Comprises 9.5% of Canada's land mass in the province of British Columbia. Most of this province represents the part of Canada with rivers that flow into the Pacific Ocean. Northeastern BC, however, contains land that is drained by the Peace River, which flows east and north to the Arctic Ocean.

Contains 13% of Canada's population

Accounts for 13% of Canada's GDP

Land dominated by the infertile Cordillera (mountain chains extending the length of North and South America)

Land in the south possesses some very fertile valleys - Fraser River valley, Okanagan Valley

Physical asset in the scenery of the Cordillera and coastal islands

Physical asset in the trade relations with Pacific Rim nations that being on the Pacific Ocean makes possible

Economy dominated by resource extraction (Logging, Fishing, Mining) some Agriculture, some Manufacturing in lower mainland BC, Tourism, and a growing high technology sector and producer services (advertising, computer science, engineering, and management)

Economic deficit in the failure of the Salmon fishery in recent years and in the depletion of forests

Well-developed labour force in southern BC for all economic sectors

Annual unemployment rate of about 9%.

Sense of regional identity dominated by

• the barrier of the Cordillera, which separates the province from the rest of Canada
• the beauty of mountain geography as the most scenic in Canada
• a more temperate climate in many places than is enjoyed by Canadians in other regions

One negative stereotype of British Columbians: uninterested in the rest of Canada because of a perceived difference in perspective. (Like the geography of their province, their perspective is understandably directed towards the Pacific or south towards the USA as often as it is directed east, across the Cordillera, to the rest of Canada.)

One positive stereotype of British Columbians: inclined to take more time than other Canadians to enjoy the pleasures of life.