Capital City: Victoria
British Columbia (BC) is Canada鈥檚 westernmost province and one of North America鈥檚 most mountainous regions. Because of its coastal location, it is considered a gateway to the Pacific and Asia. BC is bordered by the province of Alberta, the Yukon Territory and several American states, including Alaska. It enjoys a relatively mild climate, with crocuses often blooming as early as February.
BC continues to attract Canadians and foreigners alike: 40,000 people settle in the province each year, and its population in 2023 now exceeds 5.43 million. The thriving, diverse city of Vancouver and its greater metropolitan area was home to over 2.6 million people in 2021. It is the third-largest city in Canada. It has the second-largest Chinese community in North America, more than 60,000 inhabitants of South Asian descent, and 24,000 of Japanese descent. Victoria, the provincial capital city, is set on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, just 85 miles northwest of Seattle, USA. The 334,700 locals of this scenic city enjoy a 鈥渟ub-Mediterranean鈥� climate with moderate weather all year. Government and tourism are the two main employers in Victoria.
Mountains such as Whistler-Blackcomb offer excellent skiing and snowboarding. In the interior, green valleys produce fruits and vegetables and award-winning wines. Along the coast are inlets, sounds and islands, and visitors can relax on the beach, surf, hike, and whale watch.
