Reasons for Immigration to the British Columbia Province in Canada

Capital

• Victoria on Vancouver Island

Population

• 4,405 million

Interesting Facts

• British Columbia is the third largest and most westerly province in Canada.
• The terrain of B.C. is varied. To the east are the Rocky Mountains and to the west are the Outer and Coastal Mountains. In between are numerous other mountains ranges, deep fertile valleys, plateaus, rivers, as well as hundreds of lakes and streams.
• The Swiftsure International Yacht Race is hosted annually in Victoria.
• Vancouver is rated the third best city in the world to live in.
• B.C.'s total land and freshwater area is 95 million hectares, larger than France and Germany combined.
• British Columbia occupies about 10 per cent of Canada's land surface.
• B.C. has nearly 1,000 provincial parks and 13.5 million hectares of protected areas, more than any province in Canada. This includes 200,000 hectares of habitat for the world-famous Spirit Bear, B.C.'s official mammal.
• British Columbia is Canada's third-largest generator of hydro electricity, providing some of the lowest power costs in North America.
• The province is also Canada's second-largest natural gas producer, and the oil and gas industry continues to see tremendous growth, particularly in north-eastern B.C.
• British Columbia is the third-largest film and television production centre in North America - after New York and Los Angeles.
• British Columbia is Canada's gateway to the Asia-Pacific and is economically and geographically part of the northwest region of North America.
• B.C’s educational, transportation and telecommunications infrastructures are among the most modern in the world.
• Strong, growing economy; high standard of living.
• Over the last eight years, over 100 tax cuts have been introduced. As a result, B.C. now has some of the lowest taxes in North America.

Climate

• The climate varies from region to region, as does the topography. Along the coast, summers are warm, winters mild and wet. The southern interior has hotter summers and cooler winters, while the central interior has warm summers and cold winters.
• Temperatures average at about 2°C in winter and 26°C in summer.

Shopping and Sport

• The Pacific Centre Mall is one of the Top Ten Malls in Vancouver.
• B.C. is hosting the biggest sporting event in the world next year - the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympics Games in Vancouver and Whistler.
• Vancouver is B.C.'s biggest city and is home to the NHL Canucks. Other pro sports teams in the city include: B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League, and a new Major League Soccer Franchise the Whitecaps.

Jobs Situation

• While forestry, mining, fishing and agriculture remain important to B.C.'s economy, there is strong growth in new industries such as eco-tourism, agri-tourism, film and high tech.
• Unemployment rate is at 8.4%.
• The average annual salary is $42000.

Schooling

• Public education in British Columbia is provided free of charge for children attending school from Grade 1 to Grade 12.
• Children attending school also have a choice of studying in independent schools or at home.
• 5 Universities.

Housing

• Housing costs in British Columbia is the highest in Canada.
• The average house price in Vancouver is $518,176 and $515,755 in Victoria.

Healthcare

• British Columbia’s healthcare system provides a wide range of services, from emergency care to free health information. Payments for many healthcare services in British Columbia are covered through the Medical Services Plan (MSP).

Towns and Cities

• When it comes to choosing where in British Columbia to settle, the province’s two largest cities, Vancouver (pop 578,041; 14% of British Columbia) and Victoria (pop 330,000) lead the way.  Vancouver is the largest metropolitan area in Western Canada and the third largest in the country. It is  a coastal city and major seaport located in the Lower Mainland of south-western British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver is renowned for its scenery and has one of the largest urban parks in North America, Stanley Park.  The North Shore Mountains dominate the cityscape, and on a clear day scenic vistas include the snow-capped volcano Mount Baker in the State of Washington to the southeast, Vancouver Island across the Strait of Georgia to the west and southwest, and the Sunshine Coast to the northwest. Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, which is the largest of British Columbia's 6,500 islands. It is a community of choice for its temperate climate, natural beauty, recreational sites and superior economic opportunities. For almost every citizen, native born or immigrant, the decision to live here is consciously made.