Skip to main content
A hiker on a colourful ridge in the Niut Range, Coast Mountains, BC.
Niut Range, Coast Mountains

Practical Tips

About BC

Experience rich culture, urban centres, and limitless wild spaces

British Columbia reaches from the Pacific Ocean to the Rockies, bordered by Alberta to the east, Alaska, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories to the north, and Washington, Idaho, and Montana to the south.

The province is located on the traditional territories of 204 First Nations and the homelands of Métis and other Indigenous Peoples. It is also the westernmost province in Canada.

For more than 10,000 years, First Nations Peoples have lived throughout these lands, with communities thriving across what is now British Columbia. Their deep connections to the land and waters are reflected in distinct cultures, traditions, and more than 30 Indigenous languages. This long history of stewardship has been the foundation for modern conservation efforts, and national and provincial parks now help safeguard some of BC’s most remarkable landscapes and diverse ecosystems. Around 15% of the land and 3% of marine areas are also protected by the government, supporting the care and well-being of wildlife and their natural habitats.

An aerial view of Pacific Rim in BC, Canada
Highlights of British Columbia
0:57

In the late 18th century, European traders arrived, establishing trading posts, and by the mid-1800s, two gold rushes brought prospectors, merchants, and people from around the world. This era also saw major projects, from dams and bridges to railways, ferries, and the completion of the Trans Canada Highway. While many newcomers built new lives, former government policies, such as the banning of ceremonies like the potlatch and the residential institution system, had a lasting impact on Indigenous Peoples.

Despite this, Indigenous peoples continue to uphold and celebrate their ways of life. Cultural resurgence is underway, reflected in renewed language use, creative expression, and gatherings that celebrate living traditions. Visitors to BC are invited to experience it through guided cultural experiences, art, cuisine and events.

British Columbia is also home to many diverse communities from around the globe. This multicultural landscape is enriched by people with roots in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Chinese and Punjabi are among the most spoken languages after English, and this diverse mix brings festivals, flavours, creativity and experiences to life across the province.

British Columbia’s population of over 5.7 million is concentrated in urban centres, with Metro Vancouver home to more than half the province’s people, or around 3 million residents. Other city centres include Victoria, Kamloops, Kelowna, and Prince George.