The North Coast Regional District (until 2016 known as the Skeena–Queen Charlotte Regional District) is a 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 The North Coast Regional District had a population of 19,074 in 2024 according to BC Stats population estimates.
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 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.
+ Panethnic groups in the North Coast Regional District (1996−2021)Panethnicgroup202120162011200620011996 European 8,275 8,215 9,085 10,105 12,175 14,400 Indigenous 7,670 8,035 7,980 7,985 7,700 8,120 Southeast Asian 860 700 580 410 635 850 South Asian 660 420 410 540 550 620 East Asian 220 355 345 405 370 505 Middle Eastern 115 20 0 10 0 15 African 65 75 90 75 45 35 Latin American 35 25 0 0 45 70 Other 95 60 35 40 65 75 Total responses 17,995 17,895 18,550 19,590 21,565 24,710 Total population 18,181 18,133 18,784 19,664 21,693 24,795 Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.
Electoral areas: pop. 3,450 (2024) Source:
Area A – Skeena North: Rural Communities: pop. 45 (2021) Dodge Cove Crippen Cove Indian Reserves Metlakatla: pop. 94 (2025) Lax Kw'alaams: pop. 674 (2025) Area C – Skeena South: Rural Communities: pop. 31 (2021) Porcher Island Oona River Humpback Bay Hunts Inlet Indian Reserves: Hartley Bay: pop. 142 (2025) Kitkatla / Gitxaała: pop. 448 (2025) Area D – Haida Gwaii North: Unincorporated Communities: pop. 580 (2021) Tlell Tow Hill Lawn Hill Miller Creek North Beach Indian Reserves Skidegate: pop. 647 (2025) Old Massett: pop. 704 (2025) Area E – Haida Gwaii South: Unincorporated Communities: pop 325 (2021) Sandspit
Municipalities City of Prince Rupert: pop. 12,915 (2024) Village of Daajing Giids: pop. 992 (2024) Village of Masset: pop. 918 (2024) District of Port Edward: pop. 446 (2024) Village of Port Clements: pop. 353 (2024)
First Nations Communities First Nations communities within the North Coast Regional District are included within the official population figures for the regional district's electoral areas, residents of these communities have full voting rights in regional district elections; however, these populations also have elected Band Councils that represent them at the local level and indigenous national governments that represent their respective First Nations.
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.
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