Community Characteristics

The Pemberton Region includes two First Nations in the area surrounding Pemberton, in the northern part of the FNES service area:

• Lil'wat First Nation, also called Mt. Currie located near Pemberton has over 2,000 members, ofwhich over 1,300 people live in the community, with most of the other members living in other parts of the FNES service area.
• N'Quatqua First Nation, located northeast of Pemberton, near D'Arcy at the head of Anderson Lake, has just over 300 members, of which over 200 people live in the community, with most of the other members living in other parts of the FNES service area.

These communities are located within the larger Squamish-Lillooet Regional District which has an overall population of 35,130 people (0.9% of BC's total population), ofwhich 4,085 or 11.6% of the region's population are Aboriginal people. Over half the region's population is centred around Squamish and Whistler, with only several thousand people in the Pemberton area. The region has a significantly higher labour force participation rate (77.3%) than BC as a whole (65.6%), but has a slightly higher unemployment rate. (Please note that the data on the Regional District includes communities and First Nations in the Squamish, Whistler and Lillooet areas as well.)

Overall, Squamish-Lillooet has experienced positive growth, with particularly strong rates from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s. Although the population has aged, adding over five years to Its median age since the mid 1980s, it continues to be five years younger than the provincial median...The forest sectorand construction activity are important components of the economy and this is evident in the sex ratio, which is heavily weighted In favour ofmales...Naturallncrease, In combination with significant net Inflows ofmigrants has led to substantial growth In this region since the mid 1980s.

The economic base ofSquamlsh-Lillooet Regional District has shifted from resource extractloll, primarily forestry, to tourism, public service, agriculture and service Industries. This area also Increasingly serves as a satellite community to the Greater Vancouver area. Tourism has overtaken forestry as the main economic activity, mostly on the strength of the Whistler resort community. The upcoming Olympic Games will serve to raise the International tourism profile ofthis area further. Constrtlction activity has Increased In the area In the lead up to the games, particularly ill the Whistler and Squamish areas. The Squamish Lillooet area has several mills, some of which have announced recent closures or output' reductions... There are several residential development projects proposed as well as wind farm and hydro projects. The area has some cattle and eques trlan farms.

Local Economic Characteristics

Almost 22,000 are employed in the region, the largest numbers in business services, construction and retail trade. The chart shows the proportions and numbers of people employed in each industry. (Source: Statistics Canada. 2006 Census, Community Profiles) The Regional District has over 1.800 businesses, most with fewer than 20 employees, with the largest number and the largest businesses construction, retail trade, and accommodation & food services.