This booklet, one of a series featuring the Canadian provinces, presents a brief overview of British Columbia and is suitable for teacher reference or student reading. A discussion of the province's history includes the early European explorers, Indian natives, and later fur traders and settlers. The building of the transcontinental railway, entry into the Canadian Confederation, and British Columbia's immigration patterns are briefly described. Also discussed are the province's multicultural population, geographic location, climate, forestry, mining, agriculture, fishing, energy, industry, transportation, international trade, government, education, arts and culture, and recreation. The economic importance of the province's mineral industry, mixed livestock and crop-farming, fishing, hydroelectric power, manufacturing, and international trade is also emphasized. The development of British Columbia's government is traced and its current policies are mentioned. In the final section, the province's labor force, educational facilities, cultural events, and recreational facilities are described. In addition, a simple map showing Canada's major cities and provinces is provided. (LH)