British Columbia At A Glance
Here are some general facts and important information to help your
group or escort get the most from your adventure in British Columbia.
| British Columbia |
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Provincial Icons & Emblems
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Bird: Stellar's Jay
Tree: Red Cedar
Stone: BC Jade
Flower: Pacific Dogwood
Motto: "Splendor sine occasu" meaning "Splendour Without Diminshment" |
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Area
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| Approximately 950,000 square kilometers |
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Area Codes
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| 250, 604 — depending on region, one of these area codes must be dialed for long distance calls into or within British Columbia. |
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Capital City
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| Victoria |
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Climate
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| British Columbia enjoys a moderate climate in comparison to some regions in Canada; In fact, the coastal regions experience the longest frost-free periods in the country. Varying from continental in the interior to marine-like conditions along the coastline, British Columbia’s climate is determined by prevailing westerly winds, blowing in warm from the Pacific Ocean. The southern portion of the province has the driest and warmest weather, and the coastal region sees the most rainfall. Average temperatures vary greatly depending on the region of the province. For example, Vancouver sees milder average maximum temperatures of 5ºC(41ºF) in January to 25ºC(77ºF) in July, where Northern BC and the mountains see average maximum temperatures of -15ºC(5ºF) in January to 20ºC(68ºF) in July. |
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Emergencies
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In the event of an emergency, dial 911 for immediate police, fire and medical assistance. |
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Highest Elevation
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| Mount Fairweather - 4,666 m (15,300 ft) above sea level |
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Major Industries
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| British Columbia thrives on traditional industries such as minerals, timber, fish and hydroelectricity. However, in the last decade the economy has been given a significant boost by newer industries such as tourism (including eco-tourism and agri-tourism), high tech industry and the film industry. |
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National & Provincial Parks
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| ritish Columbia boasts 7 National Parks, and over 850 regional, marine and provincial parks. Renowned for its beauty, this province provides world-class recreation and outdoor adventure no matter which region you find yourself in. |
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Population
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4,254,522
(official 2005 population, Statistics Canada) |
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Premier
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The Honourable Gordon Campbell,
Leader of the Liberal Party of British Columbia. |
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Tax Information
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| Most purchases in British Columbia are subject to a combined sales tax totaling 13%, a blend of the 7% provincial sales tax (PST) and the 6% federal Goods and Services Tax (GST). The PST applies to most retail purchases except liquor, which is taxed at 10%. Some items including groceries, restaurant meals, and books are PST exempt. The GST applies to most purchased goods and services. |
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Time Zone
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| Most of British Columbia falls under the Pacific Standard Time, which is 8 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, and 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time (Toronto/New York City). Some eastern areas of British Columbia fall under Mountain Standard Time, the same time zone as Alberta, one hour ahead of British Columbia. British Columbia practices Daylight Savings Time. |
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Towns & Cities
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| British Columbia is made up of two major cities (Vancouver and Victoria), and more than 450 towns, villages, and smaller urban centres. |
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Famous People
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BC is the birthplace of many well-recognized names in the worlds of sports, science, politics, the arts and general celebrity. Among the long list are…
Kim Campbell, Canada’s first female Prime Minister, Port Alberni
Pamela Anderson, model/actress, Vancouver Island
Nelly Furtado, singer, Victoria
Percy Williams, sprint athlete, Vancouver
Dorothy Stratten, model/actress, Vancouver
Diana Krall, jazz musician, Nanaimo
Arthur Charles Erickson, architect, Vancouver |
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Fast Facts
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- British Columbia has the largest Chinese population in Canada
- Approximately one half of British Columbia is covered by forest
- British Columbia is the third-largest film and television production centre in North America (behind New York and Los Angeles)
- At 1,368 kilometres, the Fraser River is the longest river in British Columbia
- British Columbia is home to the 96-metre Sitka Spruce tree called the Carmanah Giant, tallest tree in Canada and the tallest of its species anywhere in the world
- The Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world
- GreenPeace was started in Kitsilano in 1970
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August, 2008
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