British Columbia (BC) is one of Canada’s most beautiful provinces. You can find the province along Canada’s Pacific Coast. Eastward, the Rocky Mountains dominate the landscape near the border with Alberta. However, BC is not just beautiful, it is also a great place to live. In fact, many immigrants choose BC for a variety of reasons. Continue reading to learn more about British Columbia and the advantages of living there. Lastly, we will go over immigration procedures in BC.
Nature and a Comfortable Climate
Many people outside of Canada think that the whole country freezes over in the winter. Well, most of it does, but if the cold scares you, British Columbia is the place to escape. During the winter, Arctic winds wash over Canada, but these do not reach BC. Thus, this western province has a very mild climate. BC ranges from 20 °C in Summer to almost 0 °C in winter. Meanwhile, other parts of Canada can go above 30 °C and below -30 °C. Therefore, BC gets more rain than snow in the winter. In fact, the weather is so favorable that palm trees can grow near the coast!
Along with its climate, BC is a natural treasure. Impressively tall mountain ranges, evergreen forests and coastal regions are a trademark of this province. Most of the province’s attractions revolve around its national parks. In fact, humans have not set foot on most of the province’s wild areas. Hiking, fishing, hunting, and skiing are among BC’s most common activities.
The People of British Columbia
British Columbia has a population of about 4.9 million. Most people live in the province’s major cities. Vancouver and Victoria are the largest of these in BC. Thankfully, these cities are as beautiful as the landscape around them. Most of BC’s population is of English descent and English is the official language. However, this province has the highest percentage of minorities compared to the other provinces.
British Columbia is also an important immigration gateway for Canada. Many immigrants in BC come from East Asia and India. In fact, over 40 000 immigrants have arrived in BC every year since 2017. Like the rest of Canada, most people are inviting and welcoming to immigrants. Canadians are generally kind and value diversity, with BC being no exception.
Economy and Work in British Columbia
British Columbia is greatly dependent on primary industries that extract its natural resources. This makes sense considering the province’s vast untouched wilderness and tectonic activity. Thus, agriculture, mining, fishing, and forestry are highly lucrative. Immigrants that are highly skilled in such jobs should consider British Columbia as a good option.
Other jobs are also widely available. Manufacturing, construction, and education are also plentiful. Curiously, BC is renowned for its film production. In fact, many place it next to Hollywood and New York as a center of the American Film Industry. However, despite all these great options for work, living costs should be considered.
British Columbia has an exceptionally high standard of living. However, along with this comes higher expenses. In fact, British Columbia has some of the highest living costs in the country. However, education, health care, and other public services are of even higher quality than in many other parts of the country. Additionally, it has the highest hourly minimum wage of any province according to the Retail Council of Canada. Thus, though costs are higher, BC is not at all unaffordable.
Immigration in British Columbia
You can immigrate to British Columbia through Canada’s national immigration programs. Thus, you can use Express Entry and other similar programs. Additionally, BC is a great place for international students. Since it has an excellent education system, it is a good choice if you want to study in Canada. However, every province has its own immigration programs called PNPs. PNPs are provincial immigration programs that look for individuals with specific skills.
One very popular PNP in British Columbia is the Skills Immigration stream. This method looks for skilled and semi-skilled workers to fill in-demand jobs in BC. It ranks its applicants based on points and can be applied to online. Another is Express Entry BC. This is a faster and more direct way for skilled workers to immigrate to British Columbia. It is also points-based. If you want more information about British Columbia’s PNP offers, you can visit this page on the province’s website.
We Can Help You Live in BC
British Columbia is arguably Canada’s most beautiful province. However, not just because of its natural beauty, but because of its cities and communities. It also provides many job opportunities to immigrants and high wages. If you feel ready to begin your journey, you can book a consultation with any of our certified consultants. We hope to hear from you soon!
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