Vernon Jubilee Hospital (Vernon Matters file photo)

By Liam Verster

updated figures

Deaths far outpacing births in Vernon this year

Apr 5, 2023 | 11:40 AM

The first quarter data shows death figures were more than double those of births locally.

Preliminary findings from Vital Statistics B.C. showed there were 200 deaths in the Vernon/Coldstream health area, compared to 89 births.

The provincial data agency noted there were 78 deaths against 40 births in January, 55 deaths to 25 births in February, and 67 deaths to 24 births in March.

Comparatively, Vital Statistics B.C. confirmed a total of 215 deaths and 111 births in the Vernon/Coldstream health area in the first quarter of 2022, and 190 deaths and 123 births in the same period of 2021.

Vernon/Coldstream led the region in first quarter deaths, followed by Downtown Kelowna at 159 and Salmon Arm at 134.

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Vernon/Coldstream and the Rutland health areas had the highest birth counts in the first quarter, both at 89, followed by West Kelowna’s 65 and Glenmore’s 55 births.

Preliminary First Quarter Deaths by Health Area

• Vernon/Coldstream – 200 (78 in January / 55 in February / 67 in March)
• North Okanagan/Lumby – 37 (15 / 16 / 6)
• Armstrong/Spallumcheen – 31 (9 / 13 / 9)
• Enderby – 33 (10 / 14 / 9)
• Lake Country – 30 (5 / 12 / 13)
• Salmon Arm 134 (42 / 48 / 44)
• Central Okanagan Rural – 25 (9 / 10 / 6)
• Downtown Kelowna – 158 (60 / 39 /60)
• Rutland – 84 (34 / 26 / 24)
• Glenmore – 78 (30 / 18 / 30)
• West Kelowna – 132 (41 / 57 / 34)

Preliminary First Quarter Births by Health Area

• Vernon/Coldstream – 89 (40 in January / 25 in February / 24 in March)
• North Okanagan/Lumby – 19 (10 / 2 / 7)
• Armstrong/Spallumcheen – 16 (3 / 10 / 3)
• Enderby – 14 (5 / 5 / 4)
• Lake Country – 28 (14 / 8 / 6)
• Salmon Arm – 40 (18 / 12 / 10)
• Central Okanagan Rural – 14 (6 / 5 / 3)
• Downtown Kelowna – 54 (24 / 13 / 17)
• Rutland – 89 (37 / 31 / 21)
• Glenmore – 55 (24 / 16 / 15)
• West Kelowna – 65 (30 / 22 / 13)

Looking at the province as a whole, Vital Statistics B.C. reported a total of 10,794 deaths and 8,451 births in the first three months of the year.

The South Surrey health area had the highest preliminary death total in the first quarter at 203, just three above Vernon/Coldstream’s total, while the New Westminster health area had the highest preliminary birth total at 180.

Vital Statistics B.C. noted the 2023 figures are an interim tabulation and are subject to review.