British Columbia
Similar to what was experienced in the Prairies, wildfires in British Columbia were extremely active, and according to CMOS-SCMO, May and June were two of the driest months on record. Further, the Pacific coast experienced yet another record-breaking year with respect to temperatures. In fact, it was 3.1 degrees above average between December and February, while total rainfall between May and August was only 34 mm (1.3 in.). In Vancouver, for example, the unseasonably dry and hot weather saw the region enforce Stage 3 water restrictions, which prevented the refilling of pools. These restrictions did not ease off until late September.
Despite these conditions, pool permit registrations between January and June in 2015 were almost 50 per cent higher than the average number of permits issued over the past six years. This region had a strong start to the season last year with 242 permits recorded during this period, representing a 62.4 per cent increase over 2014. A 246.4 per cent year-over-year increase was seen in June alone. Much like 2014, these good fortunes carried on throughout the rest of the season with another 191 permits issued between July and December in 2015, representing 21 more permits and a 13.5 per cent increase.
In 2014, three of the province’s CMAs recorded a decrease in pool permit registrations; however, in 2015, two managed to turn things around—one quite markedly in fact. After several years in decline, the city of Kelowna was a hot bed for pools in 2015, as 243 permits were issued last year, representing a 73.5 per cent increase over 2014. In the last seven years, this CMA has typically averaged 139 permit registrations. Another CMA which experienced a turnaround of sorts was Victoria. After reporting a 40 per cent decrease in permit registrations in 2014, this CMA had a 116.6 per cent increase in pool permits in 2015. Vancouver was also up 6.2 per cent year-over-year. Overall, pool permits increased by 36.6 per cent in 2015.
British Columbia represents 5.7 per cent of the total number of building permits issued in the country’s CMAs, which is an increase of 2.6 per cent over 2014.
