--- title: "North Coast-Haida Gwaii: candidates, history and census, BC provincial 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/races/mla/north-coast-haida-gwaii" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:05:23.582Z" meta: description: "3 candidates in North Coast-Haida Gwaii, BC provincial 2026. Area history, results since 2005, past MLAs and the 2021 census." "og:description": "3 candidates in North Coast-Haida Gwaii, BC provincial 2026. Area history, results since 2005, past MLAs and the 2021 census." "og:title": "North Coast-Haida Gwaii: candidates, history and census, BC provincial 2026" "twitter:description": "3 candidates in North Coast-Haida Gwaii, BC provincial 2026. Area history, results since 2005, past MLAs and the 2021 census." "twitter:title": "North Coast-Haida Gwaii: candidates, history and census, BC provincial 2026" --- ** MLA · BC PROVINCIAL 2026 # North Coast-Haida Gwaii.
3 candidates, one seat. This district elects one MLA. Voters mark one name on Saturday, October 24, 2026, and the candidate with the most votes wins the seat. North Coast-Haida Gwaii is a provincial electoral district on the north and central coast of British Columbia. It covers 120,665 square kilometres and takes in Prince Rupert and Port Edward, the islands of Haida Gwaii, and the Central Coast Regional District, which includes Bella Coola and Bella Bella. The 2021 census counted 21,980 people, and 47.1% of them reported an Indigenous identity. ## The candidates In alphabetical order [MLA · North Coast-Haida Gwaii**BC Green Party**

Francis Racy

On the official list. Research to come.Explore the profile ](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/francis-racy) [MLA · North Coast-Haida Gwaii**Conservative Party of BC**

Rodney Proskiw

On the official list. Research to come.Explore the profile ](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/rodney-proskiw) [![Tamara Davidson, from her BC NDP campaign page.](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/images/candidates/tamara-davidson-640.webp)MLA · North Coast-Haida Gwaii**BC NDP**

Tamara Davidson

Researched by voche.meExplore the profile ](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/tamara-davidson)
People, 2021 census
21,980
Area
120,665 km²
Registered voters, 2024
15,518
Turnout, 2024
48.60%
Median age
40.8
Median household income, 2020
$76,500
THE DISTRICT ## Where North Coast-Haida Gwaii is 120,665 km² · 21,980 people North Coast-Haida Gwaii lies along the northern and central coast of British Columbia. The Electoral Boundaries Commission's 2023 final report says the district takes in the Central Coast and North Coast Regional Districts, including Haida Gwaii. Prince Rupert is its one urban centre. The commission lists Bella Coola, Bella Bella, Masset, Port Edward, Port Clements and Daajing Giids among its other places, and says that many of the towns, villages and islands can be reached only by water or by air. It gives the area as 120,665 square kilometres and the population count as 21,980, which is 59.1% below the average district. The Council of the Haida Nation describes Haida Gwaii as a group of more than 200 islands. The Skidegate Band Council describes its village as an ocean village that runs along the shore of Skidegate Inlet. On the mainland side, the North Coast Regional District describes itself as four electoral areas and five municipalities serving over 19,000 residents on the North Coast and Haida Gwaii. The Central Coast Regional District has no municipalities. Its five electoral areas include Wuikinuxv, Heiltsuk (Bella Bella) and Nuxalk communities and the unincorporated communities of Bella Coola, Hagensborg, Firvale, Stuie, Denny Island, Ocean Falls and Rivers Inlet, and it says it serves fewer than 4,000 residents. The Canadian Encyclopedia says Ocean Falls, at the head of Cousins Inlet, can be reached only by air or sea. Elections BC's 2024 results file lists 23 places where people voted inside the district. They run from the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre Auditorium and the Prince Rupert Library to community halls at Sandspit, Tlell, Port Clements, Skidegate, Kitkatla and Metlakatla, the Gitga'at First Nation Band Office, the Hagensborg Royal Canadian Legion, the Shearwater Resort and Marina, and the Wuikinuxv Village Admin Office. - Prince Rupert - Port Edward - Dodge Cove - Oona River - Lax Kw'alaams - Metlakatla - Kitkatla - Hartley Bay - Daajing Giids - Skidegate - Tlell - Port Clements - Masset - Old Massett - Sandspit - Bella Coola - Hagensborg - Firvale - Stuie - Bella Bella - Denny Island - Shearwater - Ocean Falls - Rivers Inlet - Wuikinuxv Sources: [British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf), [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935), [Council of the Haida Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.haidanation.ca/public-notices/for-immediate-release-haida-nation-bc-recognize-haida-aboriginal-title-a-historic-first-in-canada), [Skidegate Band Council (opens in a new tab)](https://www.skidegate.ca/), [North Coast Regional District (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ncrdbc.com/), [Central Coast Regional District (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ccrd.ca/our-region/about-us/), [The Canadian Encyclopedia (opens in a new tab)](https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ocean-falls) HISTORY ## The history of the area Checked Thursday, October 8, 2026 ### Haida Gwaii and the Haida title agreements, 2021 to 2024 The Council of the Haida Nation says the Haida have been on Haida Gwaii for thousands of years, that the Council was formed in 1974, and that the Constitution of the Haida Nation was formally adopted in 2003. Coastal First Nations, an alliance of eight Nations that includes the Haida Nation, says Haida territory takes in parts of southern Alaska, Haida Gwaii and the waters around it. The Haida Nation has three representatives in that alliance: the Council of the Haida Nation, the Old Massett Village Council and the Skidegate Band Council. The Province of British Columbia lists the agreements that led to 2024. They are the Changing Tide Framework for Reconciliation Agreement of 2021 and the Nang K̲’uula • Nang K̲'úulaas Recognition Agreement of 2023. The Council's release says the 2023 agreement recognizes the Haida Nation as the holder of Haida Nation title and rights, and the Council as its governing body. On April 6, 2024, Haida citizens voted 95% in favour of the Gaayhllxid • Gíihlagalgang "Rising Tide" Haida Title Lands Agreement at a special assembly. The Province and the Council signed it on April 14, 2024, in HlGaagilda. Bill 25 was introduced on April 22, 2024, and the Province says it became law on May 16, 2024. The release sets out what the agreement keeps in place. Private property interests are confirmed. Local governments, public infrastructure, programs and services continue under current B.C. laws, and residents keep receiving municipal services and paying property taxes as they do now. Provincially issued leases, permits and other approvals to use Crown land stay in effect over a transition period of several years. The title is put into effect in stages. The Province calls the agreement and its law the first of their kind in Canadian history. Sources: [Council of the Haida Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.haidanation.ca/public-notices/for-immediate-release-haida-nation-bc-recognize-haida-aboriginal-title-a-historic-first-in-canada), [Province of British Columbia (opens in a new tab)](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/consulting-with-first-nations/first-nations-negotiations/first-nations-a-z-listing/haida-nation-council-of), [Coastal First Nations (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/haida-nation/), [Coastal First Nations (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/about/communities/) ### Gwaii Haanas, from the 1985 blockade to the 2010 marine agreement Parks Canada dates the dispute over southern Moresby Island to 1974, when logging plans led to a public proposal to protect the South Moresby Wilderness Area. In 1985 the Haida Nation designated the area a Haida Heritage Site, and a blockade was held on Lyell Island. Logging went on until July 1987, when Canada and British Columbia signed the South Moresby Memorandum of Understanding. The South Moresby Agreement followed in 1988. In 1993 the Government of Canada and the Council of the Haida Nation signed the Gwaii Haanas Agreement. Under it, the Archipelago Management Board, made up of an equal number of representatives from the Council and from the Government of Canada, plans and runs Gwaii Haanas. On January 16, 2010, the Gwaii Haanas Marine Agreement added Fisheries and Oceans Canada to that partnership. The Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve was established in June 2010. The commission's map for the district labels Moresby Island and Gwaii Haanas National Park among the features of Haida Gwaii. Sources: [Parks Canada (opens in a new tab)](https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/info/histoire-history), [British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf) ### Ts'msyen, Gitxaała and Gitga'at on the North Coast The City of Prince Rupert says Prince Rupert lies in the traditional territory of the Ts’msyen, that archaeological evidence matches the First Nations' adaawx, their recorded history, and that people have lived on the North Coast for over 10,000 years. Coastal First Nations says the Metlakatla First Nation has existed for thousands of years around present-day Prince Rupert, and that Metlakatla means "saltwater pass" in Sm’algyax, the language of the Coast Ts’msyen (Tsimshian) people. The Lax Kw'alaams Band says its name comes from Laxłgu'alaams, "Place of the Wild Roses", and that it has over 4,100 members. Coastal First Nations says the Gitxaała Nation, also called Git Lax M’oon, people of the saltwater, has territory that stretches from the Nass River to Aristazabel Island. It says the village of Lach Klan (Kitkatla) has been lived in continuously for thousands of years, and that hereditary leaders of four clans, Gisputwada, Ganhada, Lax’sgiik and Laxgibuu, manage the territory under their ayaawx, their traditional laws. The Gitga'at First Nation says it is based in Txalgiuw (Hartley Bay), that Gitk’a’ata Territory is its ceremonial and political foundation, and that its customary structure rests on three clans: Gispudwada, Laxsgiik and Ganhada. The Nation lists among the hardships it has lived through a ban on feasting and potlatching from 1885 to 1951, residential schools, and the removal of children from their families. Sources: [City of Prince Rupert (opens in a new tab)](https://www.princerupert.ca/node/93), [Coastal First Nations (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/metlakatla-nation/), [Lax Kw'alaams Band (opens in a new tab)](https://laxkwalaams.ca/), [Coastal First Nations (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/gitxaala-nation/), [Gitga'at First Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.gitgaatnation.ca/gfn) ### Heiltsuk, Nuxalk and Wuikinuxv on the Central Coast, and the Great Bear Rainforest The Heiltsuk Tribal Council writes the Nation's name as Haíɫzaqv and says its oral histories, supported by archaeological evidence, trace its presence back over 14,000 years. It gives the traditional territory as 16,658 square kilometres and says Bella Bella is on Campbell Island. In a notice dated June 3, 2026, the Council says the tug Nathan E. Stewart ran aground near Bella Bella in October 2016 and spilled diesel and other pollutants into Heiltsuk waters, and that a first settlement with Kirby Corporation includes a payment of $12.2 million after the court issues its order. The Nuxalk Nation names Q'umk'uts' (Bella Coola) as unceded Nuxalk territory. Coastal First Nations says Nuxalk territory surrounds Bella Coola and takes in King Island, Fisher, Burke and Dean Channels, and North and South Bentinck Arms. The Nation says the Squmalh (Thorsen Creek) petroglyphs are estimated to be over 5000 years old, and that on June 28, 2019, its elected Chief and Council signed a Declaration of Understanding with Nuxalk Stataltmc, the ancestral leadership. The Wuikinuxv Nation says it has lived on the lands and waters of Rivers Inlet since time immemorial, and its village is K̓itit. Coastal First Nations says a coast-wide alliance of Nations was formed in 2003 and now includes the Gitga’at, Gitxaała, Haida, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo Xai’xais, Metlakatla, Nuxalk and Wuikinuxv. It says the Great Bear Rainforest agreements were announced in 2006 and formalized in 2016 as a land use order and the Great Bear Rainforest (Forest Management) Act, which put 3.1 million hectares of coastal temperate rainforest off limits to industrial logging. The Central Coast Regional District lists the Kitasoo/Xai’Xais Nation among the Nations whose territories it overlaps. Sources: [Heiltsuk Tribal Council (opens in a new tab)](https://www.heiltsuk.ca/), [Nuxalk Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://nuxalknation.ca/governance/), [Nuxalk Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://nuxalknation.ca/visit-us/), [Coastal First Nations (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/about/communities/), [Coastal First Nations (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/haida-nation/), [Coastal First Nations (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/initiatives/great-bear-rainforest-agreement/), [Coastal First Nations (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/nuxalk-nation/), [Wuikinuxv Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.wuikinuxv.net/), [Coastal First Nations (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/wuikinuxv-nation/), [Central Coast Regional District (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ccrd.ca/our-region/about-us/) ### Prince Rupert and the Grand Trunk Pacific, 1903 to 1914 The City of Prince Rupert says Charles M. Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, toured Canada and the Pacific coast with officials in 1903, and that in March 1905 the railway received a Crown grant of 10,000 acres. BC Geographical Names records that the railway's officers named the city in 1906 for Prince Rupert, the first governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, after an open competition with a $250 prize. The post office opened on 1 December 1906. Both the City and BC Geographical Names place the incorporation in March 1910. The City gives March 10th and BC Geographical Names gives 3 March, so this page gives the month only. The City adds that the first municipal election was held on May 19, 1910, and that Alfred Stork was elected the first mayor. Hays died in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. The first through train from Winnipeg arrived on April 9, 1914. The City also says the Canadian Fish & Cold Storage plant opened in 1912 and made Prince Rupert known as the Halibut Capital of the World. Sources: [City of Prince Rupert (opens in a new tab)](https://www.princerupert.ca/node/93), [BC Geographical Names Office (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/37023.html) ### Canneries, mills and the port, 1889 to 2018 The North Pacific Cannery at Port Edward was first established in 1889 by John Carthew, according to Parks Canada's statement for the Canadian Register of Historic Places. Henry Bell-Irving bought it in 1891, and it operated until 1980. Its main building from 1889 is the oldest surviving cannery building in British Columbia, and the site was designated a national historic site in 1985. BC Geographical Names records Port Edward as a village municipality from 29 June 1966 and a district municipality from 17 April 1991. At Ocean Falls, The Canadian Encyclopedia says the sawmill was producing export lumber by 1909, that the mill under Crown Zellerbach supported a town of 3000 by 1966, and that the mill had closed by 1980, when most residents left. The City of Prince Rupert says the pulp mill on nearby Watson Island opened in 1951 and closed in 2004. The City says that in the Second World War thousands of American and Canadian troops were stationed at Prince Rupert and the population rose to over 21,000. It dates Fairview Terminal, its first deep-sea facility, to 1977, the coal and grain terminals on Ridley Island to the early 1980s, a new container port at Fairview in 2007, and a significant expansion in 2018. Sources: [Canadian Register of Historic Places (opens in a new tab)](https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=12321), [BC Geographical Names Office (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/37008.html), [The Canadian Encyclopedia (opens in a new tab)](https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ocean-falls), [City of Prince Rupert (opens in a new tab)](https://www.princerupert.ca/node/93) ### Bella Coola, Hagensborg and the villages of Haida Gwaii, 1793 to 2022 BC Geographical Names quotes a Parks Canada monument at Bella Coola: "Alexander Mackenzie of the North West Company, with nine companions, reached this place on July 21, 1793." The Bella Coola post office opened on 1 March 1895, and the office became Hagensborg Post Office on 1 June 1900. Hagensborg is named for Hagen B. Christensen, the first storekeeper in the district, who was postmaster from 1896 to 1910. On Haida Gwaii, BC Geographical Names says Eli Tingley arrived at what is now Port Clements in 1907, that the place was first called Queenstown, and that it was renamed in 1914 for Herbert Sylvester Clements, the member of Parliament for Comox-Atlin. Port Clements became a village municipality on 31 December 1975. Masset's post office opened on 1 August 1909, and Masset became a village municipality on 11 May 1961. BC Geographical Names says the community once recorded as Skidegate Mission became Skidegate on 31 March 1992, after the United Church of Canada asked for the word Mission to be removed and the Skidegate Band Council confirmed the request by letter on 30 March 1992. The federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs approved the change on 18 November 1998. The Village of Queen Charlotte became the Village of Daajing Giids on 13 July 2022, by Order in Council 422. Sources: [BC Geographical Names Office (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/3350.html), [BC Geographical Names Office (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/5189.html), [BC Geographical Names Office (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/38419.html), [BC Geographical Names Office (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/35755.html), [BC Geographical Names Office (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/53254.html), [BC Geographical Names Office (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/75799.html), [North Coast Regional District (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ncrdbc.com/node/892), [Village of Daajing Giids (opens in a new tab)](https://www.daajinggiids.ca/) THE SEAT ## Who has held the seat Legislative Assembly records, 35th Parliament onward Elections BC's volume for 1871 to 1986 prints no district named North Coast. The volume for 1987 to 2001 first prints it at the 35th general election, held on 17 October 1991, under the Electoral Districts Act (SBC 1990 c. 39), which received assent on 27 July 1990 and created a province of 75 single-member districts. Dan Miller of the New Democratic Party won North Coast in 1991 with 6,365 votes (59.75%), ahead of Rocky L. Sorensen of the Liberal Party with 2,469 (23.18%) and Linda D. Marshall-Lutz of Social Credit with 1,818 (17.07%). Miller won again in 1996 with 7,298 votes (64.82%), ahead of Odd Eidsvik of the Liberal Party with 2,899 (25.75%). Bill Belsey of the Liberal Party won in 2001 with 4,915 votes (45.25%), ahead of Colleen Fitzpatrick of the New Democratic Party with 4,084 (37.61%). Elections BC's volume for 2002 to 2013 prints the 2005 result: Gary Earl Coons of the BC NDP won with 5,845 votes (53.77%) over Belsey with 4,185 (38.50%). Coons won again in 2009 with 5,097 votes (57.33%). Jennifer Rice of the BC NDP won North Coast in 2013 with 4,617 votes (56.72%), in 2017 with 5,242 (57.30%) and in 2020 with 4,544 (72.82%). The commission's 2023 final report changed the name of North Coast to North Coast-Haida Gwaii, to better reflect the geographic area the riding represents, and proposed no change to the boundaries of the districts in the North. Its appendix lists North Coast with 21,980 people and 143,864 square kilometres, and North Coast-Haida Gwaii with 21,980 people and 120,665 square kilometres. In the 2017 to 2024 districts, 41 of the district's 45 voting areas were in North Coast and 1 was in North Island. In 2024 Tamara Davidson of the BC NDP won with 4,863 votes (64.92%). Christopher Jason Sankey of the Conservative Party received 2,628 (35.08%). Turnout was 48.6% of 15,518 registered voters. Sources: [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1987-2001-ElectionHistory.pdf), [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2002-2013-ElectionHistory.pdf), [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935), [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf), [British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf) Members for North Coast-Haida Gwaii | Parliament | It sat | Member | Elected as | Party on the legislature’s record | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 43rd | 2025 to 2026 | Laanas - Tamara Davidson | | BC NDP | Members for North Coast, which covered 41 of this district’s 45 voting areas before 2024 | Parliament | It sat | Member | Elected as | Party on the legislature’s record | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 42nd | 2020 to 2024 | Jennifer Rice | BC NDP | BC NDP | | 41st | 2017 to 2020 | Jennifer Rice | BC NDP | BC NDP | | 40th | 2013 to 2017 | Jennifer Rice | BC NDP | BC NDP | | 39th | 2009 to 2013 | Gary Coons | BC NDP | BC NDP | | 38th | 2005 to 2009 | Gary Coons | | BC NDP | | 37th | 2001 to 2005 | Bill Belsey | | BC Liberal Party | | 36th | 1996 to 2001 | Dan Miller | | BC NDP | | 35th | 1992 to 1996 | Dan Miller | | BC NDP | “Elected as” is the affiliation Elections BC printed with the winning result. The last column is the party the legislature’s records give for that parliament, which differs when a member changed party while in office. A row with that column empty is a winner Elections BC prints whom the legislature’s records leave out. Source: [Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (opens in a new tab)](https://www.leg.bc.ca/members) ### Boundaries since 2024 North Coast-Haida Gwaii has 45 voting areas. They overlap these districts from 2017 to 2024: North Coast (41), North Island (1). The commission that drew the boundaries counted 21,980 people in the district, 59.1% below the average for a district, over 120,665 km². Sources: [British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission, Final report, April 3, 2023 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf), [Elections BC, Voting area conversion table, 2017 to 2024 (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/fb26db04-780c-4229-a147-da4fd5311d36) PAST RESULTS ## Every result since 2005 From Elections BC
**2024 Provincial General Election**Tamara Davidson, BC NDP, 64.92% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Tamara DavidsonElected | BC NDP | 4,863 | 64.92% | | Christopher Jason Sankey | Conservative Party | 2,628 | 35.08% | 7,491 valid votes · 51 rejected ballots · 15,518 registered voters · 48.60% voted
### North Coast, 2005 to 2020
**2020 General Election**Jennifer Rice, BC NDP, 72.82% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Jennifer RiceElected | BC NDP | 4,544 | 72.82% | | Roy S Jones Jr | BC Liberal Party | 1,429 | 22.90% | | Jody Craven | Libertarian | 267 | 4.28% | 6,240 valid votes · 105 rejected ballots
**2017 General Election**Jennifer Rice, BC NDP, 57.30% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Jennifer RiceElected | BC NDP | 5,242 | 57.30% | | Herb Pond | BC Liberal Party | 3,081 | 33.68% | | Hondo Arendt | BC Green Party | 826 | 9.03% | 9,149 valid votes · 44 rejected ballots
**2013 General Election**Jennifer Rice, BC NDP, 56.72% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Jennifer RiceElected | BC NDP | 4,617 | 56.72% | | Judy Fraser | BC Liberal Party | 2,692 | 33.07% | | Hondo Arendt | BC Green Party | 831 | 10.21% | 8,140 valid votes · 51 rejected ballots
**2009 General Election**Gary Coons, BC NDP, 57.33% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Gary CoonsElected | BC NDP | 5,097 | 57.33% | | Herb Pond | BC Liberal Party | 3,110 | 34.98% | | Lisa Girbav | BC Green Party | 683 | 7.68% | 8,890 valid votes · 70 rejected ballots
**2005 General Election**Gary Earl Coons, BC NDP, 53.77% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Gary Earl CoonsElected | BC NDP | 5,845 | 53.77% | | Bill Belsey | BC Liberal Party | 4,185 | 38.50% | | Hondo Arendt | BC Green Party | 629 | 5.79% | | David Johns | BC Marijuana Party | 211 | 1.94% | 10,870 valid votes · 47 rejected ballots
The boundaries changed before the 2009, 2017 and 2024 elections, so a result under the same name can cover a different area. Sources: [Elections BC, Provincial Voting Results (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935), [Statement of Votes, 2024 Provincial General Election (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf) PEOPLE · 2021 CENSUS ## Who lives in North Coast-Haida Gwaii 21,980 residents · British Columbia beside each figure ### Age
Median age
40.8BC 42.8
- Under 1517.3%BC 14.3% - 15 to 6465.2%BC 65.3% - 65 and over17.5%BC 20.3% - 85 and over1.4%BC 2.4% ### Households
Households
9,140
People per household
2.4BC 2.4
#### Who lives together - Couples with children21.0%BC 22.7% - Couples without children22.9%BC 26.4% - One-parent families10.1%BC 7.6% - Multigenerational households3.9%BC 3.7% - People living alone32.6%BC 29.4% #### Household size - 1 person32.6%BC 29.4% - 2 persons32.8%BC 35.3% - 3 persons14.6%BC 14.5% - 4 persons10.8%BC 12.6% - 5 or more persons9.1%BC 8.2% ### Homes
Median home value
$352,000BC $785,000
Median monthly rent and utilities
$1,000BC $1,370
Median monthly cost for owners
$920BC $1,320
#### Own or rent - Own their home62.3%BC 66.8% - Rent their home29.9%BC 32.8% - Home provided by a local government or First Nation7.9%BC 0.5% #### Type of home - Single-detached house68.4%BC 42.4% - Semi-detached house4.5%BC 3.1% - Row house4.3%BC 8.3% - Apartment or flat in a duplex7.5%BC 12.2% - Apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys11.2%BC 20.4% - Apartment in a building that has five or more storeys0.7%BC 10.9% - Other single-attached house0.3%BC 0.2% - Movable dwelling3.1%BC 2.5% #### When the home was built - 1960 or earlier24.5%BC 12.5% - 1961 to 198036.1%BC 27.0% - 1981 to 199017.4%BC 14.2% - 1991 to 200012.5%BC 16.5% - 2001 to 20052.6%BC 6.0% - 2006 to 20102.1%BC 8.0% - 2011 to 20151.8%BC 6.6% - 2016 to 20213.0%BC 9.1% ### Housing costs - Renters paying 30% or more of income on housing23.2%BC 37.8% - Owners paying 30% or more of income on housing10.2%BC 19.3% - Renters in core housing need15.6%BC 24.7% - Owners in core housing need8.4%BC 8.0% - Renters in subsidized housing13.9%BC 11.0% - Owners with a mortgage55.2%BC 57.5% ### Income Income is for the year 2020.
Median household income
$76,500BC $85,000
After tax
$70,000BC $76,000
Median income per person
$38,000BC $40,800
#### Living on a low income (after-tax measure) - All ages14.8%BC 10.8% - Under 1817.5%BC 11.3% - 18 to 6413.0%BC 9.7% - 65 and over17.6%BC 13.8% ### Languages #### First language learned - English87.4%BC 67.1% - Vietnamese1.4%BC 0.7% - Punjabi (Panjabi)1.3%BC 4.9% - French0.8%BC 1.2% - Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino)0.7%BC 1.7% - German0.6%BC 1.0% - Italian0.5%BC 0.4% - Yue (Cantonese)0.4%BC 3.9% - Portuguese0.3%BC 0.5% - Heiltsuk0.3%BC 0.0% #### Spoken most often at home - English94.3%BC 78.5% - Punjabi (Panjabi)1.3%BC 3.8% - Vietnamese1.1%BC 0.4% - Arabic0.3%BC 0.3% - French0.3%BC 0.3% - Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino)0.3%BC 0.9% - Italian0.2%BC 0.1% - Portuguese0.2%BC 0.3% #### English and French - English only95.0%BC 90.1% - English and French4.3%BC 6.6% - Neither English nor French0.7%BC 3.3% ### Immigration
Born outside Canada (immigrants)
10.1%BC 29.0%
Non-permanent residents
1.4%BC 3.5%
#### Where immigrants were born - Viet Nam13.4%BC 2.3% - United States of America12.5%BC 4.2% - India11.8%BC 13.8% - Philippines11.1%BC 9.2% - United Kingdom9.3%BC 8.2% - Italy4.8%BC 0.9% - Germany4.1%BC 2.2% - Portugal3.2%BC 0.5% - Syria3.0%BC 0.5% - South Africa, Republic of2.7%BC 1.1% #### When immigrants arrived - Arrived before 198033.4%BC 19.7% - 1980 to 199015.0%BC 11.5% - 1991 to 200012.5%BC 21.0% - 2001 to 201014.3%BC 22.2% - 2011 to 202124.5%BC 25.6% #### Generations in Canada - First generation12.2%BC 33.7% - Second generation13.2%BC 21.7% - Third generation or more74.6%BC 44.5% ### Identity and origins
Indigenous identity
47.1%BC 5.9%
Visible minority
9.7%BC 34.4%
#### Visible minority groups - South Asian3.0%BC 9.6% - Southeast Asian2.4%BC 1.5% - Filipino1.6%BC 3.5% - Chinese0.8%BC 11.2% - Arab0.4%BC 0.6% - Black0.3%BC 1.3% - Multiple visible minorities0.3%BC 1.2% - Japanese0.3%BC 0.9% - Latin American0.2%BC 1.3% - Visible minority (other)0.1%BC 0.4% - West Asian0.1%BC 1.4% - Korean0.0%BC 1.5% #### Ethnic or cultural origins reported most often - English16.3%BC 20.7% - Scottish14.8%BC 15.8% - First Nations (North American Indian)14.3%BC 2.1% - Irish11.1%BC 12.8% - German9.6%BC 11.0% - Canadian6.6%BC 9.3% - French6.0%BC 6.4% - Norwegian4.7%BC 2.8% - Italian3.7%BC 3.3% - Ukrainian3.1%BC 4.3% ### Religion - No religion61.5%BC 52.1% - Christian30.8%BC 34.3% - Traditional Indigenous spirituality2.0%BC 0.2% - Sikh1.9%BC 5.9% - Buddhist1.1%BC 1.7% - Other religions1.1%BC 1.0% - Hindu0.8%BC 1.7% - Muslim0.7%BC 2.6% - Jewish0.1%BC 0.5% ### Education Highest level completed, ages 25 to 64. - No certificate, diploma or degree19.3%BC 8.0% - High school diploma31.9%BC 25.8% - College, trades or other certificate below a bachelor’s degree31.3%BC 31.2% - Bachelor’s degree or higher17.4%BC 35.0% ### Work
In the labour force
62.8%BC 63.3%
Employed
56.9%BC 57.9%
Unemployment rate at the census
9.5%BC 8.4%
#### Industries with the most workers - Transportation and warehousing16.1%BC 5.5% - Health care and social assistance11.7%BC 12.3% - Retail trade11.1%BC 11.6% - Public administration9.6%BC 5.5% - Educational services9.4%BC 7.4% - Construction6.6%BC 9.0% - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting6.4%BC 2.3% - Accommodation and food services6.4%BC 7.0% #### Kinds of work - Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations25.7%BC 18.0% - Sales and service occupations23.5%BC 25.6% - Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services14.4%BC 11.9% - Business, finance and administration occupations12.2%BC 17.1% - Health occupations6.6%BC 7.7% - Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations5.1%BC 2.8% - Natural and applied sciences and related occupations4.6%BC 8.0% - Occupations in manufacturing and utilities3.7%BC 3.4% - Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport3.1%BC 4.2% - Legislative and senior management occupations1.0%BC 1.2% ### Getting to work #### Where people worked - Worked at home10.5%BC 22.6% - Worked outside Canada0.0%BC 0.4% - No fixed workplace address16.7%BC 15.3% - Worked at a usual workplace72.7%BC 61.6% #### How commuters travelled - Car, truck or van81.9%BC 79.9% - Public transit1.8%BC 9.3% - On foot11.9%BC 6.5% - Bicycle1.5%BC 2.0% - Other method2.8%BC 2.3% #### Length of the trip - Less than 15 minutes68.7%BC 31.8% - 15 to 29 minutes23.1%BC 34.0% - 30 to 44 minutes4.6%BC 19.7% - 45 to 59 minutes0.9%BC 7.3% - 60 minutes and over2.7%BC 7.2% ### Moving Where residents lived five years before the census. - Lived at the same address62.0%BC 56.2% - Moved within the same municipality18.0%BC 16.1% - Moved from elsewhere in BC13.5%BC 17.0% - Moved from another province3.8%BC 4.6% - Moved from another country2.6%BC 6.1% Counts in the census are rounded to the nearest 5, and shares are worked out from those counts. Source: [BC Stats, from Statistics Canada tabulations, 2021 Census Profile for BC Provincial Electoral Districts (2023 Redistribution) (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/census-profiles-for-bc-provincial-electoral-districts) QUESTIONS ## Questions about North Coast-Haida Gwaii 9 answers ### Where is North Coast-Haida Gwaii? North Coast-Haida Gwaii is a provincial electoral district on the northern and central coast of British Columbia. The Electoral Boundaries Commission's 2023 final report says it takes in the Central Coast and North Coast Regional Districts, including Haida Gwaii. It covers 120,665 square kilometres, and Prince Rupert is its one urban centre. Many of its other communities can be reached only by water or air. ### Which communities are in North Coast-Haida Gwaii? North Coast-Haida Gwaii includes Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Bella Coola, Bella Bella, Masset, Port Clements and Daajing Giids, according to the commission's 2023 final report. Elections BC's 2024 results also list voting places at Skidegate, Sandspit, Tlell, Kitkatla, Metlakatla, Lax Kw'alaams, Hagensborg, Ocean Falls and Wuikinuxv, so those communities are inside the district too. ### Who is the MLA for North Coast-Haida Gwaii? Tamara Davidson of the BC NDP won North Coast-Haida Gwaii in the 2024 provincial general election. Elections BC counted 4,863 votes for her, which was 64.92% of the valid votes. Christopher Jason Sankey of the Conservative Party received 2,628 votes, or 35.08%. Turnout in the district was 48.6% of 15,518 registered voters. ### Who held the seat before 2024? Jennifer Rice of the BC NDP held the seat, then named North Coast, before North Coast-Haida Gwaii was formed. She won it in 2013 with 4,617 votes, in 2017 with 5,242 votes and in 2020 with 4,544 votes. Gary Earl Coons of the BC NDP won it in 2005 and 2009, and Dan Miller of the New Democratic Party won it in 1991 and 1996. ### How did the boundaries of North Coast-Haida Gwaii change in 2023? The Electoral Boundaries Commission's 2023 final report renamed North Coast as North Coast-Haida Gwaii to better reflect the geographic area the district represents, and proposed no change to the boundaries of the districts in the North. Of the district's 45 voting areas, 41 were in North Coast and 1 was in North Island in the 2017 to 2024 districts. ### Whose territory is North Coast-Haida Gwaii? North Coast-Haida Gwaii includes the territories of the Haida Nation, the Ts'msyen Nations, the Heiltsuk, the Nuxalk and the Wuikinuxv, among others. The City of Prince Rupert says Prince Rupert is in the traditional territory of the Ts’msyen. The Heiltsuk give their territory as 16,658 square kilometres. Coastal First Nations says the Haida Nation holds title and rights to Haida Gwaii and the waters around it. ### What did the 2024 Haida Title Lands Agreement do? The Province of British Columbia and the Council of the Haida Nation signed the Gaayhllxid • Gíihlagalgang "Rising Tide" Haida Title Lands Agreement on April 14, 2024, in HlGaagilda on Haida Gwaii. It recognizes Haida Aboriginal title throughout Haida Gwaii in stages, confirms private property interests, and lets local governments keep operating under B.C. law. Bill 25 made it law on May 16, 2024. ### How many people live in North Coast-Haida Gwaii, and how many are Indigenous? The 2021 census counted 21,980 people in North Coast-Haida Gwaii, and 47.1% of them reported an Indigenous identity. That is 10,255 people: 9,550 reported a First Nations identity and 505 a Métis identity. The commission's final report says the district's population is 59.1% below the average district, across 120,665 square kilometres. ### When did Prince Rupert become a city? Prince Rupert, the one urban centre in North Coast-Haida Gwaii, was incorporated in March 1910. The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway chose the site for the western end of its line across the country. The City of Prince Rupert says the first through train from Winnipeg arrived on April 9, 1914, and that the first mayor, Alfred Stork, was elected on May 19, 1910. SOURCES ## Where this page comes from Figures read Thursday, October 8, 2026 1. [2021 Census Profile for BC Provincial Electoral Districts (2023 Redistribution) (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/census-profiles-for-bc-provincial-electoral-districts)BC Stats, from Statistics Canada tabulations · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 2. [Provincial Voting Results (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 3. [Statement of Votes, 2024 Provincial General Election (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 4. [Voting area conversion table, 2017 to 2024 (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/fb26db04-780c-4229-a147-da4fd5311d36)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 5. [Final report, April 3, 2023 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf)British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 6. [Members of the Legislative Assembly, 35th to 43rd Parliament (opens in a new tab)](https://www.leg.bc.ca/members)Legislative Assembly of British Columbia · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 7. [Final report, April 3, 2023 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf)British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 8. [Electoral History of British Columbia, Supplement, 1987 to 2001 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1987-2001-ElectionHistory.pdf)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 9. [Electoral History of British Columbia, Supplement, 2002 to 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2002-2013-ElectionHistory.pdf)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 10. [Provincial Voting Results (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 11. [Statement of Votes, 2024 Provincial General Election (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 12. [Haida Nation, B.C. recognize Haida Aboriginal title, a historic first in Canada (opens in a new tab)](https://www.haidanation.ca/public-notices/for-immediate-release-haida-nation-bc-recognize-haida-aboriginal-title-a-historic-first-in-canada)Council of the Haida Nation · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 13. [Haida Nation, Council of the (opens in a new tab)](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/consulting-with-first-nations/first-nations-negotiations/first-nations-a-z-listing/haida-nation-council-of)Province of British Columbia · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 14. [History of establishment, Gwaii Haanas (opens in a new tab)](https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/info/histoire-history)Parks Canada · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 15. [Communities (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/about/communities/)Coastal First Nations · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 16. [Haida Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/haida-nation/)Coastal First Nations · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 17. [Metlakatla Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/metlakatla-nation/)Coastal First Nations · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 18. [Gitxaała Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/gitxaala-nation/)Coastal First Nations · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 19. [Nuxalk Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/nuxalk-nation/)Coastal First Nations · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 20. [Wuikinuxv Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/communities/wuikinuxv-nation/)Coastal First Nations · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 21. [Great Bear Rainforest Agreement (opens in a new tab)](https://coastalfirstnations.ca/initiatives/great-bear-rainforest-agreement/)Coastal First Nations · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 22. [About GFN (opens in a new tab)](https://www.gitgaatnation.ca/gfn)Gitga'at First Nation · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 23. [Heiltsuk Nation, Haíɫzaqv (opens in a new tab)](https://www.heiltsuk.ca/)Heiltsuk Tribal Council · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 24. [Governance (opens in a new tab)](https://nuxalknation.ca/governance/)Nuxalk Nation · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 25. [Visit Us (opens in a new tab)](https://nuxalknation.ca/visit-us/)Nuxalk Nation · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 26. [Welcome to the Wuikinuxv Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.wuikinuxv.net/)Wuikinuxv Nation · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 27. [Lax Kw'alaams Band (opens in a new tab)](https://laxkwalaams.ca/)Lax Kw'alaams Band · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 28. [Skidegate Band Council (opens in a new tab)](https://www.skidegate.ca/)Skidegate Band Council · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 29. [About Prince Rupert (opens in a new tab)](https://www.princerupert.ca/node/93)City of Prince Rupert · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 30. [Village of Daajing Giids (opens in a new tab)](https://www.daajinggiids.ca/)Village of Daajing Giids · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 31. [North Coast Regional District (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ncrdbc.com/)North Coast Regional District · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 32. [Notice of Letters Patent Change, Village of Daajing Giids (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ncrdbc.com/node/892)North Coast Regional District · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 33. [About Us (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ccrd.ca/our-region/about-us/)Central Coast Regional District · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 34. [North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site of Canada (opens in a new tab)](https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=12321)Canadian Register of Historic Places · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 35. [Ocean Falls (opens in a new tab)](https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ocean-falls)The Canadian Encyclopedia · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 36. [Prince Rupert, BC Geographical Names record (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/37023.html)BC Geographical Names Office · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 37. [Port Edward, BC Geographical Names record (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/37008.html)BC Geographical Names Office · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 38. [Bella Coola, BC Geographical Names record (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/3350.html)BC Geographical Names Office · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 39. [Hagensborg, BC Geographical Names record (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/5189.html)BC Geographical Names Office · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 40. [Port Clements, BC Geographical Names record (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/38419.html)BC Geographical Names Office · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 41. [Masset, BC Geographical Names record (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/35755.html)BC Geographical Names Office · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 42. [Skidegate, BC Geographical Names record (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/53254.html)BC Geographical Names Office · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 43. [Daajing Giids, BC Geographical Names record (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/75799.html)BC Geographical Names Office · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 ## Official information From Elections BC Your district ### [Check which district an address is in](https://elections.bc.ca/resources/maps/find-your-district/) Look up your address to be sure this district is yours. [Look it up (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/resources/maps/find-your-district/) Candidates ### [The official candidate list](https://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/GE-2026-10-24-Candidate-Website-Report.PDF) The list this page is built from, published by Elections BC. [Open the list (opens in a new tab)](https://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/GE-2026-10-24-Candidate-Website-Report.PDF) Voting ### [Where and when to vote](https://elections.bc.ca/2026-provincial-election/where-to-vote/) Voting places and hours for general voting day and advance voting. [Find your voting place (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/2026-provincial-election/where-to-vote/) ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.