Metro Vancouver Regional District

The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD), or simply Metro Vancouver, is a group that helps manage the big area around Greater Vancouver in British Columbia. It started in 1967 and was first called the Regional District of Fraser–Burrard. Later, from 1968 to 2017, it was known as the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

Metro Vancouver touches many places. To the south, it is next to Whatcom County, Washington. To the east is the Fraser Valley Regional District. To the north is the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. Across the Strait of Georgia to the west are the Nanaimo Regional District and the Cowichan Valley Regional District. Far to the northwest, across Howe Sound, lies the Sunshine Coast.

Metro Vancouver is guided by 23 local leaders. It provides important services for the whole area, makes rules, and talks about ideas that affect everyone. The biggest city in this area is Vancouver, and the main offices of Metro Vancouver are in the city of Burnaby. The area covered by Metro Vancouver is the same as the Vancouver census metropolitan area used by Statistics Canada.

History

The Greater Vancouver Water District and the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District started in 1924 and 1956. In 1967, the Government of British Columbia created a regional district called the "Regional District of Fraser-Burrard" for the western part of the Lower Mainland. In 1968, it was renamed the "Greater Vancouver Regional District" (GVRD).

In 2007, the GVRD wanted to change its name to "Metro Vancouver" because it was easier to remember. But the government said no. In 2017, it was officially renamed the "Metro Vancouver Regional District".

Geography

The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD) is east of the Strait of Georgia and north of the State of Washington. The Fraser River runs through the middle of it. The edges of the MVRD match the Vancouver CMA.

Membership

Metro Vancouver Regional District has 23 local authorities as members. These include 21 municipalities, one electoral area, and one treaty First Nation.

Electoral Area A includes all the unincorporated land within the district’s boundaries, covering about 818 square kilometres. Most of this area is in the northern part of the district, with residential areas and isolated homes along Howe Sound between Lions Bay and Horseshoe Bay, on Indian Arm north of Deep Cove and Belcarra/Anmore, and on the west side of Pitt Lake north of Port Coquitlam. Other areas include Barnston Island on the Fraser River, Passage Island between Bowen Island and West Vancouver, and the urban communities of the University of British Columbia campus and the University Endowment Lands, where most people in Electoral Area A live.

There are seventeen First Nations reserves within Metro Vancouver’s area. People living there can vote in local and Electoral Area A elections, helping to choose the Metro Vancouver board of directors.

The cities of Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and the district of Mission are often linked with Vancouver in tourism but are part of a different regional district called the Fraser Valley Regional District.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Metro Vancouver

Metro Vancouver is a busy place with lots of people. In 2021, about 2.6 million people lived there. This was a bit more than in 2016, when about 2.5 million people lived there. The area is 2,878.93 km² (1,111.56 sq mi), so many people live close together.

Governance

Metro Vancouver has four groups that work together. These are the Metro Vancouver Regional District, the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District, the Greater Vancouver Water District, and the Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation. Each group has its own board of directors with local leaders.

The main board has 40 directors from 23 local areas. The number of directors from each area depends on how many people live there.

As of 2017, about 1,500 people worked for Metro Vancouver. The organization has ten main departments that report to the Chief Administrative Officer. These include Human Resources, Financial Services, Legal Services, and Water Services.

Administrative role

Metro Vancouver helps manage important services for the whole area, like water, cleaning up waste, and planning for the future. Most of its money goes to these three services.

Water

Main article: Metro Vancouver watersheds

Metro Vancouver gives clean water to homes. It uses rivers and reservoirs to give water to millions of people. It also takes care of big pipes and storage tanks to make sure everyone has water.

Liquid waste

Metro Vancouver takes care of cleaning water that runs away from homes. It works to keep people healthy and the environment safe while also finding ways to use resources from the waste.

Solid waste

Metro Vancouver manages trash and recycling. It tries to reduce waste, recycle more, and find ways to use the trash that can’t be recycled.

Housing

Metro Vancouver helps make sure there is enough affordable housing for people who need it. It owns housing buildings and works on plans to end homelessness.

Regional planning

Metro Vancouver helps plan for the future of the area so it stays livable for everyone. It works on making sure there is enough space for people, protecting nature, and planning for healthy food.

Air quality

Metro Vancouver works to keep the air clean and reduce pollution. It has plans to protect health and the environment from air problems.

Regional parks

Metro Vancouver takes care of big parks and nature areas. These parks give people places to enjoy nature and help keep the environment healthy.

Regional economic prosperity

Metro Vancouver helps create jobs and growth for the whole area. It works with others to collect data, attract businesses, and support the economy.

Regional federation

Metro Vancouver supports all its services by working with local governments and other groups. It focuses on making the area a good place to live, preparing for emergencies, and being careful with money and energy.