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'''British Columbia''' is the western most province in [[Canada]].  It is bounded by the [[Pacific Ocean]] on the west and the US State of [[Alaska]] to the northwest.  To the north it is bounded by the [[Yukon Territory]] and the [[Northwest Territories]], on the east by [[Alberta]], and on the south by the U.S. states of [[Washington]], [[Idaho]], and [[Montana]].  The capital of British Columbia is [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], and province's population is 4,751,600 in 2016 accounting for 13% of the national population.<ref>http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/demo02a-eng.htm</ref>  The total area of British Columbia is 947,800&nbsp;km₂ with 25,730&nbsp;km of coast line.  It was explored by the Spanish in 1774, Captain Cook explored in 1778, and Captain Vancouver was sent to survey the coast by the [[Royal Navy]] in 1792.  British Columbia joined Confederation in 1871, based on a promise that a transcontinental railway would be completed in 10 years.<ref>''Reader's Digest Atlas of Canada,'' 1995</ref>  On July 18th, 2017 a NDP minority government was formed with the support of the Green Party of British Columbia, and the premier of British Columbia became John Horgan.

'''British Columbia''' is the westernmost province in [[Canada]].  It is bounded by the [[Pacific Ocean]] on the west and the US State of [[Alaska]] to the northwest.  To the north it is bounded by the [[Yukon Territory]] and the [[Northwest Territories]], on the east by [[Alberta]], and on the south by the U.S. states of [[Washington]], [[Idaho]], and [[Montana]].  The capital of British Columbia is [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], and province's population is 4,751,600 in 2016 accounting for 13% of the national population.<ref>http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/demo02a-eng.htm</ref>  The total area of British Columbia is 947,800&nbsp;km₂ with 25,730&nbsp;km of coastline.  It was explored by the Spanish in 1774, Captain Cook explored in 1778, and Captain Vancouver was sent to survey the coast by the [[Royal Navy]] in 1792.  British Columbia joined Confederation in 1871, based on a promise that a transcontinental railway would be completed in 10 years.<ref>''Reader's Digest Atlas of Canada,'' 1995</ref>  On July 18, 2017, an NDP minority government was formed with the support of the Green Party of British Columbia, and the premier of British Columbia became John Horgan.

[[File:Landscape.jpg|right|thumb|150px|alt=Lake Harrison|Lake Harrison, British Columbia]]

[[File:Landscape.jpg|right|thumb|150px|alt=Lake Harrison|Lake Harrison, British Columbia]]

The largest city in British Columbia is [[Vancouver]] with a population of approximately 600,000, with the greater Vancouver area accounting for approximately 2,000,000 people. The Capitol of British Columbia is [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]  British Columbia is also home to [[Gibsons]], setting of the long running Canadian television series [[The Beachcombers]].   

The largest city in British Columbia is [[Vancouver]] with a population of approximately 600,000, with the greater Vancouver area accounting for approximately 2,000,000 people. The capital of British Columbia is [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]  British Columbia is also home to [[Gibsons]], setting of the long-running Canadian television series [[The Beachcombers]].   

=Industry=

==Industry==

British Columbia's primary source of jobs is in forestry and mining,<ref>[http://engage.bcjobsplan.ca/ British Columbia Jobs Plan]</ref> employing 45 percent of the population. It is also reliant on its chief port, Vancouver, for commerce with the pacific rim. As of 2011, the largest employing field is Raw Material, and the largest employer of that field, is British Columbia Mining, a crown corporation.

British Columbia's primary source of jobs is in forestry and mining,<ref>[http://engage.bcjobsplan.ca/ British Columbia Jobs Plan]</ref> employing 45 percent of the population. It is also reliant on its chief port, Vancouver, for commerce with the pacific rim. As of 2011, the largest employing field is Raw Material, and the largest employer of that field, is British Columbia Mining, a crown corporation.

=Politics=

==Politics==

British Columbia is generally a liberal province,<ref>[http://www.statscan.gc.ca/british_columbia&action=search?=policies BC liberals are very liberal, and they are the conservative party!]</ref> with the most liberal people in Vancouver, and Victoria. Towards the interior, however, a shift towards the right of the spectrum is observed. When Compared to Washington State, British Columbia is considerably more liberal, with socialized medicine, [[gay marriage]], and other liberal hallmarks. The current premier is John Horgan of the British Columbia NDP.

British Columbia is generally a liberal province,<ref>[http://www.statscan.gc.ca/british_columbia&action=search?=policies BC liberals are very liberal, and they are the conservative party!]</ref> with the most liberal people in Vancouver, and Victoria. Towards the interior, however, a shift towards the right of the spectrum is observed. When Compared to Washington State, British Columbia is considerably more liberal, with socialized medicine, [[gay marriage]], and other liberal hallmarks. The current premier is John Horgan of the British Columbia NDP.

=Demographics=

==Demographics==

British Columbia has a very diverse ethnic population, with a large number of immigrants having lived in the province for 30 years or less. First-generation immigrants from the British Isles remain a strong component of local society despite limitations on immigration from Britain since the ending of special status for British subjects in the 1960s. Also present in large numbers relative to other cities in Canada (except Toronto), and also present in BC ever since the province was first settled (unlike Toronto), are many European ethnicities of the first and second generation, notably Germans, Ukrainians, Scandinavians, Yugoslavs and Italians; third-generation Europeans are generally of mixed lineage, and traditionally intermarried with other ethnic groups more than in any other Canadian province. The percentages add to more than 100% because of dual responses (e.g. "French-Canadian" generates an entry in both the category "French" and the category "Canadian"). In recent decades, the proportion of those of Chinese ethnicity has risen sharply, though still outnumbered by the historically-strong population of those of German ancestry. Visible minorities have become an important factor in ethnic-based politics, though most visible minorities are less numerous than the long-standing non-British European ethnicities making up BC's "invisible minorities".<ref>[http://www.gov.bc.ca/search&query=394983843243 demographics]</ref>

British Columbia has a very diverse ethnic population, with a large number of immigrants having lived in the province for 30 years or less. First-generation immigrants from the British Isles remain a strong component of local society despite limitations on immigration from Britain since the ending of special status for British subjects in the 1960s. Also present in large numbers relative to other cities in Canada (except Toronto), and also present in BC ever since the province was first settled (unlike Toronto), are many European ethnicities of the first and second generation, notably Germans, Ukrainians, Scandinavians, Yugoslavs and Italians; third-generation Europeans are generally of mixed lineage, and traditionally intermarried with other ethnic groups more than in any other Canadian province. The percentages add to more than 100% because of dual responses (e.g. "French-Canadian" generates an entry in both the category "French" and the category "Canadian"). In recent decades, the proportion of those of Chinese ethnicity has risen sharply, though still outnumbered by the historically-strong population of those of German ancestry. Visible minorities have become an important factor in ethnic-based politics, though most visible minorities are less numerous than the long-standing non-British European ethnicities making up BC's "invisible minorities".<ref>[http://www.gov.bc.ca/search&query=394983843243 demographics]</ref>

=history=

==History==

British Columbia has been settled by humans since the last ice age.<ref>Barman, Jean. The West Beyond the West: A History of British Columbia U. of Toronto Press, 1991. 430pp</ref> By 1774, Europeans had landed, notably Captain Cook and Captain Vancouver. Soon, a bustling industry of fur, as natives and traders coveted for furs, and guns.

British Columbia has been settled by humans since the last ice age.<ref>Barman, Jean. The West Beyond the West: A History of British Columbia U. of Toronto Press, 1991. 430pp</ref> By 1774, Europeans had landed, notably Captain Cook and Captain Vancouver. Soon, a bustling industry of fur, as natives and traders coveted for furs, and guns.

* [http://www.gibsons.ca/ Town of Gibsons]

* [http://www.gibsons.ca/ Town of Gibsons]

* [http://www.thebeachcombers.ca/intro.htm The New Beachcombers]

* [http://www.thebeachcombers.ca/intro.htm The New Beachcombers]

==References==

==References==

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{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Canadian Provinces]]

[[Category:Canadian Provinces]]