Trails and Outdoor Recreation in BC - 2024 Ipsos Poll Results
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Outdoor recreation participation continues to increase and drives residential choices for BC residents, ORCBC survey reveals.
The Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia (ORCBC), a charitable organization representing the broad spectrum of outdoor recreation user groups in BC, is unveiling the results of its third annual public poll on outdoor recreation and trails. The new poll shows that British Columbians are passionate about outdoor recreation and think that increased government investment in the development and maintenance of trails, parks and other recreation amenities will benefit them or their community.
Ipsos, on behalf of ORCBC, conducted a May 2024 survey of 800 British Columbians, exploring topics such as outdoor recreation participation, preferred types of recreation areas, the influence of access to trails and outdoor amenities on residential choices, and the benefits of increased government investment in outdoor recreation amenities.
Here are the findings from the public poll:
Participation trends
In the past 12 months, 76% of BC residents actively participated in outdoor recreation activities (e.g., hiking, climbing, bird watching, camping, bike riding, horseback riding, dirt biking, fishing, hunting, kayaking, canoeing, nordic skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, etc.) within the province. This indicates a gradual upward trend in participation since the ORCBC published the results of the first Ipsos poll on trails and outdoor recreation in 2022.
Frequency of participation
The survey reveals that 51% of British Columbians are frequent recreation participants, engaging in outdoor activities once a month or more over the past year in the province. Meanwhile, 25% are infrequent participants, engaging less than once a month, and 23% have not participated in outdoor recreation in BC in the past 12 months. Frequent participants are more likely to be male and under 55, while infrequent participants are more likely to reside in Vancouver. Non-participants are more likely to be retired, aged 55+ and female.
Louise Pedersen, Executive Director of ORCBC, remarked, "The survey underscores the vital role that outdoor recreation holds for British Columbians. It's encouraging to see so many residents participating in outdoor activities and appreciating their importance."
“Our findings show an upward trend in outdoor recreation participation across the province, with 76% of BC residents actively engaging in these activities over the past year. This highlights a growing appreciation for outdoor recreation among the public. However, it would be beneficial to explore ways to boost participation among women and individuals aged 55 and older.”
Preferred recreational areas
Community parks and trail networks (66%) emerged as the preferred recreational destination for BC residents who participated in outdoor recreation in the past 12 months, followed by beaches/coastal areas (48%), rivers/lakes (45%) and national/provincial parks (41%).
Influence of recreational amenities on residential choices
Just over half (56%) of BC residents report that access to trails and outdoor recreational amenities influenced their current choice of residence. Millennials, high-income individuals ($100k+), and households with children are most likely to consider these amenities when making housing decisions.
Pedersen continued, “The poll clearly shows that access to trails and other outdoor recreational amenities such as parks, climbing crags and bouldering areas, Nordic ski areas, boat ramps, canoe launch points and backcountry huts and shelters significantly influences residential choices for many British Columbians. Communities aiming to attract and retain residents and businesses while building more diverse and resilient economies can gain a real advantage by enhancing and promoting their outdoor recreation infrastructure.”
Support for government investment
An overwhelming 89% of BC residents think increased government investment in outdoor recreation amenities will benefit them or their community. The top benefits identified include improved physical and mental health (62%), protection of biodiversity and nature (50%), and support of the local economy (e.g. keeping residents spending locally rather than travelling) (44%).
"The astounding support for increased government investment in outdoor recreation amenities, at 89%, is a strong message to policymakers. Outdoor recreation is a vital economic driver for local communities, and insufficient funding poses a threat to both the outdoor economy, stewardship of the environment, and the quality of outdoor experiences, said Pedersen."
The findings come out the week before BC Trails Day, BC’s largest trail celebration, which is coordinated and promoted by ORCBC and takes place on June 1, 2024.
About the Study
These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC. The poll of 800 adult (18+) British Columbians was conducted online via the Ipsos I-Say Panel from May 3-6, 2024. These data were statistically weighted by region, age, gender and education to ensure the sample composition reflects that of the actual British Columbia population according to Census data. The precision of Ipsos polls containing online data is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the overall poll (n=800) is accurate to within +/- 4.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all British Columbia adults been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
Click to access data tables (partial results, easier to view), the complete data tables, and Ipsos’ media release.