Vancouver Island and Coast / Victoria

This region is made up of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the south coast of the province. It is dominated by the presence of the Pacific Ocean. Victoria, the provincial capital, is in the southeast corner of Vancouver Island.

Climate

There are three main climatic zones in this region: the wet West Coast, the relatively dry southeast coast of Vancouver Island and the cool, wet mountains.

The weather and climate vary dramatically. Victoria is one of the sunniest places in British Columbia, with 2,193 hours of sunshine annually. However, Tofino—and other communities along the coast of Vancouver Island—have the highest annual rainfall in Canada.

People

This is the second-most populated region in British Columbia. Half of the region's residents live in and around Victoria. Seventeen per cent were born outside Canada.

Economy

There are two distinct economic zones in the region. The economy of Southern Vancouver Island relies on service delivery (particularly government administration), tourism and the high tech industry. The North Island and Central Coast depend on the forest industry to build and support their economies.

Vancouver Island is well known for spectacular scenery. Tourism has been a mainstay of the region's economy.

Related resources:

• Read an up-to-date economic regional profile for the Vancover Island and Coast/Victoria region on the Trade and Investment British Columbia website.
• Learn about Vancouver Island (also known as Vancouver Island and Coast/Victoria) on the HelloBC website.