local man, George Osmond, was charged with the death of the thirteen-year-old girl. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison shortly thereafter. The fact that Kayla John was a member of the Ehattesaht First Nation, and that her alleged killer was a white man, led to suggestion of the crime having racial undertones. It also brought attention to the developing issue of juvenile delinquency in the area, a problem faced by many isolated, predominantly First Nations communities. The public's growing concern resulted in a locally organized policing initiative: Citizens on Patrol. Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Zeballos had a population of 126 living in 71 of its 109 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 107. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. Economy Today, the majority of the town's residents, along with the population of the two neighbouring Native reserves, Oculcje and Ehatis are employed in the timber industry. Small businesses, specializing in ecotourism, sight-seeing, commercial fishing and oyster farming also contribute to economic growth in the area. Miscellaneous Zeballos offers a multitude of outdoor adventures, such as hiking, wildlife viewing, caving, rock climbing, diving, kayaking and fishing. Camping is available in several wilderness locations such as Little Zeballos, Lake Zeballos, and Iron Mine. In Autumn, the Zeballos River draws bears and eagles as spawning salmon struggle upstream. References External links Populated places in the Strathcona Regional District Villages in British Columbia Northern Vancouver Island