Location

Vancouver Island is located off Canada's Pacific coast and is part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is 460 km (285 miles) long and up to 80 km (50 miles) wide. The largest island on the western side of the Americas at 32,134 square kilometers (12,407 square miles), it is the world's 42nd largest island and Canada's 11th largest island. The island is named in honour of George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific northwest coast between 1791 and 1794. As of 2002, Vancouver Island had an estimated population of 750,000. Slightly less than half of these (326,000) live in Victoria, British Columbia. Other major cities on Vancouver Island include Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Parksville, Courtenay, and Campbell River.

Vancouver Island is a truly special place. It has some of the world’s finest remaining ancient temperate rainforests; one of the highest qualities of life, and one of the most environmentally conscious populations. Vancouver Island has a population of over 750,000 and stretches southeast to northwest along the western coast of British Columbia. The rugged west coast is cut deeply by fjords lined between high mountains with many communities located along the shores of protected bays.