B.C. Day in August

B.C. Day is the first Monday in August. On this public holiday, people celebrate living in British Columbia.  Many people use the long weekend to travel, enjoy nature or relax with family and friends.

According to the United Nations, “B.C. is the best place in the world to learn, live and play.”

A few facts about B.C.

  1. Indigenous peoples have lived in the area now known as B.C. for more than 10,000 years.
  2. The British Columbia Day Act was first introduced to Parliament in 1974.
  3. British Columbia is between the ocean and mountains. The four wavy white and three wavy blue lines on the B.C. flag symbolize the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. B.C. is Canada’s westernmost province. On the flag, the sun is setting.The Union Flag on top reflects the British past of the province.  The crown in the centre symbolizes the Canadian Royal Family.
  4. B.C.’s provincial mammal is the Spirit Bear.
    Click here to read The Westcoast Reader story on the Spirit Bear
  5. B.C.’s provincial flower is the Pacific dogwood.
  6. The longest river in B.C. is the Fraser. It is 1,399 kilometres long.
  7. B.C. is about 10 per cent of Canada’s land surface.
  8. Only 30 countries in the world are bigger than B.C.
  9. Many movies are made in B.C. It is the third largest production centre for film and television in North America.

Click here to read many more facts about B.C.

Originally written by Nina Gopaul and posted summer 2015. Updated by Patty Bossor in 2017 and Jade Chan in 2022 • Photos: Nila Gopaul, Flickr/Bruce McKay, Flickr/ Colin J. McMechan