A current report of the BC Coroners Service has seen a huge spike in homeless population death, with Northern Health seeing the death toll almost double from 2020 to 2021.
In 2020, 11 homeless deaths were recorded in Northern Health. In the last 10 years previous, 13 was the maximum total. Last year, Northern Health recorded 21 deaths of homeless people.
Across the area, 247 deaths happened in 2021, up 76% from the year prior.
Illegal drugs were the main reason behind 91% of accidental deaths.
Prince George has the 5th most deaths of any town in the area at 11, up four from 2020’s total of 7.
PG follows Vancouver (50), Victoria (18), Surrey (29), and Abbotsford (14).
In 2012, all of these places had simple fractions of these deadly numbers, Vancouver having the most at 7, and Prince George having just 1.
