| a province in W Canada on the Pacific coast. 2,406,212; 366,255 sq. mi. (948,600 sq. km). Capital: Victoria. |
| British Columbia Abbr. BC or B.C. A province of western Canada bordering on the Pacific Ocean. It joined the confederation in 1871. The coastal area was first explored by Capt. James Cook in 1778. Victoria Island was a separate colony from 1849 until 1866, when it was combined with the mainland territory. Victoria is the capital and Vancouver the largest city. Population: 4,110,000. |
Province in western Canada, bordered by Alberta to the east; Montana, Idaho, and Washington to the south; the Pacific Ocean to the west; and the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories to the north.
