About British Columbia
Located to the Far West of Canada, British Columbia is a mountainous territory with the majority of the population concentrated in the South-West. A diverse landscape where abundant contrasts are seen, even in limited areas. Made up of eternal snow capped mountains rising above small fjords and the sea, the coastal landscapes are contrasted by the large forest plateaus of the interior plains in the North East. A large portion of the population lives around the Georgia Straits in the South West and in the North South facing valleys in the South of the province.
British Columbia was initially made up of 2 British colonies: the Island of Vancouver and New Caledonia (the actual continent of British Columbia, not to be confused with the French territory of the same name). The colony of the Island of Vancouver was created in 1849, New Caledonia in 1858. The two colonies merged in 1866 under the name of British Columbia, in reference to the Columbia river which passes through the province. Originally, the area was called English Columbia.
After the Gold Rush of 1865 (which attracted miners and pioneers), the British Columbians decided to join Canada in 1871 to further develop and take advantage of the train lines and government services.
Nowadays, although surrounded by American culture, the British Columbians have stayed true to their British origins and have developed their own regional identity, characterised by a laid back style of life, great tolerance and a true spirit of hospitality. In harmony with the beautiful surrounding nature, the British Columbians are leaders in ecology and preservation of the environment. Security is optimal in Canada with an extremely low crime rate across all the provinces. During your stopover in Vancouver, you will be able to calmly wander throughout the shopping districts and take the subway in peace.
