Metro Vancouver
Regional district
Metro Vancouver Regional District
Satellite image of Metro Vancouver
Satellite image of Metro Vancouver
Flag of Metro Vancouver
Flag
Official logo of Metro Vancouver
Logo
Major communities
A map of British Columbia depicting its 29 regional districts and equivalent municipalities. One is highlighted in red.
Location in British Columbia
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Incorporated[1]29 June 1967
Name change[1]13 June 1968
Name change[2]30 January 2017
Administrative officeBurnaby
Electoral AreasA
Government
[3]
 • TypeRegional district
 • BodyBoard of Directors
 • ChairGeorge Harvie (Delta)
 • Vice chairJohn McEwen (Anmore)
Area
 (2021)[4]
 • Land2,878.93 km2 (1,111.56 sq mi)
Highest elevation
1,990 m (6,530 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2021)[4]
 • Total2,642,825
 • Estimate 
(2022)[5]
2,842,720
 • Rank2 (Canadian CD)
 • Density918.0/km2 (2,378/sq mi)
  • Rank2 (Canadian CD)
DemonymMetro Vancouverite
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Area codes604 / 778 / 236 / 672
Websitemetrovancouver.org Edit this at Wikidata

The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD), or simply Metro Vancouver, is a Canadian political subdivision and corporate entity representing the metropolitan area of Greater Vancouver, designated by provincial legislation as one of the 28 regional districts in British Columbia.[6][7] The organization was known as the Regional District of Fraser–Burrard for nearly one year upon incorporating in 1967, and as the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) from 1968 to 2017.

Metro Vancouver borders Whatcom County, Washington, to the south, the Fraser Valley Regional District to the east, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District to the north, and the Nanaimo Regional District and Cowichan Valley Regional District across the Strait of Georgia to the west.

The MVRD is under the direction of 23 local authorities and delivers regional services, sets policy and acts as a political forum. The regional district's most populous city is Vancouver, and Metro Vancouver's administrative offices are located in the city of Burnaby. The MVRD's boundaries match those of the Vancouver census metropolitan area (CMA) as identified by Statistics Canada.

History

The Greater Vancouver Water District and the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District were established in 1924 and 1956 respectively.[8] The Government of British Columbia incorporated a regional district for this western portion of the Lower Mainland named the Regional District of Fraser-Burrard on 29 June 1967.[1] Just under a year later, the regional district was renamed as the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) on 13 June 1968.[1]

In 2007, the GVRD applied to change its official legal name a second time to simply "Metro Vancouver", which was deemed more recognizable at the time.[9] British Columbia's Minister of Community Services denied the application due to the absence of the term "regional district" within the proposed new name, though it was suggested that the GVRD could brand itself under the unofficial name of Metro Vancouver.[9] After nine years, with growing public recognition of Metro Vancouver, the overall success of the brand, and confusion between the brand and the official legal name of the regional district, the GVRD moved in 2016 to change its name to the Metro Vancouver Regional District.[9][10] The regional district was therefore formally renamed a second time by the Government of British Columbia on 30 January 2017 to the Metro Vancouver Regional District.[2]

Geography

The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD) is located east of the Strait of Georgia and north of the State of Washington and is bisected by the Fraser River.[11] The boundaries of the MVRD match those of the Vancouver CMA.[11][12]

Membership

With 662,248 residents recorded in the 2021 census, Vancouver is the most populated city in Metro Vancouver.
With a population of 568,322 (2021), Surrey is the second-most populated city in Metro Vancouver.
Burnaby is the third-most populated city in Metro Vancouver with a population of 249,125 (2021).

This regional district comprises 23 local authorities as members: 21 municipalities, one electoral area and one treaty First Nation.[13]

Metro Vancouver member populations (edit)
Member Census subdivision Population (2021) Population (2016) % change (2016–2021) 2021 provincial rank
Anmore Village 2,356 2,210 +6.6% 185th
Belcarra Village 687 643 +6.8% 301st
Bowen Island Island municipality 4,256 3,680 +15.7% 118th
Burnaby City 249,125 232,755 +7.0% 3rd
Coquitlam City 148,625 139,284 +6.7% 6th
Delta City 108,455 102,238 +6.1% 10th
City of Langley City 28,963 25,888 +11.9% 30th
Township of Langley District municipality 132,603 117,285 +13.1% 8th
Lions Bay Village 1,390 1,334 +4.2% 251st
Maple Ridge City 90,990 82,256 +10.6% 15th
Metro Vancouver A Regional district electoral area 18,612 16,133 +15.4% 39th
New Westminster City 78,916 70,996 +11.2% 17th
City of North Vancouver City 58,120 52,898 +9.9% 20th
District of North Vancouver District municipality 88,168 85,649 +2.9% 16th
Pitt Meadows City 19,146 18,573 +3.1% 37th
Port Coquitlam City 61,498 58,612 +4.9% 19th
Port Moody City 33,535 33,551 ±0.0% 28th
Richmond City 209,937 198,309 +5.9% 4th
Surrey City 568,322 517,887 +9.7% 2nd
Tsawwassen First Nation 2,256 816 +176.5% 191st
Vancouver City 662,248 631,486 +4.9% 1st
West Vancouver District municipality 44,122 42,473 +3.9% 23rd
White Rock City 21,939 19,952 +10.0% 33rd
Metro Vancouver 2,642,825 2,463,431 +7.3% –
Source: Statistics Canada[14]; Metro Vancouver Regional District[15]

Electoral Area A comprises all unincorporated land within the regional district boundaries, which totals about 818 square kilometres. Most of the area is in the northernmost part of the district, including residential areas and isolated dwellings on Howe Sound between Lions Bay and Horseshoe Bay, on Indian Arm to the north of Deep Cove and Belcarra/Anmore and on the west side of Pitt Lake to the north of Port Coquitlam. Other areas included are Barnston Island on the Fraser River, Passage Island between Bowen Island and West Vancouver, and finally the urban communities of the University of British Columbia and the University Endowment Lands, in which 98% of the population of Electoral Area A lives.[16]

There are also seventeen Indian reserves within the geographical area that are not subject to governance by local authorities or the regional district; they have a combined population of 7,550 (2006).

The cities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack and the district of Mission, located to the east, although often linked to Vancouver in promotions and tourism, are part of a separate regional district, the Fraser Valley Regional District.

Demographics

Metro Vancouver
YearPop.±%
189121,887—    
190142,926+96.1%
1911164,020+282.1%
1921232,597+41.8%
1931347,709+49.5%
1941393,898+13.3%
1951562,462+42.8%
1961790,741+40.6%
19711,028,334+30.0%
19811,169,831+13.8%
19911,602,590+37.0%
19961,831,665+14.3%
20011,986,965+8.5%
20062,116,581+6.5%
20112,313,328+9.3%
20162,463,431+6.5%
20212,642,825+7.3%

Main article: Demographics of Metro Vancouver

As a census division in the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, the Metro Vancouver Regional District had a population of 2,642,825 living in 1,043,319 of its 1,104,532 total private dwellings, a change of 7.3% from its 2016 population of 2,463,431. With a land area of 2,878.93 km2 (1,111.56 sq mi), it had a population density of 918.0/km2 (2,377.6/sq mi) in 2021.[17] The Metro Vancouver Regional District is the densest and most populous regional district in British Columbia, and the second-densest and second-most populous census division in Canada behind Toronto.[4]

Panethnic groups in the Metro Vancouver Regional District (2001–2021)
Panethnic group 2021[18][19] 2016[20][21] 2011[22][23] 2006[24] 2001[25]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a][b] 1,124,475 43.13% 1,179,100 48.6% 1,197,985 52.53% 1,182,355 56.36% 1,204,970 61.24%
East Asian[c] 606,920 23.28% 557,745 22.99% 488,240 21.41% 451,790 21.53% 395,540 20.1%
South Asian 369,295 14.17% 291,005 11.99% 252,405 11.07% 207,165 9.87% 164,365 8.35%
Southeast Asian[d] 198,940 7.63% 168,075 6.93% 156,315 6.85% 112,365 5.36% 85,485 4.34%
Middle Eastern[e] 87,090 3.34% 62,440 2.57% 48,870 2.14% 35,590 1.7% 27,340 1.39%
Indigenous 63,345 2.43% 61,455 2.53% 52,375 2.3% 40,310 1.92% 36,855 1.87%
Latin American 51,500 1.98% 34,805 1.43% 29,125 1.28% 22,695 1.08% 18,715 0.95%
African 41,180 1.58% 29,830 1.23% 23,545 1.03% 20,670 0.99% 18,405 0.94%
Other/Multiracial[f] 65,350 2.51% 41,780 1.72% 31,835 1.4% 25,035 1.19% 15,810 0.8%
Total responses 2,607,015 98.65% 2,426,235 98.49% 2,280,695 98.59% 2,097,965 99.12% 1,967,480 99.02%
Total population 2,642,825 100% 2,463,431 100% 2,313,328 100% 2,116,581 100% 1,986,965 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Governance

Metro Vancouver technically comprises four separate corporate entities: the Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD), the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD), the Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD) and the Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation (MVHC).[6] Each of these is governed by a board of directors. The board of the MVRD has 40 directors coming from the 23 local authorities who are MVRD members.[3] The number of directors coming from each local authority is determined by population, and the number of votes allocated to each director further helps proportionally represent the population distribution of the region. Each board director is also an elected official of one of the local authorities, with the exception of the elected representative for Electoral Area A (which has no council).[citation needed]

As of 2017, the organization had about 1,500 employees.[26] The current organizational structure shows ten departments reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer:[27] Human Resources & Corporate Services; External Relations; Financial Services; Legal Services & Aboriginal Relations; Board & Information Services; Liquid Waste Services; Parks & Housing Services; Planning & Environment; Solid Waste Services; and Water Services.[citation needed]

Administrative role

The principal function of Metro Vancouver is to administer resources and services which are common across the metropolitan area. The Metro Vancouver Board has defined its strategic priorities for 2015 through 2018 in its Board Strategic Plan.[28]

The organization categorizes its work into action areas[6] as described in the following subsections. However, 84% of the organization's budget is spent in three of those areas – the three utilities (water, liquid waste, solid waste).[6] Metro Vancouver's commitments and its members' commitments to each action area are outlined in eight board-approved management plans[29] as referenced below.

Water

Metro Vancouver manages the Cleveland Dam, located in the District of North Vancouver. The dam is used to store portions of the Lower Mainland's drinking water.

Main article: Metro Vancouver watersheds

Metro Vancouver's water utility is committed to the goals and strategies in the Drinking Water Management Plan,[30] as approved by the board. The three goals are to:

As noted, there are four legal entities that operate under the name Metro Vancouver: the GVWD, the GVS&DD, the MVRD and MVHC. The GVWD provides tap water to a land area covering more than 2,600 km² with all of the water coming from three sources: the Capilano reservoir, the Seymour reservoir and the Coquitlam reservoir. Metro Vancouver controls the Cleveland Dam on the Capilano reservoir, which supplies 40 percent of the district's water.[31]

Liquid waste

Metro Vancouver operates and maintains the liquid waste facility, which includes managing "the network of trunk sewers, pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants that connect with municipal sewer systems".[32] Throughout operations, the organization is committed to protecting public health and the environment, and recovering as much resources (energy, nutrients, etc.) as possible out of the waste stream.[6]

The liquid waste utility is committed to the goals and strategies in the Integrated Liquid Waste and Resource Management plan,[33] as approved by the board. The three goals are to:

Solid waste

Metro Vancouver's solid waste utility is committed to the goals and strategies in the Integrated Solid Waste and Resource Management plan,[34] as approved by the board. The four goals are to:

One initiative of the organization was the Ashcroft Manor Ranch Mega-Landfill Proposal in Ashcroft, British Columbia, in the Thompson Country of the British Columbia Interior, as there is no more room in the Lower Mainland for Metro Vancouver's garbage.[citation needed] A similar project nearby adjacent to the town of Cache Creek, British Columbia has almost reached capacity. Environmental concerns about the area's sensitive shrub–steppe climate and ecology are strong, while Highland Valley Copper, near Logan Lake, has offered the use of its mine-pit instead. Other MVRD landfill locations serving the regional district in the past have been in the Fraser Mills area, between the Trans-Canada Highway and the Fraser, and at Port Mann, beneath the south foot of the Port Mann Bridge.

Housing

Metro Vancouver owns and manages housing complexes throughout the region via the Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation (MVHC); it also forms policy on homelessness and affordable housing for the region. The MVHC's board-approved goals, as outlined in the Affordable Housing Strategy,[35] are to:

The MVHC's sole shareholder is the Metro Vancouver Regional District. The number of directors of the housing corporation is 13.[36]

Regional planning

Metro Vancouver works in collaboration with its members to achieve a shared vision of livability across the generations, as laid out in the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS),[37] which was approved by the board in 2011, replacing the Livable Region Strategic Plan (LRSP).[38] Th RGS requires each member local authority to provide a Regional Context Statement to "demonstrate to the Metro Vancouver Board how its Official Community Plan Supports the RGS."[6] The five goals of the RGS are to:

Regional planning also includes planning and policy-making in agriculture and the food industry. The organization is committed to the goals and strategies in the Regional Food System Strategy,[39] as approved by the board. The goals are to:

In 2018, the organization's board also adopted the Ecological Health Framework,[40] which encapsulates Metro Vancouver’s collective efforts around ecological health and provides guiding principles, goals, and strategies to help achieve the vision of a "beautiful, healthy, and resilient environment for current and future generations." The goals are:

Air quality

The organization runs programs and set policy to protect public health and the environment with respect to air quality, improve visual air quality and minimize the region's contribution to climate change.[6] The organization is committed to the goals and strategies in the Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan,[41] as approved by the board. The three goals are to:

Regional parks

The parks department of Metro Vancouver oversees the development and maintenance of 23[42] regional parks, as well as various nature reserves and greenways. The organization is committed to the goals and strategies in the Regional Parks Plan,[43] as approved by the board. The four goals are to:

Regional parks are distinct from municipal parks in that they are typically more "wild" and represent unique geographical zones within the region, such as bogs and mature rainforests.

Regional economic prosperity

Regional economic prosperity is a service of Metro Vancouver organized to advance a shared prosperity in the region. The service is structured around three functions: fostering collaboration, conducting regional data collection and research, and attracting investment.[44]

Regional federation

Metro Vancouver undertakes support functions that underpin the rest of its service areas. In these areas, the organization commits to "contribute to the effective and efficient performance of our regional roles through leadership and collaboration with our members and other stakeholders." There are eight strategic directions guiding work in this area:[28]

The organization's board has also adopted the Corporate Climate Action Plan,[45] the purpose of which is to, "set out strategies and actions to achieve Metro Vancouver's commitment to corporate carbon neutrality and to adapt [its] corporate infrastructure and activities to the anticipated consequences of climate change." The strategies of the plan are to:

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 2001–2016: Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^ 2021: Statistic includes all persons belonging to the non-indigenous and non-visible minority "White" population group.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  6. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Order in Council No. 1873/1968". Government of British Columbia. 13 June 1968. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council: Order in Council No. 023, Approved and Ordered January 30, 2017". 30 January 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b Metro Vancouver. "Board Members". Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Data table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population – Vancouver [Census metropolitan area], British Columbia". Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  5. ^ Services, Ministry of Citizens'. "Population Estimates – Province of British Columbia". www2.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Metro Vancouver (January 2013). "2013 Action Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Goodbye GVRD, hello Metro Vancouver". Vancouver Sun. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  8. ^ "Metro Vancouver history". Metro Vancouver. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  9. ^ a b c "Metro Vancouver Legal Entities Name Change" (PDF). Metro Vancouver. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Metro Vancouver Name Change". Metro Vancouver. Archived from the original on 20 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  11. ^ a b Census Division 5915: Greater Vancouver, RD (PDF) (Map). Statistics Canada. 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  12. ^ Census Metropolitan Area 933: Vancouver (PDF) (Map). Statistics Canada. 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Member Municipalities". Metro Vancouver. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Table 98-10-0002-02 Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Members". Metro Vancouver Regional District. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  16. ^ "About Electoral Area A". Metro Vancouver. Metro Vancouver. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  17. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and census divisions". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (21 September 2022). "Indigenous identity by Registered or Treaty Indian status: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Visible minority and population group by generation status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  20. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (17 June 2019). "Aboriginal Identity (9), Age (20), Registered or Treaty Indian Status (3) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census – 25% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  21. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 October 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census Greater Vancouver, Regional district [Census division], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province] Visible Minority". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  22. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (23 January 2019). "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Aboriginal Identity (8), Age Groups (20), Registered or Treaty Indian Status (3) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census divisions and Census subdivisions, 2011 National Household Survey". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  23. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile, Greater Vancouver, RD, British Columbia, 2011 Visible Minority". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  24. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (20 August 2019). "2006 Community Profiles Greater Vancouver British Columbia (Regional district)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  25. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "2001 Community Profiles Greater Vancouver Regional District British Columbia (Regional District)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  26. ^ Metro Vancouver. "Departments". Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  27. ^ "Departments". Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  28. ^ a b "Metro Vancouver Board Strategic Plan 2015 to 2018" (PDF).
  29. ^ "Compendium of Regional Management Plans". Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  30. ^ Metro Vancouver (January 2011). "Metro Vancouver Drinking Water Management Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  31. ^ Metro Vancouver Water Sources & Supply
  32. ^ Wastewater Collection & Treatment Archived 21 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Metrovancouver.org. Retrieved on 26 July 2013.
  33. ^ Metro Vancouver (May 2010). "Integrated Liquid Waste and Resource Management" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  34. ^ Metro Vancouver (July 2010). "Integrated Solid Waste and Resource Management" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  35. ^ Metro Vancouver (20 June 2016). "Metro Vancouver Regional Affordable Housing Strategy" (PDF). Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  36. ^ Metro Vancouver (19 February 2013). "Greater Vancouver Regional District Regular Board Meeting Friday, February 22, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 26 February 2013.[permanent dead link]
  37. ^ Metro Vancouver (29 July 2011). "Regional Growth Strategy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  38. ^ Metro Vancouver (December 1999). "Livable Region Strategic Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  39. ^ Metro Vancouver (February 2010). "Regional Food System Strategy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  40. ^ Metro Vancouver (October 2018). "Ecological Health Framework". Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  41. ^ Metro Vancouver (October 2011). "Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  42. ^ "Regional Parks, Greenways & Reserves". Metro Vancouver. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  43. ^ Metro Vancouver (28 October 2011). "Regional Parks Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  44. ^ Metro Vancouver. "Regional Economic Prosperity". Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  45. ^ Metro Vancouver (16 June 2010). "Corporate Climate Action Plan" (PDF). Retrieved 14 December 2018.

External links

Municipalities of Metro Vancouver
Places adjacent to Metro Vancouver Regional District
Subdivisions of British Columbia
50 most-populous metropolitan areas in North America
Authority control databases
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