Nelson is home to more immigrants than its neighbouring cities and immigrants also make up a higher percentage of its population, according to new data released by Statistics Canada from the 2021 census.
It found 1,615 people who lived in Nelson came to Canada from other countries, which was about 14.5 per cent of the total population of 11,106.
The data showed the greatest proportion of those immigrants, 580, arrived before 1980 and the second highest cohort, 465, came between 2011 and 2021.
The greatest number of immigrants came from the US with 390, followed by the UK with 365. Other countries represented included Philippines (85), Italy (65), Germany (65), India (55), Netherlands (40), South Africa (35), France (30), Poland (25), Russia (20), Mexico (20), Brazil (10), and Peru (10).
By contrast, Castlegar is home to 690 immigrants, who make up 8.3 per cent of the population. The highest numbers are from the UK and the US.
Trail has 700 immigrants, who account for nine per cent of the population. The greats number are from the UK, followed by the US and Italy.
Rossland has 485 immigrants, who make up 11.7 per cent of the population; Grand Forks has 355, which 8.6 per cent; and Creston has 635, which is 11.4 per cent.