Why is British Columbia unique within Canada? What physical processes have made this province so rugged and produced such remarkable variation in climate and vegetation? Why did non-Natives come to British Columbia, and what impact did they have on First Nations? Why did so many Asian immigrants come to this province and then leave for other parts of Canada? How were resources developed in the past and how are those resources developed today? Geography of British Columbia discusses these and many other aspects of the growth of this distinctive province. Brett McGillivray focuses first on the combination of physical processes that produced a spectacular variety of mountains, rivers, lakes, islands, fjords, forests, and minerals, explaining the forces that created the province and the natural hazards that can reshape it. A concise examination of B.C. historical geography follows, covering First Nations ways of life, colonization, Asian immigration, and the sad history of institutionalized racism. The second half of the book contains a detailed description of the economic geography of the province, with chapters on forestry, the salmon fishery, metal mining, energy supply and demand, agriculture, water, and the tourism industry. It addresses the present-day issues of urbanization, economic development, and resource management, providing a thorough background to these topics and suggesting what the future might hold. This up-to-date and comprehensive exploration of the rich historical geography and development of British Columbia will be welcomed by teachers, students, scholars, and everyone with an interest in the province.

Why is British Columbia unique within Canada? What forces have shaped its landscape and its people? To answer these questions, Brett McGillivray adopts primarily a thematic approach. He begins by giving a regional overview and introduction to geographic concepts and the physical processes that produced a spectacularly diverse landscape. He then tackles different themes, tracing the province's historical geography, offering detailed accounts of its economic geography, and discussing contemporary issues such as urbanization, economic development, and resource management. This fully revised edition is enhanced by updated figures, maps, and graphs and by new discussions of how globalization, climate change, and recession are influencing the province and its people.

From the beginning of time, physical and human processes have altered British Columbia’s landscape. Geographers seek to understand these processes, and this text provides students with the basic tools and techniques of their craft. Completely revised and expanded for the 2020s, the four edition of Geography of British Columbia contains extensive urban content to reflect BC's transition from a resource-dependent economy to a more service-oriented one presents ideas and concepts in a clear and concise way includes a comprehensive glossary of key terms has more than 125 informative maps, diagrams, graphs, tables, and photos includes suggested readings and discussion questions for each chapter. In an era of climate change, it is more important than ever to understand the complex interaction between human influence on the landscape and the earth’s ever-changing physical processes. This book provides students with the tools, techniques, and knowledge they’ll need.