Property for Sale in Canada

About Canada - A Guide to British Columbia

British Columbia or BC as it is known worldwide is located at the westernmost part of Canada and alone is about four times the size of Great Britain with less than one tenth of the population.

British Columbia is a very mountainous region with a number of major ranges running mostly north-south from the coast to the border between BC and Alberta. Ranges include the Rockies, the Selkirks, the Purcells and the Coastal Range.

As with most places worth visiting, there is a little something for everyone here. You will definitely want to spend at least some time outside of the main cities in this region, and if you enjoy a very active and adventurous vacation, there are many options here to explore. "Ecotourism" is an often-mentioned attraction in this part of Canada. Whether backpacking in the majestic forests or coast mountains, or kayaking through the many groups of islands, getting off the beaten path is sure to lead to a memorable trip.

Notable British Columbia locations:
Cariboo-Chilcotin - canyons and plains
Kootenays - lakes, deep valleys, hot springs and world famous cat skiing
Okanagan-Similkameen - sun and fun, wineries and beaches.
Peace River - limitless vistas and the Alaska Highway
North Coast - vast untouched wilderness steeped in native culture - world famous for fishing
Thompson-Shuswap - ranches and lakes, mountains to the north
Vancouver Island - British Columbia's capital, and all sorts of marine adventures.
Vancouver metropolitan where most of the population lives

Notable British Columbia cities and towns:
Kamloops
Kelowna
Nelson
Penticton
Prince George
Prince Rupert
Vancouver
Victoria
Whistler

Due to the location British Columbia has been the focus of a large influx of Asian peoples either travelling to escape poverty in China or to join the railway workers contructing the Canada rail links or the gold rushes that were famous worldwide. Much of the population from China and Asian countries have settled in BC and form a large part of the make up of Western Canada. The indigenous people of BC known now as First Nation People have also been called Indians or Native Canadians. More than thirty languages belonging to seven different language families were spoken in BC by First Nation People prior the European and Asian settlers.

First Nations of BC unlike the rest of Canada have never signed treaties or officially ceded their territory to Canada. Therefore the official ownership of much of the province is contested, as the First Nations claim much of the province as their own territory and the Canadian legal system is ongoing with court cases and disputed land claims.

Canada

Canada is located directly above the United States of America, sharing land borders with the country, and comprises most of North America. The country extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean (east to west) and north into the Arctic Ocean.

A parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy, Canada is a federation that comprises ten provinces and three territories. It is officially bilingual and multicultural with English and French represented at federal level.

Geography:

Canada shares a land border with the United States of America to the South and to the Northwest. Being the second largest country in the world, it stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and to the North until the Arctic Ocean.

Canada's climate varies based on geography - in the north the temperature is almost permanently at freezing level, however towards the equator there are generally four distinct seasons. In this region the temperature can climb up to 35 degrees Celsius in the Summer and descend to a chilly -25 degrees Celsius during Winter. This means that most Canadian cities are within 300 km of the southern border - it is here that mild springs, hot summers and crisp autumns reign.

Winters are harsh in many areas of the country and in non-coastal areas snow can cover the ground for almost six months of the year. Interior and Prairie provinces experience a continental climate.

Government:

Canada runs as a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The Prime Minister is the Head of Goverment, while the Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II. The Head of State retains formal constitutional power along with the Governor General who acts as an appointed representative to the Crown. They both defer the actual exercise of executive power to the Cabinet.

The Prime Minister heads the Cabinet, which is made up of ministers who are accountable to the elected House of Commons. The House of Commons and an appointed Senate make up the federal parliament, which is headed by the Queen/Governor General. Senate members are chosen by the Prime Minister and serve until they reach the age of 75.

Foreign Relations:

Canada and the United States of America share a unique relationship. They co-operate on military campaigns, are the largest trading partners and share the world's longest undefended border. Despite this, Canada has striven to maintain an independent foreign policy.

Canada is a founding member of NATO and is a member of the UN, the Commonwealth of Nations and La Francophonie.

Did You Know?

Canada's national motto is A Mari Usque Ad Mare, which translated from Latin means "From Sea to Sea" and is no doubt in reference to the large land mass the country boasts.
Canada's official national sports are ice hockey (Winter) and lacrosse (Summer).

Canada Luxury Property

About Canada - A Guide to British Columbia