British Columbia Regional Overview

Victoria, Vancouver and the surrounding communities have grown up along the edge of the Pacific Ocean and sit like gems at the foot of some of the most spectacular mountains in the world, linked to the Coastal Wild and to the Urbane.  We welcome you to British Columbia.

Inhabited first by the First Nations peoples thousands of years ago, and now with a population of 4.4 million people, British Columbia welcomes visitors from around the world to share in its rich heritage and wealth of culture that highlights every aspect of life in BC.

While covering only about 10 percent of Canada’s surface, British Columbia’s land and freshwater area totals about 95 million hectares making it bigger than France and Germany combined. This vast province includes some of North America’s true wilderness and undisputed natural beauty, from ancient rainforests to rugged coastlines, jagged mountain peaks, roaring rivers and stunning tranquil lakes.  Together with an idyllic outdoor playground, bountiful lands with orchards and vineyards, enchanting West Coast islands, and many unique communities, all have one thing in common - a blessed and diverse land offering a variety of things to see and do, and experiences to live.

Whatever you decide, British Columbia is your destination to escape to, time and time again.

Check out further information on:

• Victoria, the Capital of BC and Vancouver Island including Tofino, Ucluelet, Parksville and Nanaimo
• City of Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver region
• Whistler and the Sea to Sky Country
• Sunshine Coast
• Gulf Islands
• Okanagan
• Mighty Fraser Country
• Kootenays and the BC Rockies
• Caribboo Chilcotin Coast region
• Northern British Columbia and Haida Qwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands)

 Photo credits: Vancouver Aerial of Stanley Park with Cruise Ship courtesy Tourism Vancouver, Albert Normandin; Haida Dancers, and West Coast Air courtesy Tourism Vancouver