# North Coast Regional District

The North Coast Regional District (until 2016 known as the Skeena–Queen Charlotte Regional District) is a quasi-municipal administrative area in British Columbia. It is located on British Columbia's west coast and includes Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands), the largest of which are Graham Island and Moresby Island. Its administrative offices are in the City of Prince Rupert.

## Demographics

As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the North Coast Regional District, previously the Skeena–Queen Charlotte Regional District, had a population of 18,181 living in 7,661 of its 9,082 total private dwellings, a change of 0.3% from its 2016 population of 18,133. With a land area of 19,710.3 km$^2$ (7,610.2 sq mi), it had a population density of 0.9/km$^2$ (2.4/sq mi) in 2021.
Panethnic groups in the North Coast Regional District (1996−2021) :
| Panethnic group | 2021 | 2021 | 2016 | 2016 | 2011 | 2011 | 2006 | 2006 | 2001 | 2001 | 1996 | 1996 |
| Panethnic group | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| European | 8,275 | 45.98% | 8,215 | 45.91% | 9,085 | 48.98% | 10,105 | 51.58% | 12,175 | 56.46% | 14,400 | 58.28% |
| Indigenous | 7,670 | 42.62% | 8,035 | 44.9% | 7,980 | 43.02% | 7,985 | 40.76% | 7,700 | 35.71% | 8,120 | 32.86% |
| Southeast Asian | 860 | 4.78% | 700 | 3.91% | 580 | 3.13% | 410 | 2.09% | 635 | 2.94% | 850 | 3.44% |
| South Asian | 660 | 3.67% | 420 | 2.35% | 410 | 2.21% | 540 | 2.76% | 550 | 2.55% | 620 | 2.51% |
| East Asian | 220 | 1.22% | 355 | 1.98% | 345 | 1.86% | 405 | 2.07% | 370 | 1.72% | 505 | 2.04% |
| Middle Eastern | 115 | 0.64% | 20 | 0.11% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.05% | 0 | 0% | 15 | 0.06% |
| African | 65 | 0.36% | 75 | 0.42% | 90 | 0.49% | 75 | 0.38% | 45 | 0.21% | 35 | 0.14% |
| Latin American | 35 | 0.19% | 25 | 0.14% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 45 | 0.21% | 70 | 0.28% |
| Other | 95 | 0.53% | 60 | 0.34% | 35 | 0.19% | 40 | 0.2% | 65 | 0.3% | 75 | 0.3% |
| Total responses | 17,995 | 98.98% | 17,895 | 98.69% | 18,550 | 98.75% | 19,590 | 99.62% | 21,565 | 99.41% | 24,710 | 99.66% |
| Total population | 18,181 | 100% | 18,133 | 100% | 18,784 | 100% | 19,664 | 100% | 21,693 | 100% | 24,795 | 100% |
* Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

## Electoral areas

* Area A - Skeena North: 29
** Dodge Cove (unincorporated community): 29 (down from 52 in 2011)
** Crippen Cove
** Metlakatla
** Lax Kw'alaams
* Area C - Skeena South: 147
** Porcher Island
*** Oona River (unincorporated community): 147 (up from 37 in 2011)
*** Humpback Bay
*** Hunts Inlet
** Prince Rupert
** Port Edward
** Hartley Bay
* Area D - Haida Gwaii North: 524
** Rural Graham Island: 524 (down from 607 in 2006)
*** Tlell
*** Tow Hill
*** Lawn Hill
*** Miller Creek
** Daajing Giids (formerly Queen Charlotte)
** Skidegate
** Old Massett
** Port Clements
* Area E - Haida Gwaii South: 317
** pop 2011 was 317, down from 402 in 2006
*** Sandspit (unincorporated community): 297 (down from 387 in 2006)

## Municipalities

* City of Prince Rupert: 12,220
* Village of Daajing Giids: 948
* Village of Masset: 940
* District of Port Edward: 557
* Village of Port Clements: 440

## Indian reserves

In addition to 7,700 aboriginal persons listed in the regional district's community profile at Statistics Canada, there are four separate Indian reserve communities within the regional district whose populations are not included within the regional district's figures, and which are governed separately by their respective band governments. These Indian reserves are:
* Old Massett (Masset Indian Reserve No. 1);
* Skidegate (Skidegate Indian Reserve No. 1);
* Metlakatla; and
* Lax Kw'alaams (Port Simpson Indian Reserve No. 1).

## Past naming

The Regional District had historically been called the Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District, referring to its location on the Skeena River and the Queen Charlotte archipelago. Once the Queen Charlottes were renamed Haidi Gwaii to reflect their Indigenous heritage, discussions began about renaming the Regional District to reflect the update. In September 2016, letters patent were granted renaming it to the North Coast Regional District

## Transportation

The North Coast Regional District is served by Via Rail at Kwinitsa station, on the Canadian National Railway mainline in Kwinitsa on the north side of the Skeena River across from Yellowhead highway 16. The station is located between the Khyex River and the Kasiks River. The station is served by Via Rail's Jasper – Prince Rupert train as a flag stop.