British Columbia: Ultimate Canadian West Coast Living

Gain the valuable experiences that come with living in one of the most popular locations in the world!

When you come to school in British Columbia you will have the opportunity to explore the many sites and attractions that make BC one of the best places in the world to live. Whether you want to go hiking, skiing, whale watching or shopping, all are easy and safe to access. You'll find that the people here are friendly and helpful and soon you will feel right at home. Each school has an international student office which is there to help you with any questions that you may have. Once you arrive make sure you go by the office and say hello!

BC continues to attract domestic and international visitors alike: 40,000 people settle in the province each year, and its population is close to 4 million. Vancouver, is home to more than 1.5 million people, which makes it the third-largest Canadian city. Come and be a part of British Columbia. No matter which region you choose you will gain the experiences of a lifetime!

Climate - A Little Bit of Everything

British Columbia boasts a moderate year round climate in most places. Canada is well known for extreme cold in the winter. BC, however, located beside the Pacific Ocean enjoys a relatively mild winter with little snow in the southern reaches, and a warm summer perfect for swimming, hiking, or having a picnic in the park. There are three different climate zones in BC:

Island and Coastal Weather - Moderate year round, with lots of sunshine in the summer and temperatures ranging between 15-23 degrees Celsius. Winters are cool and there is usually little snow. Temperatures in the winter range between 1 and 15 degrees Celsius.

Central Regions - In the centre of British Columbia, temperatures are more extreme than along the Coast and in the Southern reaches of the province. Central regions are drier and hotter in the summer with temperatures ranging from 15 to 28 degrees. In the winter, you will experience colder temperatures and snow. Don't let the cooler temperatures worry you, the average is between -4 and 9 degrees Celsius and the snow provides for lots of winter activities including skiing, snow boarding and other winter sports. The central region is also home to the many award winning wineries from BC as this dry region of the province is an ideal climate for growing some of the best grapes in North America.

Interior/Mountains Areas - These areas are renowned for beautiful forests and mountain ranges where you can hike or ski depending on the time of year. This region of BC is more rugged and in the summer you can expect warm temperatures ranging from 7 to 20 degrees. Slightly colder than central regions in the winter, average temperatures range from -18 to 0 degrees and it usually snows between late December and March. In this region you will experience a true British Columbia experience - warming up in front of a fire in the winter, or swimming in rivers and lakes in the summer.

To view current weather conditions in major British Columbia towns and cities, click here.

City Life, Ocean, Mountains, or Wide Open Spaces - You Decide!

Canada is a very large country. In British Columbia, situated on the West Coast, there are island fishing communities, northern and central cities and towns, and major urban centres like Vancouver and Victoria. Click on the different areas of the map below to find our more about each different location in British Columbia and the unique attributes that each one has to offer.