Provinces and Territories >> Western Canada
British Columbia
What to Do & Where to Go
British Columbia is Canada’s most westerly province, and is a mountainous area whose population is mainly clustered in its southwestern corner.
BC is Canada’s third-largest province after Québec and Ontario, making up 10 per cent of Canada’s land surface. British Columbia is a land of diversity and contrast within small areas.
Coastal landscapes, characterized by high, snow-covered mountains rising above narrow fjords and inlets, contrast with the broad forested upland of the central interior and the plains of the northeast.
The intense “Britishness” of earlier times is referred to in the province’s name, which originated with Queen Victoria and was officially proclaimed in 1858.
Major Cities in British Columbia
Vancouver
Vancouver, a bustling west coast seaport, is among Canada’s densest, most ethnically diverse cities. it’s surrounded by mountains, and has thriving art and music scenes.
Victoria
Victoria, capital of British Columbia, sits on the craggy southern end of Vancouver Island. With abundant parkland, it’s known for outdoor activities.
British Columbia's Regions
This is where the Pacific Ocean is met by bustling city and towering forest; where soaring snow-capped mountains give way to picturesque valleys, and where lively urban life blends in beautifully with the nature that surrounds it.
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
Kootenay Rockies
Northern British Columbia
Thompson Okanagan
Vancouver Coast & Mountains
Vancouver Island
National Parks in British Columbia
Glacier
Gulf Islands
Gwaii Haanas
Kootenay
Mount Revelstoke
Pacific Rim
Yoho
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
British Columbians have often fought hard to keep their natural landscapes wild.
Burgess Shale
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks
Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve
SGang Gwaay Llnagaay
Kluane/Wrangell-St Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek
Ski Resorts
Where is Located the Province of British Columbia
Official Tourism Sites
Science has proven that time spent immersed in nature can make us happier, healthier, and less stressed. It’s called The British Columbia Effect.
BC’s big backyard inspires introspective personal journeys and unbridled adventures.
BC cities, set on the doorstep of the wild, make it easy to step into nature and explore the endless possibilities of the outdoors.
Their people connect explorers with unexpected moments that renew the human spirit.