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

20,712 agglomerate population, Port Alberni, including: 

• 7,434 rural population from the Sproat Lake, Beaver Creek and Cherry Creek and Beaufort electoral areas
• 555 Tseshaht/Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation population 
• 135 Hupacasath/Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation population

Representing the total population of Alberni Valley communities.

This number increases when considering Port Alberni is the Alberni-Clayoquot region's commercial and transportation hub, and the largest community in the district serving the 3 west coast communities of Bamfield, Ucluelet and Tofino and 8 Nuu-chah-nulth communities.

Additional factors include the transient populations in the area generated by the significant size of the tourism industry as well as seasonal worker populations engaged in tourism and industries such as manufacturing. In neighbouring Tofino alone the number of annual tourists can exceed 600,000 - the majority of which arrive by vehicle on Highway #4 via Port Alberni.

Cultural Background

• 14% Aboriginal from across Canada
  • Local First Nation communities are the Hupacasath First Nation and Tseshaht First Nation, both Nuu-chah-nulth 
• 22 Language groups spoken
• Top 3 Immigrant populations: United Kingdom, India, Netherlands
• 15 Refugees
• 10% First generation immigrants 

Age

• Average age 45
• 24% Seniors
• 21% Aged 19 or under
• 31% Households with families

Housing

• 71% Live in single detached homes
• 62% Population has remained in Port Alberni at least 5 years

Port Alberni's labour force numbers 9,080 and the top occupations reflect a balance between service and manufacturing. 

Occupations & Industries

• 12% are self-employed

Top 3 occupations:

1. Sales & Service
2. Trades, transport and equipment operators
3. Education, law and social, community and government services 

 Top 10 industries by occupation:

1. Healthcare and social assistance
2. Retail trade
3. Manufacturing
4. Accommodation and food services
5. Construction
6. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
7. Education services
8. Other services
9. Public Administration
10. Professional, scientific and technical services

"Commutes"

• 67% of residents commute less than 15 minutes for work!
• 88% use a car as their primary transportation to get to work (6% walk to work)

Post-Secondary Education

• 51% between the ages of 25 and 64 have obtained a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree
• 14% have obtained an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma

Top 3 areas of higher education:

• Architecture, engineering and related technologies
• Health and related technologies
• 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 ideally suited for agriculture. It is the largest community in the Alberni-Clayoquot regional district and the regional transportation hub, with a deep sea port, regional airport, and float plane service. Pacific Rim Highway #4 runs through town and is the only highway connecting all of the the west coast to Vancouver Island's inland Island Highway #19 including BC Ferries 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. A deep ravine and 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 exist 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!