Vancouver Island is located on the Pacific Coast in the southwestern portion of the province, just off the mainland. The island has a population of over 750,000 people and is surrounded by the Salish Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Vancouver Island covers 31,285 square kilometers and is the largest island on the west coast of North America. The island includes mountains, lakes, rivers, and rolling hills.
Communities in the northern section of Vancouver Island include Port Hardy, Port Alice, and Sayward. This section is made up mostly of busy port facilities, marinas, mountainous areas, and rivers and lakes. A number of provincial parks are located in the area.
The central section of the island is slightly more populated than the northern section is and includes the communities of Courtenay, Campbell River, and Port Alberni. Much of the section is made up of natural areas and provincial parks, with populated areas situated along the eastern edge.
Vancouver Island’s southern section is densely populated and includes the communities of Nanaimo, Victoria, and Duncan. Numerous amenities can be found in this section, including commercial areas, restaurants, schools, and entertainment options.
Entertainment and Tourism
The Royal British Columbia Museum, located in Victoria, was founded in 1886 and provides exhibits, programs, and artifacts that help tell the story of British Columbia’s past, present, and future. Exhibits include modern history galleries, First Peoples galleries, zoology galleries, and natural and human history galleries. An onsite IMAX theatre plays movies related to various history and nature topics. The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is a non-profit aquarium that offers educational and hands-on programs for the public and school groups. The centre has 28 large tanks that house over 3,500 animals.
Vancouver Island has numerous parks, ranging from small, local playgrounds to large national and provincial parks. The Pacific Rim National Park reserve is a popular spot for swimming, surfing, hiking, wildlife viewing, kayaking, fishing, camping, and cycling. Elk Falls Provincial Park is known for its waterfall and salmon fishing. It is used for camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, and wildlife viewing.
Economic
In urban areas, technology is one of the major economic contributors and includes life sciences, IT, software, digital media, and ocean and marine technology. Over 800 tech companies operate in the city of Victoria alone, many of which are located in large technology parks. Examples of such tech companies include Cisco Systems, BioMedix, Vigil Health Solutions, HP Advanced Solutions Inc., and JASCO Research Ltd.
Major industries in rural areas include logging, fishing, tourism, and food production. Most logging operations in the area export their products to other countries. Tourism operations include companies that provide whale-watching, hiking, scuba diving, fishing, surfing, and skiing opportunities. Food production in the area includes breweries, wineries, bakeries, dairies, and food processing plants.
Real Estate Market
The northern section of Vancouver Island offers mostly reasonably priced vacant lots, as well as older single-family homes and more expensive luxury vacation-style homes. Most homes come with a significant amount of land, providing a rural feel.
Vancouver Island’s central section has a mix of reasonably priced vacant land, affordable older single-family homes, and more expensive vacation-type houses. Homes and land located in or closer to more densely populated areas tend to have higher price tags than those outside the communities do.
Homes and vacant land in the southern section of Vancouver Island come at a higher cost, but provide more options in terms of style and size. Condo options can be found in Victoria and provide a more affordable option for homeownership. Lot sizes in the southern section, particularly in Victoria, tend to be much smaller than those in the northern or central sections of the island.
Education
Eleven school districts operate public and private schools on Vancouver Island. Schools include North Island Secondary School, Cheslakees Elementary School, Fort Rupert Elementary School, Campbell River Christian School, Timberline Secondary School, Miracle Beach Elementary School, Cahiri Secondary School, Southgate Middle School, Cumberland Community School, Valley View Elementary School, Aspengrove School, Island Oak High School, and Parkland Secondary School.
Post-secondary options on Vancouver Island include North Island College, Vancouver Island University, Sprott Shaw College, Royal Roads University, and the University of Victoria.