Delivery Areas
British Columbia
“Splendor Sine Occasu” – “Splendor Without Diminishment” is the motto of British Columbia, the western most province of Canada. It is a place home to approximately 4.2 million citizens, with 35,000 immigrants arriving annually to settle in the comfort and beauty of this rich and fertile land.
Provincial Flower
The Pacific Dogwood, known in Latin as Cornus nauttallii, is a tree that grows six to eight meters in height and bares flowers during April and May. During the later months of autumn it bares small red berries and an exuberant display of foliage. It is the national floral emblem of British Columbia and has been since 1956.
Capital City
Indeed, the modern day beauty of British Columbia can be observed in its capital city, Victoria, which is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It is a port city that receives more than 3.6 million visitors annually off cruise ships by air and by road, all of which contribute to the more than $1bn tourism industry. There is, however, still a lot to be said for Canada’s westernmost province which has an area, comprising of both land and freshwater, of 95,000,000 hectares located on the Pacific coast.
History
It is perhaps little wonder that the history of British Columbia is as vibrant as its nature and extends far back into the dark reaches of time. The province was first inhabited by three prominent groups, the Nootka, the Coast Salish and the Kwak’wala peoples. Their societies were complex, thriving on the abundant natural resources and marine life of the Pacific Ocean. Among themselves they fought for possession of hot springs until some 220 years ago when European settlers first landed and explored the region.
In 1778 Captain James Cook landed at Nookta Island, northwest of Vancouver Island, followed by the Spanish commander Don Juan Fransico de la Bodega y Quadra. Barely a decade later captain George Vancouver landed at Nookta island to regain control over the area under the Nookta convention. In 1793 both England and Spain enjoyed ownership of the region until 1795 when the Spanish left the area.
Just over 60 years later the mainland colony of British Columbia was established after the discovery of gold in the area. In 1866 Vancouver Island was joined with mainland Bristish Columbia and it’s capital, Victoria, was inaugurated on April 2nd, 1868. Subsequent discoveries of gold and the establishment of trade brought trade routes and railways, causing small communities to sprout up throughout the province. The First Nations people continued to thrive throughout this period until the Christian missionaries arrived, seeking to suppress their languages and traditions. This caused a natural friction which, to this day, is still ongoing.
Geography
British Columbia is Canada’s third largest province, four times the size of Britain, more than twice the size of Japan and has a natural geography boasting with fairy-tale mountains, valleys and rivers. To the north-east of the province one will find the famous Great Plains, an elaborate area of great plateau, whilst to the north-west and east a mountainous topology shelters a vast area of tableland as well as picturesque mountain ranges. Supplying British Columbia with both beauty and water are the vast amounts of lakes, streams and four major rivers: the Fraser, the Peace, the Skeena and the Columbia river.
British Columbia is indeed one of the few remaining gems on this earth actively seeking to preserve not only its heritage, but also its natural beauty, which is why this province is favoured throughout the year by visitors from across the globe.