The purpose of the Irish in BC Network Society (known as Irish in BC) is to engage, connect and support Irish individuals, organizations and businesses within the Province of BC and assist them in fostering a more vibrant sense of community and of Irish identity.

Irish in BC receives funding from the Emigrant Support Programme administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland and is strongly supported by the Consulate General of Ireland in Vancouver.

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History of Irish in bc

Community Mapping Project

When the Office of the Consulate General of Ireland opened in 2019, there was a desire to understand how many people of Irish heritage are living in BC and where they are located. The Irish Women’s Network of BC received funding to carry out a Community Mapping Project, which resulted in the creation of a new website called Irish in BC. This website included stats on the number of Irish in the province and a list of over 50 community groups.

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Irish COVID-19 Support Group

When COVID hit in March 2020, a committee of Irish community group representatives quickly came together to form the Irish COVID-19 Support Group. In partnership with the Consulate, the group reviewed what needed to be done to support the community in terms of sharing important information, assisting community members who has lost their jobs, etc. One of the main outcomes of this initiative is the weekly Irish in BC newsletter, which has been highly successful and now has over 1,100 subscribers.

Irish in BC Now

The community mapping project, alongside the Irish Covid-19 Support Group, has helped shape ‘Irish in BC’ to what it is today – a key resource for the Irish here in British Columbia and means to encourage engagement and community.

Irish in BC communication touchpoints to date are this website, our Facebook and Instagram platforms and a weekly newsletter where you can find out about all the latest news and happenings across the Irish community here in BC. In December of 2021, Irish in BC was fully established as a non-profit in the province of British Columbia.

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How Many Irish are there in BC?

It’s a tough question to answer. We know that according to the 2016 Census, there are almost 6,000 people who were born in Ireland. Add to that the numbers of newcomers here on the 2 year visas or those with PR, not to mention the summer student influx, it is estimated that there are 10,000 – 12,000 Irish in BC. 

21039

Number of Irish entering Canada via BC in 2018

71%

Increase in Irish entering Canada via BC from 2009 to 2018

131623

Total Irish entering Canada via BC since 2009

2016 Census Infographic

Numbers Of Irish In BC

Movement within Canada is not tracked so the statistics on people in BC on visas and/or with PR are not readily available.

For more Irish in BC heritage info and Census 2016 information head over the numbers of Irish In BC page.

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