Port Edward, British Columbia, is a district municipality nestled in the Range 5 Coast Land District of Canada. This quaint community, with a population of approximately 577, is situated on the Tsimpsean Peninsula, at Porpoise Harbour. It lies near the southern end of Chatham Sound, close to the mouth of the Skeena River, and is a mere 15 km southeast of Prince Rupert.
Port Edward, British Columbia, is strategically located with several cities in its vicinity. To the northwest lies the City of Prince Rupert, while the City of Terrace is to the northeast. Further east, one can find the cities of Kitimat and Prince George, making Port Edward a central point for exploring the region.
The history of Port Edward, British Columbia, is marked by significant economic events. One such event was the proposed Pacific Northwest LNG (PNW LNG) project for Lelu Island, adjacent to the townsite of Port Edward. This major joint venture involved Malaysia's state oil and gas company, Petronas, and significant partners including Sinopec and JAPEX. The project, valued at $11 billion (CAD), promised to bring substantial economic activity to Port Edward. However, the project was cancelled on July 25, 2017.
As per the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Port Edward, British Columbia, had a population of 470 living in 181 of its 207 total private dwellings. This represented a slight change of 0.6% from its 2016 population of 467. With a land area of 167.16 km2 (64.54 sq mi), Port Edward had a population density of 2.8/km2 (7.3/sq mi) in 2021. This demographic snapshot paints a picture of a small, close-knit community nestled amidst the natural beauty of British Columbia.
