British Columbia "From the Capital Victoria to Largest City Vancouver"

History of British Columbia
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History of British Columbia, Canada

Almost 15 000 years ago, Aboriginals crossing the Bering Strait from Asia settled in BC. The province’s rich animal, marine and plant life meant these early civilizations flourished until as late as the 18th century when European explorers arrived. Famed Britain, Captain James Cook arrived in 1778 and quickly set up a prosperous fur trade. Canada’s Hudson’s Bay Company was formed and operated successful trading posts across the province. The discovery of gold in 1858 in the Fraser River resulted in a massive wave of European and American immigration to the province. Britain quickly claimed the region (Vancouver Island was declared a crown colony in the 1820’s) naming New Westminster as capital, but in 1866 Victoria became the new capital. In 1871 BC became a Canadian province. A railway was built to link the country from east to west. During the early 20th century BC’s gold rush was over and the province relied heavily on lumber trade which it still depends on today to some degree. In recent decades, global tourism and Asian migration has influenced the province’s development and the province is once again thriving. Vancouver will host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.