Electoral areas have no administrative or governmental function, and are used only to select rural representatives to the Regional District board.
Statistics Canada also uses them as census subdivisions.
Area A (Cassidy/Cedar/South Wellington) This electoral area is located on
Vancouver Island, on the
Stuart Channel southeast of
Nanaimo. Jessica Stanley is the elected RDN Director for the electoral area. According to the
Canada 2021 Census: • Population: 7,481 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves) • % Change (2016–2021): 6.0 • Dwellings: 3,249 • Area (km²): 60.18 • Density (persons per km²): 124.3 Contains the communities of
Cassidy,
Cedar, and
South Wellington.
Nanaimo Airport is also located here.
Area B (Gabriola Island) This electoral area contains
DeCourcy Island,
Gabriola Island and
Mudge Island. Vanessa Craig is the elected RDN Director for the electoral area. According to the
Canada 2016 Census: • Population: 4,033 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves) • % Change (2011–2016): -0.3 • Dwellings: 2,987 • Area (km²): 57.76 • Density (persons per km²): 69.8
Area C (Arrowsmith/Benson) This electoral area is located on
Vancouver Island, to the southwest of Nanaimo. It contains the upper
Nanaimo River, the
Nanaimo Lakes,
Mount Benson and
Mount Arrowsmith. Lauren Melanson is the elected RDN Director for the electoral area. According to the
Canada 2016 Census: • Population: 2,808 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves) • % Change (2011–2016): -0.9 • Dwellings: 1,097 • Area (km²): 1,098.94 • Density (persons per km²): 2.6 Contains the communities of East Wellington and
Extension.
Area E (Nanoose Bay) This electoral area is located on
Vancouver Island, on the shore of the
Strait of Georgia, between Lantzville and Parksville. It is co-extensive with the community of
Nanoose Bay. Bob Rogers is the elected RDN Director for the electoral area. According to the
Canada 2016 Census: • Population: 6,125 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves) • % Change (2011–2016): 7.9 • Dwellings: 3,066 • Area (km²): 75.08 • Density (persons per km²): 81.6
Area F (Alberni Highway) This electoral area is located on
Vancouver Island, to the west of Qualicum Beach and Parksville.
British Columbia Highway 4 runs the length of the area. Leanne Salter is the elected RDN Director for the electoral area. According to the
Canada 2016 Census: • Population: 7,724 (exclusive of any residents of First Nation Reserves) • % Change (2011–2016): 4.1 • Dwellings: 3,530 • Area (km²): 264.36 • Density (persons per km²): 29.2 Includes the communities of
Coombs,
Errington,
Hilliers,
Meadowood and
Whiskey Creek, as well as
Cameron Lake and
Cathedral Grove.
Area G (Mid-Oceanside) This electoral area is located on
Vancouver Island, on the shore of the
Strait of Georgia, surrounding Qualicum Beach and almost surrounding Parksville. Lehann Wallace is the elected RDN Director for the electoral area. According to the
Canada 2016 Census: • Population: 7,465 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves) • % Change (1996–2001): 4.3 • Dwellings: 3,553 • Area (km²): 49.32 • Density (persons per km²): 151.4 Contains the communities of
Dashwood and
French Creek.
Area H (Lighthouse Country) This electoral area is located on
Vancouver Island, on the shore of the
Strait of Georgia at the southern entrance to
Baynes Sound, northwest of Qualicum Beach. Stuart McLean is the elected RDN Director for the electoral area. According to the
Canada 2016 Census: • Population: 3,884 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves) • % Change (1996–2001): 10.7 • Dwellings: 2,436 • Area (km²): 277.41 • Density (persons per km²): 14.0 Contains the communities of
Bowser,
Deep Bay,
Dunsmuir and
Horne Lake, as well as the Shaw Hill area in its southeastern part. ==Demographics==