GEOG 2OC3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Western Alienation In Canada, Urban Sprawl, Great Bear Rainforest
27 Jun 2018
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WEEK 9
Canadian Regional Geography Part III: B.C.
B.C. was first settled by Europeans in the late 19th century whereas eastern Canada was settled in the
early 17th century by the French.
Environmental challenges: Erosion, stream sedimentation, damage to spawning grounds.
Forestry was once the greatest economic sector, however it has declined significantly in the last 50 yrs.
Key events that influenced the historical evolution of B.C. as a region:
1) The rich Native history: occupied by indigenous peoples for approx. 10 000 years before
European contact.
2) The voyages of Captain James Cook in the late 1770s resulted in the mapping of much of
Canada’s Pacific coast.
3) The fur trade helped to bring settlers to the region in the 19th century.
4) The Gold Rush in 1858 was a major stimulus to settlement prior to Confederation.
5) Joined Canada in 1871, 4 years after Confederation.
6) When the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed in 1885, Vancouver began its rise in
prominence as the nation’s dominant city in the west.
In 2011, B.C.’s population was approx 4 million/13% of Canada.
B.C. has been the only province to make substantial population gains in each decade since
confederation.
Sources of population increase:
1) Immigration; most come from Asian countries in recent years.
2) Inter-provincial migration; since the 1970s more Canadians have resettled in British
Columbia than in any other province.
British Columbia features both mild climate conditions (in costal areas) and mountain climate conditions
(in the interior).
The rugged topography means there is little arable land. Only the Fraser River valley and the
Okanagan Valley are capable of supporting commercial agriculture.
The region has an abundance of natural resources such as timber, minerals, and fish.
The region receives most of its precipitation in the Pacific Climate Zone, along the coast.
The abundance of rain, and relative warmth of the area, have coincided to produce spectacular
vegetation zones, such as the Great Bear Rainforest, a rare and valuable temperate rainforest
along the coast.
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Document Summary
B. c. was first settled by europeans in the late 19th century whereas eastern canada was settled in the early 17th century by the french. Environmental challenges: erosion, stream sedimentation, damage to spawning grounds. Forestry was once the greatest economic sector, however it has declined significantly in the last 50 yrs. Key events that influenced the historical evolution of b. c. as a region: the rich native history: occupied by indigenous peoples for approx. European contact: the voyages of captain james cook in the late 1770s resulted in the mapping of much of. Canada"s pacific coast: the fur trade helped to bring settlers to the region in the 19 th century, the gold rush in 1858 was a major stimulus to settlement prior to confederation. Joined canada in 1871, 4 years after confederation: when the canadian pacific railway was completed in 1885, vancouver began its rise in prominence as the nation"s dominant city in the west.
