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2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Official Site of Tourism British Columbia, Canada
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Tips From Travellers

Whale Watching Victoria

  I can still not say enough about the whale watching experience, with Wild Cat Adventure Tours, we...

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katie5912,

Cathedral Grove

  In May 2006 I visited Vancouver Island for the first time. I was a couple...

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Geotravel,

Surfing in Tofino

  I have been surfing twice in Tofino- I had so much fun and have been...

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jenny, Victoria

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Vancouver Island Cities & Towns

Western Red Cedar, Meares Island, Clayoquot Sound
Tom Ryan photo
You'll find many of the communities of the Vancouver Island region in BC's most natural settings. The island is anchored by Victoria, the province's capital and a city that pays tribute to its English heritage through architecture, shops and the tradition of high tea. The western coast towns of Vancouver Island are of a breathtaking, untamed beauty, with communities boasting easy access to hiking, wildlife viewing -particularly whale watching- and kayaking. Some of the best fishing (appropriate license(s) required) and warmest swimming waters can be found in communities on the island's eastern shores.

Cities in the Region

Nanaimo
Nanaimo is located on the east side of Vancouver Island, along the Strait of Georgia.
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Parksville
Parksville, centrally located on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, lies in the heart of a region that enjoys Canada's mildest year-round climate.
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Tofino
Tofino sits on a narrow peninsula bordered by Pacific Rim National Park Reserve to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west, north and east.
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Campbell River
Campbell River stretches almost 24 km (15 mi) along the east coast of central Vancouver Island.
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Ucluelet
Ucluelet is one of only a few population centres on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. Its name means "safe landing place" in the language of the Nuu-chah-nulth people who have lived here for at least 4,300 years.
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Comox Valley
The communities of Courtenay and Comox are located in the Comox Valley, on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Sometimes referred to as the "Valley of Festivals", it plays host to at least one special event every weekend of the summer.
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Victoria
Get to know the quaint charm and friendliness of the province's capital city, Victoria.
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