The Capital Regional District (CRD) is a local government administrative district encompassing the southern tip of Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia. The CRD is one of several List of British Columbia Regional Districts, regional districts in British Columbia and had an official population of 415,451 as of the Canada 2021 Census. The CRD encompasses the thirteen municipalities of Greater Victoria and three unincorporated areas: Juan de Fuca Electoral Area on Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island Electoral Area, and Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area. The CRD also acts as the local government for most purposes in the Electoral Areas. CRD headquarters is in the City of Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria, although there are many office and operational facilities throughout the region. The total land area is . The CRD was formed in 1966 as a federation of seven municipalities and five electoral areas to provide coordination of regional issues and local government in rural areas in the Greater Victoria region.CRD webpage
Retrieved 2011-10-20

Demographics

As a Census divisions of Canada, census division in the 2021 Canadian census, 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Capital Regional District had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

Political divisions

The CRD comprises the 13 municipalities of Greater Victoria, three electoral areas and 10 Indian reserve, Indigenous reserves. The reserves have a relatively small portion of the population with 5,244 participating in the 2016 census. Some reserves did not participate; those that did are included in the population figures of the municipality or electoral area encompassing them, however the CRD regional government and local governments have no jurisdiction over reserves. Saanich, British Columbia, Saanich and Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria together have over 50 percent of the region's population.

Electoral Areas

Salt Spring Island Electoral Area

The Salt Spring Island Electoral Area of the Capital Regional District (CRD) of the Canadian province of British Columbia consists of unincorporated areas in the CRD located on Salt Spring Island. It is represented by one director on the CRD. The major localities encompassed by the electoral area are: *Ganges, British Columbia, Ganges *Fulford Harbour, British Columbia, Fulford Harbour *Vesuvius Bay, British Columbia, Vesuvius Bay *Long Harbour, British Columbia, Long Harbour *Beaver Point, British Columbia, Beaver Point *Musgrave Landing, British Columbia, Musgrave Landing According to the Canada 2006 Census: *Population: 9,640 *% Change (2001-2006): 3.9 *Dwellings: 5,131 *Area (km².): 182.23 *Density (persons per km².): 52.9

Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area

The Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area of the Capital Regional District (CRD) of the Canadian province of British Columbia consists of unincorporated districts in the CRD located on Galiano Island, Galiano, Saturna Island, Saturna, Mayne Island, Mayne, and North and South Pender Islands, as well as many smaller islands located in the Gulf of Georgia north and east of Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria. It is previously known as the Outer Gulf Islands Electoral Area. Its population of 5,101 is represented by one director on the CRD. The major localities encompassed by the electoral area are: *Bedwell Harbour, British Columbia, Bedwell Harbour (South Pender Island) *Montague Harbour, British Columbia, Montague Harbour (Galiano Island) *Otter Bay, British Columbia, Otter Bay (North Pender Island) *Saturna, British Columbia, Saturna (Saturna Island) *Sturdies Bay, British Columbia, Sturdies Bay (Galiano Island) *Village Bay, British Columbia, Village Bay (Mayne Island)

Juan de Fuca Electoral Area

The Juan de Fuca Electoral Area is an Electoral Area of the CRD. It consists of the District's unincorporated land on Vancouver Island, including the neighbourhood of Willis Point (Greater Victoria) on the Saanich Inlet, Malahat, British Columbia, Malahat, on the western shore of Saanich Inlet, and the Western Communities localities of East Sooke, River Jordan, Jordan River, Otter Point (Greater Victoria), Otter Point, Shirley, British Columbia, Shirley, Port Renfrew, British Columbia, Port Renfrew, inclusive of the First Nations in Canada, First Nations Indian reserve, reserves of Gordon River 2, British Columbia, Gordon River 2 and Pacheena 1, British Columbia, Pacheena 1, which are within its territory. Its population of 4,484 is represented by a single director of the CRD. The total land area is 1,502.24 km² (580.0 sq mi). Population figures do not included residents of Indian Reserves, whether band members or non-indigenous persons.

Administrative role

The board of directors are either directly elected officials or are appointed from within the region's elected municipal councils. The CRD's responsibilities include recycling, operating the regional landfill, building and operating sewage treatment plants, a sewer source control program, Timeline of the CRD Water System, regional water supply, funding for non-profit arts groups, regional planning, funding health facilities, and overseeing thirty regional parks, trails, and regional park reserves encompassing over 100 km². The CRD is the sole shareholder of the Capital Region Housing Corporation, which owns and operates over 1200 rental housing units. In certain areas, the CRD can pass bylaws that are binding on a portion of the geographical area or the entire geographical area. These include a "clean air bylaw" smoking ban in all public places and patios in restaurants/pubs. The CRD assumes responsibilities ordinarily undertaken by municipality, municipalities in unincorporated areas of the CRD. These responsibilities include animal control, building inspection, fire protection, and bylaw enforcement. Some of the region's municipalities avail themselves of some of these services in a contractual arrangement with the CRD.

Capital Regional Hospital District

The CRHD's primary responsibility is to provide the region's share of capital funding for the region's health facilities and equipment. The region's health care delivery is the responsibility of the Island Health, Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). The CRHD shares the same Board of Directors with the CRD.Capital Regional Hospital District webpage
Retrieved 2011-10-20

References

;Specific ;General
Community Profile: Capital H (Part 1), Regional District Electoral Area, British Columbia; Statistics Canada

Community Profile: Capital H (Part 2), Regional District Electoral Area, British Columbia; Statistics Canada

Interactive map of the Capital Regional District; British Columbia Statistics

External links

* {{authority control Capital Regional District, Regional districts of British Columbia, Capital Metropolitan planning organizations