Port Alberni is a culturally-diverse, a family-oriented city with a majority of long-time residents living in single-detached homes. 

Those who choose to live here, choose to stay here.

Population

25,786 agglomerate population, Port Alberni, which includes 7,297 from rural electoral areas: 

• 531 from Area B "Beaufort"
• 1,843 from Area D "Sproat Lake"
• 2,946 from area E "Beaver Creek"
• 1,977 from Area F "Cherry Creek" 

Tseshaht First Nation has a population of 555.
Hupacasath First Nation has a population of 135.

Port Alberni is the Alberni-Clayoquot region's commercial and transportation hub, and the largest community in the regional district. As such, many residents, seasonal workers, and visitors of neighbouring coastal communities regularly access Port Alberni for goods and services. These communities include Bamfield (pop. 201), Ucluelet (pop. 2,066), Tofino (pop. 2,516) and Nuu-chah-nulth communities on Huu-ay-ahy, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht and Uchucklesaht territory.

The region's significant tourism industry brings thousands of visitors to Port Alberni from spring until fall. The number of annual tourists accessing Port Alberni enroute to the Pacific Rim can exceed 600,000 - the majority of which arrive by personal vehicle.

Cultural Background

• 16.78% Indigenous from across Canada
  • Local First Nation communities are the Hupacasath First Nation and Tseshaht First Nation, both Nuu-chah-nulth 
• 20 Language groups spoken (in addition to English & French)
• Top 3 Immigrant populations: United Kingdom, Netherlands, India
• 50 Refugees
• 10% First generation immigrants 

Age

• Average age 46
• 27% Seniors 65+
• 59% Ages 15-64
• 13% Ages 0-14 years

Housing

Port Alberni's labour force numbers 11,485 and the top occupations reflect a balance between service and manufacturing. 

In addition:

• 16% of the labour force is self-employed
• 64% of residents commute less than 15 minutes for work!
• 90% use a car as their primary transportation to get to work (5% walk to work)

Top 3 areas of higher education:

• Architecture, engineering and related trades
• Health and related fields
• Business, management and public administration

The City of Port Alberni is situated within the Alberni Valley on over 6,600 square kilometres of land, much of which is well-suited for agriculture. It is the largest community in the Alberni-Clayoquot regional district and its regional transportation hub, with a deep sea port and regional airport. Pacific Rim Highway #4 connects Port Alberni to the west coast communities of Bamfield, Tofino and Ucluelet, and Highway #19 connects the city to the central island including ferry terminals and surrounding airports.

There is a North and South Port, each with their own downtown, commercial district, waterfront and residential areas. North Port is home to the Victoria Quay and Somass River estuary and South Port is home to the Uptown and Harbour Quay area. Roger Creek bisects North and South Port and there are two vehicle thoroughfares to get across both sides of town: One at sea level on Gertrude Street and one on Maebelle Road at the city entrance if heading west from Pacific Rim Highway #4. Additional transportation options are available to navigate the city.

Municipal Government

The City of Port Alberni is located within the traditional territory of the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations. The City is governed by a Mayor and 6 Councillors, each elected on a 4-year term. Voter eligibility is based on factors such as age, citizenship and location of the voter's residence.

• View a list of City services

Regional Government

Port Alberni is located within the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD), a federation of member municipalities governed by an elected board of Directors. With some exceptions, residents of the ACRD are eligible to vote in ACRD elections. Communities within the ACRD include:

• Port Alberni
• The rural areas immediately surrounding Port Alberni
  • Beaver Creek
  • Cherry Creek
  • Sproat Lake
• Bamfield
• Beaufort
• Huu-ay-aht First Nation
• Tofino
• Long Beach
• Toquaht Nation
• Uchucklesaht Tribe
• Ucluelet
• Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation

The ACRD is within the traditional territory of ten First Nations and its Board of Directors have adopted the philosophy "we are all one".

Government - Provincial and Federal

Port Alberni is located within the Mid-Island-Pacific Rim provincial electoral district and the Courtenay-Alberni federal electoral district.

Arts, Culture, Heritage and Sport

The City of Port Alberni provides and/or supports a number of organizations, programs and facilities in the areas of arts and events, culture and heritage and sport, including the local branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library and opportunities for families.

Education

Canada has a public school system that provides free education up to the post-secondary level. In Port Alberni children attend Elementary school (Kindergarten to Grade 7) and Secondary School (grade 8-12). There are public and private schools including French Immersion and Francophone schools. North Island College provides post-secondary and continuing education programs, as well as transfer programs for the completion of certain degrees.

Healthcare

Canada has a universal healthcare system for Canadian citizens and permanent resident who have obtained a health insurance card. In Port Alberni, a number of healthcare services and providers are available to support local and regional residents.

Fire Department

The Port Alberni Fired Department was founded in 1912, providing fire suppression and prevention services. Value added services include medical, vehicle rescue, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, plan review for new construction and renovation, fire investigation, and public education.

The rural areas immediately outside Port Alberni, including Beaver Creek, Cherry Creek and Sproat Lake, are each served by a Volunteer Fire Department.

Police Services

Police services in Port Alberni are provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The detachment consists of 54 officers, 21 support staff and 30+ volunteers.

Port Alberni has a temperate climate influenced by a prevailing westerly wind flow. The result is rainy winters with minimal snowfall that doesn't stay on the ground longer than several days and temperatures that rarely drop below zero degrees Celsius. Summers are dry and very warm by Canadian standards, with temperatures reaching into the 30s and Port Alberni frequently cited as the province's 'hot spot'. The highest volume of rainfall is typically in November (averaging 15") and the lowest is July (1"). Weather in the Spring and Autumn is variable.

The mild, temperate climate and availability of local infrastructure such as sports facilities and inter-city trail systems allows residents to be active year round. The coastal temperate rainforest and winter rains are what fuels the year-round beauty of the city's lush, spectacular landscape. 

• Winter is November to February
• Summer is May to October
• 24.8 degree daily average maximum temperature in August, the hottest month (recall that this is the average maximum, not the highest temperature)
• Daily average summer temperatures of 17 degrees (average, not maximum)
• Recorded maximum daily temperature of 37.5 degrees recorded in August 2002 (for the timespan of 1981-2010) 
• Daily minimum yearly temperatures do not fall below 0 degrees
• Approximately 33 inches of yearly snowfall, distributed over 7 months
• 83 Inches of yearly rainfall, the lowest of all 3 of our west coast neighbouring communities: Bamfield (114"), Tofino (128") and Ucluelet (131")

Predominant Native Vegetation

The Alberni Valley is home to stands of Douglas fir, western hemlock, western red cedar, maple and alder. The understory includes ferns, salal, Oregon grape, small trees, mosses, willow, skunk cabbage, hardhack, sedges, reeds and Labrador tea. 

Geographical Features Within City Limits

• The terminus of the Alberni Inlet, a 40-kilometre Pacific Ocean fjord with its mouth at Barkley Sound 
• The Somass River estuary
• Roger Creek, which empties into the Alberni Inlet via the Somass River estuary
• The Roger Creek and Log Train trail systems connecting both sides of town to each other and providing access to the backcountry 

Geographical Features Outside City Limits

These areas are strongly associated with Port Alberni due to their proximity. 

• The Beaufort Mountain range, visible from all areas of town
• Mount Arrowsmith (1,817 metre elevation) and Mount Cokely (1,631 metre elevation)
• Sproat Lake and Sproat lake Provincial Park
• Great Central Lake including the access point to Della Falls, the highest vertical drop waterfall in Canada
• Dozens of backgrountry lakes usually accessed by logging roads, including Nahmint Lake, Henderson Lake, and Gracie Lake
• Access to Strathcona Provincial Park, BC's first provincial park established in 1911

For the record, the local perspective is that Port Alberni residents have a view of the 'front' of Mount Arrowsmith whereas other residents view the 'back' of the mountain!