2.0 Community Profile

The City of Penticton had a total population of just under 34,000 as of 2016. This is a 2.7% increase from 2011 indicating that the municipality has been growing at a slow but steady rate. According to 2016 Census data, the median age of the population is 52.4 years. Compared to the national average of 41.2 years, Penticton has an older population. About 59% of the population is working age (15-64), and 29% is of retirement age (65+), which is about 11% higher than the provincial average.

A review of income statistics for the population of Penticton compared to the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) and the rest of BC indicates that household incomes are relatively low. In 2015, the median household income was $54,219 in Penticton and $57,069 in the RDOS. This is significantly lower than the BC median income of $68,995.

One method of assessing poverty is the use of the Low-Income Measure (LIM). Households meet the LIM threshold when their income does not meet a median income based on household size.1 The prevalence of low-income based on the lowincome measure after tax, is 17% in Penticton and 16.4% in the RDOS. Additionally, 71.5% of owner and tenant households in Penticton are spending 30% or more of their income on shelter costs, which is another indicator of income/cost of living challenges.

Promoting equitable access to affordable, fresh, and nutritious food is one of the priorities for the Penticton Food Security Strategy. Based on this high-level population and income assessment, it appears that a significant proportion of the population of Penticton may experience challenges of food affordability. A 2016 study by the Provincial Health Services Authority,2 notes that, based on 2011-2012 data, 14.1% of the population in the Interior Health region is food insecure to some extent. Marginal food insecurity was measured at 3.7%, moderate food insecurity at 7%, and severe food insecurity 3.4%. This rate of food insecurity is nearly three percent higher than the average for BC, which has an overall rate of 11.8%. Indeed, the available information suggests that food insecurity is a concern for a portion of Penticton’s population.

For people facing food affordability challenges, increasing food options, access to urban areas to grow their own food, and social food programs’ access to local food for emergent need would lead to increased food security.

1 Statistics Canada. 2017. Penticton, CY [Census subdivision], British Columbia and Okanagan-Similkameen, RD [Census division], British Columbia (table). Census Profile. 2016 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2016001. Ottawa. Released November 29, 2017. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E (accessed February 5, 2021). 2 Provincial Health Services Authority/Proof Food Insecurity Policy Research, Priority Health Equity Indicators for British Columbia: Household Food Insecurity Indicator Report, http://www.bccdc.ca/pop-publichealth/Documents/Household%20food%20insecurity%20in%20BC_full%20report.pdf.