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Capital: Victoria
Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Splendor without diminishment)
Flower: Pacific Dogwood
Population(1998): 4,014,329
Vancouver 
Lotus land
Closer to Japan than it is to Britain – a third of the residents are of Asian origin – Vancouver is a genuine meeting place of East and West. Nicknamed ‘lotus land’, Vancouver actually runs the whole cosmopolitan gamut, resulting in a fascinating array of distinctive, starkly contrasting neighbourhoods. Here before them all were Canada’s First Nations, whose exquisite carvings and totem poles represent the city’s most unmissable cultural experience. Vancouver’s rare cultural symbiosis informs every aspect of life, from people to street signs to festivals and the city’s extraordinarily diverse and competitive culinary scene.
Granola culture
East Coasters think of British Columbians as tree-huggers and granola eaters, mocking a West Coast vibe that makes Vancouver more comparable to San Francisco than Toronto. The air and streets are shockingly clean and crime rates are low. Vancouver’s population smokes less, reads more, drinks more wine, eats out more and buys more sporting equipment than people in other Canadian cities. Health-conscious, polite and relaxed, Vancouverites tend to be politically liberal and opposed to the corporate culture. After all Greenpeace was founded here.
Convivial pursuits
Living in an area of outstanding natural beauty, British Columbians are crazy about outdoor pursuits. Consequently, Vancouver and its surrounding areas offer a staggering range of activities catering for beginners and experts alike. There are three ski-hills right in town, plus excellent mountain biking and gorgeous hikes to dizzying panoramas; and the continent’s number one ski resort is just two hours north. On the way are mountain trails and landscapes to rival even the Rockies, as well as the country’s best climbing, wind-surfing and bald eagle-watching. And, what’s more, local waters offer first- class kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, surfing and whale-watching.
 Economy
Tourism is an important economic sector in British Columbia. With over five million hectares of parkland, the Rocky Mountains remain the biggest attraction. Coastal B.C., with its beaches, and other attractions, is also popular. Each year, about 15 million people visit British Columbia.
Agriculture and fishing, especially salmon fishing, are two other key sectors of the economy of British Columbia. Manufacturing in B.C. is still largely resource-based, but is being gradually diversified by high-tech and computer-based industries related to telecommunications and the aerospace and sub-sea industries. British Columbia has the most balanced export market of all Canada's provinces, with the United States, Japan, the European Union and the Pacific Rim countries as its clientele.
*Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003.
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