Overview of British Columbia
Canada’s most westward province, British Columbia is a hilly territory with a population concentrated in its southwestern portion. It comprises 10% of the country’s land area and is Canada’s third-largest province after Québec and Ontario. This region of contrasts and contrasts is a land of diversity within small sections of British Columbia.
The wide forested uplands of the central heartland and the northeastern plains contrast with the tiny fjords and inlets of the coastal scenery. A nod to the province’s past “Britishness” may be found in its official name, which was given to it by Queen Victoria in 1858.
As the official languages of Canada, both English and French are spoken in British Columbia. Multiple Aboriginal languages, Chinese, Panjabi (Punjabi), Korean and more are spoken in British Columbia.
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Facts and figures about British Columbia, Canada
- Metro Vancouver is home to more than half of the province’s population.
- All electronic graphics must remain in the same scale as the flag, which is five feet long by three feet wide, and the flag must never be electronically or mechanically altered.
- The Trans-Canada Highway runs for 961 kilometres across British Columbia.
- Vineyards cover over 9,800 acres, which includes both commercial wineries and small-scale growers.
- Manning Park in British Columbia is the northern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail, one of the world’s longest hiking trails.
Careers and Job Opportunities in British Columbia
Because of the high demand for highly qualified individuals, British Columbia should be on the list of possible destinations for foreign nationals looking to settle in Canada. As in the rest of Canada, the workforce in British Columbia is expected to experience a major transformation in the next few years. As the number of workers under the age of 40 declines, the need for more highly trained overseas labour increases.
10 Jobs expected to be in high demand in British Columbia in the next decade
| JOB TITLE | NUMBER OF JOB OPENINGS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS |
| REGISTERED NURSES AND REGISTERED PSYCHIATRIC NURSES | 24,660 |
| TRANSPORT TRUCK DRIVERS | 16,300 |
| CARPENTERS | 13,690 |
| FINANCIAL AUDITORS AND ACCOUNTANTS | 13,450 |
| COOKS | 10,210 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS AND ASSISTANTS | 9,050 |
| CONSTRUCTION TRADES HELPERS AND LABOURERS | 8,170 |
| ELECTRICIANS (EXCEPT INDUSTRIAL AND POWER SYSTEM) | 7,230 |
| HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS (EXCEPT CRANE) | 6,760 |
| WELDERS AND RELATED MACHINE OPERATORS | 3,890 |
There will be a lot of employment openings in British Columbia’s largest city, Vancouver Island.
There will be 985,100 new jobs in British Columbia between now and 2022, two-thirds of which will come from retiring workers and the other third from economic development, mainly in the skilled trades, according to the B.C. 2022 Labour Market Outlook.
Four out of five job openings will require post-secondary education, according to the report; 44 percent of those job openings will be in the skilled trade and technical fields, according to the report
Currently, around 70% of British Columbia’s workforce has completed some form of post-secondary education.
Cost of Living In British Columbia
Vancouver is home to more than half of British Columbia’s population. Immigrants make up about 27% of the people in British Columbia’s communities, making them diverse in terms of ethnicity, language, and culture. Find out where you can live on a budget in British Columbia, Canada.
The monthly expenses for a two-person flat in Vancouver, British Columbia, are summarised in the table below.
- Rent: $900 – The total rent cost ($1800) is split between both roommates
- Utilities: $80
- Phone Bill: $80
- Internet: $50
- Groceries: $325 – This total cost ($650) is split between both roommates
- Going out to eat (including nights out at bars/ clubs): $120
- Monthly transit pass (2-zone): $124
- Taxi costs: $40
- Personal items (clothing/makeup/hygiene): $100
- Leisure (gym pass/ movies/ events): $50
However, the cost of living in British Columbia varies depending on where you live.
Education in British Columbia
British Columbia’s 25 public post-secondary schools, which include campuses, satellite locations, and learning centres, have more than 426,000 students enrolled in one or more courses.
Post-secondary education, whether it is a diploma, a trade, or a degree, provides an excellent return on investment. British Columbians with a post-secondary university degree, for example, can expect an additional $827,000 in lifetime income. Additionally, international students have gained immensely from the university, and they are among the most successful pupils.
Opportunities
- Since 2001, the public post-secondary system has grown by more than 32,000 new student seats, including 2,500 graduate student spaces, and seven new university campuses.
- Aboriginal students received 3,340 certificates in 2014-15, a rise of 706 (or 26%) from 2009-10.
- Since 2001, more than 8,900 more spots have been available in health and medical programmes. Nursing students will be able to enrol in about 4,800 new spaces, which will be used to train new RNs, psychiatric nurses, specialty nurses, re-entering nurses, LPNs, and RNs with advanced degrees.
- In 2012, the number of first-year midwife seats at UBC was doubled to 20 and in January 2016, eight seats were added for international-educated midwives.
- Since 2001, the number of first-year medical student seats has increased from 128 to 288.
British Columbia Student Experience
Nearly 30,000 B.C. post-secondary students are surveyed annually within two years following graduation. The 2016 surveys found 93 percent of all graduates were happy with their education.
- Of former apprenticeship students:
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- 78% students took their training at a public post-secondary institution.
- When surveyed, 86% had earned their “ticket”.
- 97% of former traditional apprenticeship students were in the labour force and the median hourly wage for those employed was $32.
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- Of baccalaureate graduates:
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- 43% graduated from an arts or science program.
- 47% had enrolled in further training.
- 89% of baccalaureate graduates were in the labour force; of those not in the labour force, 72% were attending school full-time.
- The median annual income of those who worked full time was $50,000.
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- Of diploma, associate degree or certificate students:
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- 81% of respondents with an associate degree or university transfer went on to further education.
- 91% of respondents with a diploma or certificate were in the labour force, with a median hourly wage for those employed full-time was $20.
In addition, the University of British Columbia has consistently been recognised among the world’s top 50 institutions of higher education.
Climate of British Columbia
Warming from the Kuroshio, or Japan Current, as well as the surrounding mountains contributes to the diverse climatic conditions found in British Columbia. According to some climatologists, the southwestern region of the province, cooled by the current, has one of the most favourable climates for humans, plants, and animals in terms of temperature, humidity, and fluctuation. This province is home to many different types of precipitation and temperature variations due to prevailing Pacific winds, which pass across the mountains. However, at the coast, these variations are practically nonexistent. Although it can get quite hot in the summer, the winters are mild, with lows rarely falling below 0°F (18°C). There are more seasonal fluctuations in the eastern Okanagan and Cariboo regions, with hotter summers and colder winters. Similar temperature ranges are found further east, towards the Rocky Mountains, but with significantly greater snowfalls. Extremely frigid winters and scorching summers are the norm in the northern interior and Peace River area.
Labour and taxation
Since the mid-1990s, employment in British Columbia has steadily increased each year, with the majority of new positions coming from the service sector. British Columbia has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Canada, and the province has seen a steady decline in unemployment. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the number of women in the workforce grew at a faster rate than that of men, and they now make up about half of the provincial workforce. An estimated a third of female workers in the workforce are employed part-time. As a percentage of the workforce, unionisation has decreased slightly since the early 1990s but more considerably since the early 1980s.
Sales taxes and other taxes on products and services come in second to personal income taxes as a source of revenue for the federal and provincial governments in British Columbia. Corporate tax revenue is significant, but it pales in comparison to personal income tax revenue. Also essential are the taxes on fuels, tobacco, and real estate. As a developed country, Canada’s tax burden is larger than that of the United States, although it is in the middle of the pack.
Transportation and telecommunications
It was not until the end of World War II that a comprehensive transportation plan was put in place for the remote sections of the province, which included roads, ferries, and railroads, to connect them. In a province blighted by mountains, extensive coastal inlets, and fast rivers, highways are essential. Because of this, the fledgling Social Credit Party selected an ambitious and contentious road, tunnel, and bridge construction, as well as ferry service, programme as the centrepiece of its wildly successful electoral platform when it came to power in 1952.
With a population of around one-sixth of the province’s, Vancouver Island is a unique transportation issue. One of the world’s largest ferry fleets has been developed to meet this need. Nanaimo and Sidney serve as the two primary ports from which routes to the mainland depart. Containers and a wide range of bulk commodities are handled by Vancouver’s substantial port facilities.
Three main railroads, as well as a number of smaller ones, provide service to the province. There are a number of branches of the Canadian Pacific Railroad that serve the mining, forest, and agricultural industries in southern British Columbia. The Canadian National Railway connects Vancouver and Prince Rupert, as well as Prince George and Fort St. John, to the rest of the country. It is served by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway from America. Air travel has also been fostered by the province’s size and rough terrain, which has resulted in the formation of a number of small firms. In terms of air travel, Vancouver International Airport is the city’s primary hub. An automated light rail system and a commuter rail line serve the Greater Vancouver area.
In British Columbia, broadcasting and telecommunications services are governed and regulated by the federal government. Telephone and cable television services are almost universally available in provincial homes. Internet and cellular phone usage is prevalent.
Health and welfare
All citizens of British Columbia are eligible to participate in the BC Medical Services Plan, which is offered at low, standardised prices to all residents of the province. A wide range of health care providers are covered by the plan, including a variety of specialists, such as doctors, dentists and nurses, as well as osteopathic physicians, chiropractors and the Red Cross. The British Columbia Hospital Insurance Service provides hospital care as well (BCHIS). The Medical Care Act of Canada stipulates the minimum standards of care for the elderly, and the federal government contributes to that level.
FAQs
What are 5 facts about British Columbia?
- As well as an interpretation of the Royal Union Flag, it also has a sinking sun and the King Edward Crown on the province’s flag
- In the middle of the nineteenth century, the British Colony of British Columbia was established.
- In 1871, Canada annexed British Columbia
- The city of Victoria serves as the provincial capital of the province of British Columbia…
- B.C.’s capital and largest city is Vancouver.
What is British Columbia known for?
British Columbia is renowned for its magnificent mountains, lush forests, and jagged coastlines. You can go skiing and the beach in the same day in this province, and that’s a rarity in Canada. British Columbia is home to a diverse range of attractions, from big cities to idyllic islands and vineyards.
Is British Columbia a good place to live?
It’s not just because of the stunning scenery that British Columbia is a popular place to live, work, or study. Canada is consistently ranked as one of the world’s greatest countries to live in by the UN Human Development Index.
What language does British Columbia speak?
English and French are the two official languages of Canada. People moving to British Columbia don’t need to know French. However, if you wish to live, work, or study in British Columbia, you must be fluent in English. British Columbians use English as their primary language.