EXCERPTS
FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Overview
of Province
Flag
Shield
Fauna
- Killer Whales off Blackfish Sound,
ferries between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay
- Gray Whales off western Vancouver
Island, March – April
- Bald Eagles at Harrison River and
Squamish in Autumn
- Sea Lions at Nanaimo Harbour from
winter to spring
- Salmon spawning at Adam’s River in
October (largest run in world)
- Five species of Salmon live in the BC
Pacific waters
- Elk and Bighorn Sheep in Kootenay
National Park
- Black Bear and Mountain Cougar –
safety warning when hiking in coastal mountains, even in suburb areas
- Rattlesnake warning in Interior,
especially Kalamalka Lake Park
- Grizzly Bear recovery program in
North Cascades
- Over 1 million species of Birds use
the Pacific Flyway e.g. Snow Goose, Rufus Hummingbird
History
- Rich First Nations history, 10,000
years. Coastal tribes had plenty of salmon, wild fruit, cedar, access to
waterways and mild climate.
- Province named by Queen Victoria in
1858.
- In 1778, Captain James Cook was first
white person to enter BC at Nootka Sound.
- In 1793, Alexander McKenzie, first
European to cross Canada, arrived at the Pacific Coast
- In 1808, Simon Fraser explored the
entire length of the Fraser River
- In 1850s, gold discovered in Fraser
River, lures thousands of settlers.
- In 1887, first transcontinental Canadian
Pacific train arrived in Vancouver.
- In 1896, Klondike Gold Rush began at
Bonanza Creek.
- In 1903, boundary between BC and Alaska
established
- In 1906, official flag registered with
the College of Arms in London
Table of distances
Km/Miles |
Golden |
Grand Forks |
Kamloops |
Kelowna |
Nanaimo |
Prince George |
Vancouver |
Victoria |
Golden |
|
487/302 |
358/222 |
340/211 |
721/448 |
683/424 |
713/443 |
751/466 |
|
Grand Forks |
487/302 |
|
366/227 |
203/106 |
530/329 |
881/547 |
522/324 |
560/348 |
|
Kamloops |
358/222 |
366/227 |
|
163/101 |
363/225 |
525/326 |
355/426 |
393/244 |
|
Kelowna |
340/211 |
203/106 |
163/101 |
|
403/250 |
685/426 |
395/245 |
433/269 |
|
Nanaimo |
721/448 |
530/329 |
363/225 |
403/250 |
|
791/492 |
23/14 |
113/70 |
|
Prince George |
683/424 |
881/547 |
525/326 |
685/426 |
791/492 |
|
778/483 |
821/510 |
|
Vancouver |
713/443 |
522/324 |
355/426 |
395/245 |
23/14 |
778/483 |
|
69/43 |
|
Victoria |
751/466 |
560/348 |
393/244 |
433/269 |
113/70 |
821/510 |
69/43 |
|
Offbeat
·
Vancouver
Skateboard Parks
–
China
Creek, Broadway
& Clark, teacup style, bowl, flat
bars, bench.
–
Hastings
Park, Hastings
& Renfrew, no bikes, bowl, turnstile, fenced.
·
Whale
Watching – Great
Pacific Adventures, 811 Wharf St, Victoria. Safely experience the orca or
killer whale with trained operators. 3 hour tour. Also rent kayaks, canoes,
powerboats, bicycles. Info: (250) 386-2277.
Peace & Quiet
- Edenvale
Conference Retreat Centre – 4330 Bradner Rd, Abbotsford. Info:
(604) 856-3388.
- Milagro
Retreats – Meditation, Vegetarian, Body Work. Tofino or Bowen
Island. Info: 1-800-565-0992.