Quick Facts about British Columbia

Flag

• Blue ensign
• Union Jack in the canton
• Crown above a setting sun over waves
• Gold sun, white and blue waves

National symbols

• Flower: Pacific dogwood
• Tree: Western redcedar
• Bird: Steller’s jay
• Mammal: Spirit bear
• Fish: Pacific salmon
• Colour: blue and gold

Etiquette basics

Take your shoes off when you enter a home. A handshake or a short wave is the usual greeting, and keep public affection quiet.

Currency

• Canadian dollar (CAD, $)
• Coins and notes
• Same as the rest of Canada

Time zone

• Pacific Time (PT)
• UTC−8
• Daylight saving moves the clock to UTC−7

Emergency numbers

• Police, fire, ambulance: 911
• 911 is the main number