The People
About 80 per cent of the people are of British ancestry. Other major groups include those of German, Scandinavian, French, Dutch, and Chinese descent. Indians number about 170,000. The population is heavily concentrated in the southeast, especially in the Vancouver and Victoria areas.
A large number of religions are represented in British Columbia. The United Church of Canada is the major church, followed by the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church.
British Columbia has had a free and nonsectarian educational system since 1872. School attendance is compulsory from age 6 to 15. The University of British Columbia (chartered in 1908) is at Vancouver. Other institutions of higher learning include the University of Victoria; Simon Fraser University, at Burnaby; and Trinity Western University, at Langley.
| Annual events in British Columbia | |||
| January-June | |||
| Kimberley Winterfest (February); Pacific Rim Whale Festival in Tofino and Ucluelet (mid-March); World Ski and Snowboard Festival in Whistler (April); Vancouver International Marathon (May); Okanagan International Children’s Festival (May); Swiftsure International Yacht Race in Victoria (late May). | |||
| July-December | |||
| Williams Lake Stampede (early July); Vancouver Folk Music Festival (July); Billy Barker Days in Quesnel (July); Nanaimo Marine Festival (July); International Old Time Accordion Championships in Kimberley (July); Celebration of Lights in Vancouver (July-August); World's Invitational Gold Panning Championships in Taylor (July-August); Squamish Logger Sports (July-August); Classic Boat Festival in Victoria (August-September); Ladysmith Festival of Lights (November). | |||
