Departure Bay, BC
British Columbia
Departure Bay is a small city in British Columbia with a population of 6,540.
Population source: Wikidata (dated census and official estimates), GeoNames. Climate: WorldClim 2.1 normals (1970-2000), NASA POWER. Updated August 2026
Discover Departure Bay, BC
Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
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How Departure Bay Compares to the U.S. Average (100% = U.S. avg)
People
Climate
Temperature
| Annual Average | 51.4°F |
| 5% below US avg | |
| January Average | 40°F (5°C) |
| July Average | 68°F (20°C) |
Geography
| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) |
| Area | 83.2 sq mi (215.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 79/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 49.2021°N, 123.9762°W |
| Timezone | America/Vancouver |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 38.0 m (125 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2007 | CHEHALIS LAKE, CHILLIWACK | Meteorological | 38.0 m | - | 146 km |
| 1946 | BRITISH COLUMBIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 9.0 m | 1 | 101 km |
| 1891 | WASHINGTON | Eruption + Earthquake | 2.4 m | - | 138 km |
| 1958 | RIPPLE ROCK, BC | Earthquake + Landslide | 0.5 m | - | 136 km |
Nearby Volcanoes
6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Garibaldi (101 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Garibaldi | Stratovolcano | 2,678 m (8,786 ft) | -8060 | 101 km |
| Garibaldi Lake | Volcanic field | 2,316 m (7,598 ft) | Unknown | 108 km |
| Cayley Volcanic Field | Volcanic field | 2,375 m (7,792 ft) | Unknown | 114 km |
| Meager | Complex | 2,680 m (8,793 ft) | -410 | 162 km |
| Baker | Stratovolcano(es) | 3,285 m (10,778 ft) | 1880 | 165 km |
| Bridge River Cones | Volcanic field | 2,500 m (8,202 ft) | Unknown | 182 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40°F (5°C) | 6.7 in | |
| February | 40°F (5°C) | 4.4 in | |
| March | 43°F (6°C) | 4.1 in | |
| April | 48°F (9°C) | 2.4 in | |
| May | 54°F (12°C) | 2.0 in | |
| June | 59°F (15°C) | 1.7 in | |
| July | 68°F (20°C) | 1.0 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 64°F (18°C) | 1.3 in | |
| September | 58°F (15°C) | 1.5 in | |
| October | 50°F (10°C) | 3.9 in | |
| November | 43°F (6°C) | 6.7 in | |
| December | 39°F (4°C) | 6.9 in | Coldest, Wettest |
Departure Bay has a seasonal temperature swing of 30°F / from 39°F in December to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.5 inches, with December being the wettest month (6.9") and July the driest (1.0").
Schools in Departure Bay
10 public schools (OpenStreetMap data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| École Quarterway Elementary | - | - | - | - |
| Forest Park Elementary School | - | - | - | - |
| Hammond Bay Elementary School | - | - | - | - |
| Wellington Secondary School | - | - | - | - |
| Rock City Elementary School | - | - | - | - |
| Departure Bay Elementary School | - | - | - | - |
| Frank J. Ney Elementary | - | - | - | - |
| Cilaire Elementary School | - | - | - | - |
| Woodlands Secondary School | - | - | - | - |
| École Océane | - | - | - | - |
Radio Stations near Departure Bay
7 stations within ~55 km.
| Station | Genre | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CKAY 91.7 "Coast FM" Nanaimo, BC | hits, nanaimo | AAC+ 57 kbps | |
| CJSU-FM 89.7 "Sun FM" Duncan, BC | adult hits | AAC+ 57 kbps | |
| CHWF-FM "The Wolf 106.9" Nanaimo, BC | active rock | AAC+ 48 kbps | |
| CKWV-FM 102.3 "The Wave" Nanaimo, BC | hot adult contemporary | AAC+ 48 kbps | |
| The Lounge CHPQ-FM 99.9 Parksville | - | AAC+ 48 kbps | |
| CIBH 88.5 "The Beach" Parksville, BC | adult contemporary | AAC+ 48 kbps | |
| CHPQ-FM "The Lounge 99.9" Parksville, BC | adult standards, classic hits | AAC+ 48 kbps |
Museums in Departure Bay
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriola Museum | ||||
| Harbour Heritage Centre | ||||
| Ladysmith Maritime Society Museum | ||||
| Ladysmith Museum | ||||
| Museum of Natural History | ||||
| Nanaimo Museum | ||||
| Nanaimo Museum | ||||
| Protection Island Museum | ||||
| Vancouver Island Military Museum |
Libraries in Departure Bay
| Name | Address | Staff | Annual Visits | Circulation | Collection | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 305 - Library | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Gabriola Island Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Ladysmith Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Nanaimo North Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Nanaimo Wellington Branch | 0.0 |
Farmers Markets in Departure Bay
| Name | Address | Season | Hours | Organic | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Farmers Market | |||||
| Gabriola Agricultural Co-op Farmers Market | |||||
| Island Roots | |||||
| Pier 17 Market |
Cafes in Departure Bay
14 cafes within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Theatres in Departure Bay
1 theatres within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Clinics in Departure Bay
26 clinics within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Dentists in Departure Bay
12 dentists within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Veterinaries in Departure Bay
6 veterinaries within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Bus Stations in Departure Bay
3 bus stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Gas Stations in Departure Bay
10 gas stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Banks in Departure Bay
4 banks within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Gyms in Departure Bay
16 gyms within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Golf Courses in Departure Bay
2 golf courses within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Breweries in Departure Bay
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longwood Brewery | ||||
| White Sails Brewery | ||||
| Wolf Brewery |
Ski Resorts Near Departure Bay
1 ski resorts within range.
| Resort | Slopes (km) | Lifts | Peak (m) | Price | Season | Night | Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Ridge Recreation Site | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
Airports Near Departure Bay
10 airports within the area.
| Airport | IATA | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria International Airport | YYJ | Large Airport |
| Nanaimo Airport | YCD | Medium Airport |
| Powell River Airport | YPW | Medium Airport |
| Qualicum Beach Airport | XQU | Medium Airport |
| Duncan Airport | DUQ | Small Airport |
| Long Harbour Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Michell Airpark | - | Small Airport |
| Quamichan Lake (Raven Field) Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Sechelt-Gibsons Airport | YHS | Small Airport |
| Texada Gillies Bay Airport | YGB | Small Airport |
Post Offices in Departure Bay
4 post offices.
| Post Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Beban Plaza | |
| Country Club Centre | |
| Mount Benson | |
| Nanaimo Delivery Facility |
Churches & Religious Organizations in Departure Bay
8 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Christ Community Church | |
| Church of the Nazarene | |
| Departure Bay Baptist Church | |
| First Baptist Church | |
| Hope Lutheran | |
| Ismaili Jamatkhanas | |
| St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church | |
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
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Get ReportFrequently Asked Questions About Departure Bay
What is the population of Departure Bay?
Departure Bay has a population of 6,540 residents and is located in British Columbia. The population density is 79 people per square mile, spread across 83.2 square miles.
What is the weather like in Departure Bay?
Departure Bay has a four-season climate with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winter temperatures average 40°F in January, while summers reach an average of 68°F in July. Annual rainfall totals 53.6 inches, with 38.8 inches of snow.
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