Prince Rupert: Canada’s wettest city and a hub of trans-Pacific trade

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known as the City of Rainbows, this British Columbia port city holds the title for Canada's wettest municipality. Beyond its temperate rainforest climate, Prince Rupert has evolved from a railway dream and fishing powerhouse into a critical trans-Pacific shipping hub, despite a history marked by economic volatility and social unrest.

Located on Kaien Island, Prince Rupert sits at a latitude similar to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in England. Its climate is defined by the Pacific Ocean and prevailing westerly winds, resulting in an oceanic environment that receives between 2,620 mm and 3,060 mm of precipitation annually. With only 1,242 hours of sunshine per year, it is the least sunny municipality in Canada, though it enjoys mild winters by national standards due to Pacific moderation.

The area has been occupied by the Coast Tsimshian for at least 5,000 years. Modern development began in the early 20th century as the western terminus for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The city’s founding was driven by grand, often unrealistic, business plans that led to early bankruptcy. By the mid-20th century, the economy shifted toward fishing and forestry, with Prince Rupert becoming the world's halibut capital until the 1980s. This era also saw significant social tension, including a 1958 riot during centennial celebrations that necessitated the reading of the Riot Act.

Economic decline in the 1990s, triggered by downturns in the fishing and forestry sectors, led to a population drop from a peak of about 18,000. However, the 2005 announcement of a new container port marked a critical turning point. Today, the city is reclaiming its status as a vital transportation hub, leveraging its strategic location to facilitate trans-Pacific trade while balancing its unique environmental and historical legacy.

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