater Vancouver Regional District Ethnicity Edit The Lower Mainland is among the most diverse regions in Canada Europeans form a slight majority at 51 5 percent followed by East Asians at 20 8 percent and South Asians at 12 2 percent Ethnic groups in the Lower Mainland 2016 16 17 Population Ethnic group European 1 397 280 51 5 East Asian 564 445 20 8 South Asian 330 925 12 2 Southeast Asian 173 060 6 4 Aboriginal 98 565 3 6 Middle Eastern 63 300 2 3 Latin American 36 855 1 4 Black 32 325 1 2 Other 43 295 1 6 Total population 2 715 000 100 Language Edit Knowledge of language 2016 2021 Language 2021 2 3 2016 7 8 Pop Pop English 2 772 150 94 78 2 569 215 94 63 Mandarin 295 400 10 1 252 260 9 29 Punjabi 286 270 9 79 223 510 8 23 Cantonese 235 220 8 04 224 655 8 27 French 185 330 6 34 185 420 6 83 Tagalog 113 205 3 87 98 395 3 62 Hindi 119 435 4 08 75 125 2 77 Spanish 100 355 3 43 79 885 2 94 Korean 63 335 2 17 52 650 1 94 German 43 490 1 49 47 825 1 76 Total responses 2 924 680 98 58 2 714 995 98 39 Total population 2 966 830 100 2 759 365 100 Mother tongue 2016 2021 Language 2021 2 3 2016 7 8 Pop Pop English 1 576 995 53 65 1 537 875 56 31 Punjabi 219 015 7 45 182 050 6 67 Mandarin 193 190 6 57 176 435 6 46 Cantonese 183 860 6 25 185 135 6 78 Tagalog 69 895 2 38 68 240 2 5 Persian 54 985 1 87 41 645 1 52 Korean 54 385 1 85 47 715 1 75 Spanish 49 255 1 68 38 705 1 42 French 27 280 0 93 27 820 1 02 German 24 795 0 84 32 210 1 18 Total responses 2 939 500 99 08 2 731 255 98 98 Total population 2 966 830 100 2 759 365 100 Religion Edit The Lower Mainland includes large Christian irreligious and Sikh communities The Sikh population numbering over 265 000 persons or 9 1 percent of the total population is statistically significant across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley proportionally it is more than four times the national average of 2 1 percent Lower Mainland religious groups 2001 2021 2021 2 3 2011 18 19 2001 13 14 Population Population Population Irreligion 1 361 800 46 56 1 042 815 40 86 758 130 34 44 Christianity 989 105 33 82 1 088 160 42 63 1 138 505 51 72 Sikhism 265 870 9 09 184 810 7 24 116 110 5 27 Islam 113 880 3 89 74 320 2 91 53 225 2 42 Buddhism 72 595 2 48 79 680 3 12 76 140 3 46 Hinduism 71 210 2 43 42 205 1 65 28 440 1 29 Judaism 20 430 0 7 19 125 0 75 17 555 0 8 Indigenous spirituality 2 895 0 1 2 590 0 1 2 225 0 1 Other 26 900 0 92 18 640 0 73 11 015 0 5 Total responses 2 924 685 98 58 2 552 350 98 51 2 201 325 98 96 Total population b 2 966 830 100 2 590 921 100 2 224 515 100 Regional districts EditRegional districts were first created across British Columbia in 1966 1967 to form bodies for inter municipal coordination and to extend municipal level powers to areas outside existing municipalities Today the Lower Mainland includes two regional districts the Metro Vancouver Regional District MVRD and the Fraser Valley Regional District FVRD Both regional districts however include areas outside the traditional limits of the Lower Mainland Metro Vancouver includes areas like Surrey and Langley that are geographically in the Fraser Valley The Metro Vancouver Regional District is made up of 21 municipalities The MVRD is bordered on the west by the Strait of Georgia to the north by the Squamish Lillooet Regional District on the east by the Fraser Valley Regional District and to the south by Whatcom County Washington in the United States The Fraser Valley Regional District lies east of the Metro Vancouver Regional District and comprises the cities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack the district municipalities of Mission Kent and Hope and the village of Harrison Hot Springs It also includes many unincorporated areas in the Fraser Valley and along the west side of the Fraser Canyon the Fraser Canyon is not in the Lower Mainland Regional district powers are very limited and other localized provincial government services are delivered through other regionalization systems Indigenous territories EditThe traditional territories of the Musqueam and Tsleil waututh lie completely within the region the southern portion of Squamish traditional territory is also in the region Its claims overlap those of the Tsleil waututh Musqueam and Kwikwetlem Other peoples whose territories lie within the region are the Sto lo Chehalis Katzie Kwantlen Tsawwassen and Semiahmoo many of their territories overlap with those of the Musqueam and with each other Many other peoples of the Georgia Strait region also frequented the lower Fraser including those from Vancouver Island and what is now Whatcom County Washington Sto lo traditional territory known as Solh Temexw in Halkomelem more or less coincides with the traditional conception of the Lower Mainland except for the inclusion of Port Douglas at the head of Harrison Lake which is in In SHUCK ch territory and the lands around Burrard Inlet Health regions EditHealth system services and governance in the Lower Mainland are provided by Vancouver Coastal Health serving Vancouver Richmond and the North Shore and the mainland coast as far north as the Central Coast region and Fraser Health which serves the area of the Lower Mainland east of Vancouver and Richmond 20 Natural threats EditFlooding Edit The Lower Mainland is considered to have a high vulnerability to flood risk There have been two major region wide floods in 1894 and 1948 both associated with an extreme spring freshet of the Fraser River 21 22 23 Other major floods in the Lower Mainland including June 1972 24 25 November 1990 26 27 and November 2021 have been more localized primarily impacting areas in the Fraser Valley like the Sumas Prairie with comparatively minor impacts to Metro Vancouver Prior to the 2021 flood according to the Fraser Basin Council scientists predicted a one in three chance of a similar sized flood occurring in the next 50 years 28 In the second quarter of 2007 the Lower Mainland was on high alert for flooding Higher than normal snow packs in the British Columbia Interior prompted municipal governments to start taking emergency measures in the region Dikes along the Fraser River are regulated to handle approximately 8 5 metres 28 ft at the Mission Gauge the height above sea level of the dykes at Mission Warmer than normal weather in the province s Interior region caused large amounts of snow to melt prematurely resulting in higher than normal water levels which nevertheless remained well below flood levels 29 30 Flooding can cover much of the Lower Mainland Cloverdale Barnston Island low lying areas of Maple Ridge areas west of Hope White Rock Richmond parts of Vancouver and parts of Surrey are potentially at risk In 2007 the Lower Mainland was largely spared although northern regions of the province along the Skeena and Nechako Rivers experienced floods Climate scientists predict that increasing temperatures will mean wetter winters and more snow at the high elevations This will increase the likelihood of snowmelt floods 31 The provincial government maintains an integrated flood hazard management program and extensive flood protection infrastructure in the Lower Mainland The infrastructure consists of dikes pump stations floodboxes riprap and relief wells 32 Earthquakes Edit While earthquakes are common in British Columbia and adjacent coastal waters most are minor in energy release or are sufficiently remote to have little effect on populated areas Nevertheless earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 7 3 have occurred within 150 kilometres 93 mi of the Lower Mainland Based on geological evidence however stronger earthquakes appear to have occurred at approximately 600 year intervals Therefore there is a probability that there will be a major earthquake in the region within the next 200 years 33 In April 2008 the United States Geological Survey released information concerning a newly found fault south of downtown Abbotsford called the Boulder Creek Fault Scientists now believe this fault is active and capable of producing earthquakes in the 6 8 magnitude range 34 Volcanoes Edit Much of the Lower Mainland is vulnerable to explosive eruptions from the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt Volcanoes in this zone are capable of producing large quantities of volcanic ash that may cause short and long term water supply problems for Lower Mainland communities 35 All airports covered by the accompanying eruption column would be closed heavy ash falls would damage electrical equipment and weak structures could collapse under the weight of the ash 36 Communities EditThe Lower Mainland s communities includes large cities in Metro Vancouver and smaller cities towns and villages along both banks of the Fraser River Neighbourhoods within cities are not listed unless historically or otherwise notable and or separate Only some of the many Indian Reserves are listed Upper Fraser Valley Edit Agassiz Bridal Falls Chehalis Chilliwack Cultus Lake Greendale Lake Errock Kent Harrison Hot Springs Harrison Mills Hope Flood Laidlaw Popkum Rosedale Ruby Creek Sardis Yarrow Central Fraser Valley Edit Abbotsford Aldergrove Bradner Clayburn Clearbrook Deroche Dewdney Durieu Hatzic Huntingdon Matsqui Mission Mount Lehman Nicomen Island Ruskin Silverdale Silverhill Squamish Stave Falls Steelhead Sumas Sumas Prairie Whonnock Lower Fraser Valley Metro Vancouver Edit Albion Anmore Annieville Barnston Island Belcarra Boundary Bay Bridgeport Brighouse Burnaby Burquitlam Cloverdale Coquitlam Crescent Beach Derby Old Derby Douglas Delta Fort Langley Haney Kanaka Creek Langley City Langley District Lions Bay Maillardville Maple Ridge New Westminster Newton North Vancouver City North Vancouver District Pitt Meadows Port Coquitlam Port Hammond Hammond Port Kells Port Moody Queensborough Richmond Sapperton Scottsdale Steveston Surrey Tsawwassen Vancouver West Vancouver Whalley White Rock YennadonSee also EditFraser Lowland List of provincial parks of the Lower MainlandNotes Edit a b Total population of the Lower Mainland Economic Region which includes the Metro Vancouver Regional District Fraser Valley Regional District Squamish Lillooet Regional District and Sunshine Coast Regional District a b c Combined population of the Metro Vancouver Regional District and the Fraser Valley Regional District References Edit a b Data table Census Profile 2021 Census of Population Lower Mainland Southwest Economic region British Columbia Retrieved 10 February 2022 a b c d e f Government of Canada Statistics Canada 26 October 2022 Census Profile 2021 Census of Population Profile table Greater Vancouver Regional district British Columbia Census division www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 a b c d e f Government of Canada Statistics Canada 26 October 2022 Census Profile 2021 Census of Population Profile table Fraser Valley Regional district British Columbia Census division www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 Gentilcore R L ed 1993 Historical Atlas of Canada Vol II The Land Transformed 1800 1891 Plate 36 Lower Mainland 1881 Toronto University of Toronto Press ISBN 0 8020 3447 0 Lower Mainland BC Geographical Names a b Environment Canada Ecoregions of Canada Lower Mainland Archived 16 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Ecological Framework of Canada Retrieved on 9 July 2011 a b c Government of Canada Statistics Canada 27 October 2021 Census Profile 2016 Census Greater Vancouver Regional district Census division British Columbia and British Columbia Province www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 a b c Government of Canada Statistics Canada 27 October 2021 Census Profile 2016 Census Fraser Valley Regional district Census division British Columbia and British Columbia Province www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 Government of Canada Statistics Canada 31 May 2016 2011 Census of Population Census Profile Greater Vancouver RD British Columbia Census division www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 Government of Canada Statistics Canada 31 May 2016 2011 Census of Population Census Profile Fraser Valley RD British Columbia Census division www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 Government of Canada Statistics Canada 20 August 2019 2006 Community Profiles Greater Vancouver British Columbia Regional district www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 Government of Canada Statistics Canada 20 August 2019 2006 Community Profiles Fraser Valley British Columbia Regional district www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 a b Government of Canada Statistics Canada 2 July 2019 Community Highlights for Greater Vancouver Regional District www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 a b Government of Canada Statistics Canada 2 July 2019 Community Highlights for Fraser Valley Regional District www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 Community Highlights for Fraser Valley Regional District Census Profile 2016 Census Fraser Valley Regional district Statistics Canada Retrieved 27 July 2018 Census Profile 2016 Census Greater Vancouver Regional district Statistics Canada Retrieved 2 April 2018 Government of Canada Statistics Canada 27 November 2015 NHS Profile Greater Vancouver RD British Columbia 2011 www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 Government of Canada Statistics Canada 27 November 2015 NHS Profile Fraser Valley RD British Columbia 2011 www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 13 November 2022 BC Ministry of Health British Columbia Health Authorities Maps Archived 5 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 10 July 2011 Flood History Flood Wise Retrieved 29 November 2021 The Lower Mainland has experienced two major Fraser River floods in just the past 130 years The largest flood on written record was in 1894 and the second largest was in 1948 Earlier large scale floods are also part of the oral history of Coast Salish First Nations From the Archives The 1894 and 1948 Fraser Valley floods Vancouver Sun 17 November 2021 Retrieved 29 November 2021 This Week in History 1894 amp 1948 The Fraser Valley is inundated in a great flood Vancouver Sun 19 November 2021 Retrieved 29 November 2021 Flooding events in Canada British Columbia Government of Canada 2 December 2010 Retrieved 29 November 2021 On June 16 the lower Fraser peaked at Hope with a maximum instantaneous flow of 3400 cubic metres per second and a maximum elevation of 7 1 metres well above the danger level of 6 1 metres River flooding part of Hope history Hope Standard 27 June 2012 Retrieved 29 November 2021 In 1972 the Fraser River again experienced record flood waters the second highest in recorded times with a discharge of 12 900 cubic metres per second and a maximum height of 10 141 meters at Hope on June 16 Wardle Street and part of Seventh Avenue were submerged and on Tom Berry Road 10 houses were flooded and families were forced to evacuate their properties Pumps were brought in to remove water and residents were able to return home after approximately a week The Fraser River doesn t pose the only flood threat to Abbotsford The Abbotsford News 17 May 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2021 A Nooksack flood in 1990 swamped the Whatcom Road interchange and western portions of Sumas Prairie Such a flood is expected to take place every 35 years or so There are worries that a larger flood event would change the course of the river entirely diverting it north into the channel of the much smaller Sumas River Group tasked with preventing major Fraser Valley flood hasn t met in seven years Today In BC 3 September 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2021 In 1990 the Nooksack River in northern Washington overflowed its banks with its waters flooding over the border and into Sumas Prairie The flood cut off Highway 1 and also inundated the towns of Everson and Sumas Flood Hazard Management on the Fraser River Fraser Basin Council Archived from the original on 26 June 2008 Retrieved 18 June 2008 Fraser Valley prepares for possible flooding CBC News 5 June 2007 Archived from the original on 9 July 2007 Retrieved 24 June 2007 Nguyen Linda 7 June 2007 Lower Mainland at flood risk for weeks yet Archived 26 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine Vancouver Sun Retrieved on 18 June 2008 Drake Laura 16 June 2007 Flooding in future may be more frequent scientists say Globe and Mail Retrieved 24 June 2007 Ministry of Environment Lower Mainland Dike and Emergency Maps Archived from the original on 20 June 2007 Retrieved 24 June 2007 British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program 1999 British Columbia Earthquake Response Plan Appendix 2 The Earthquake Threat Archived 13 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 0 7726 3924 8 Retrieved on 7 April 2008 McClatchy Washington Bureau Earthquake risk Retrieved on 12 May 2009 Garibaldi volcanic belt Garibaldi Lake volcanic field Catalogue of Canadian volcanoes Natural Resources Canada 1 April 2009 Archived from the original on 13 May 2008 Retrieved 26 May 2018 V Stasiuk Mark J Hickson Catherine Mulder Taimi 2003 The Vulnerability of Canada to Volcanic Hazards Natural Hazards Kluwer Academic Publishers 28 2 3 580 doi 10 1023 A 1022954829974 ISSN 0921 030X S2CID 129461798External links Edit Lower Mainland travel guide from Wikivoyage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lower Mainland amp oldid 1122841481, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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