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Before being settled by Europeans, Canada's Pacific northwest was populated by many culturally rich First Nations. The Haida, Salish and Nootka, among many other regional groups, are best-known internationally for their intricate and beautiful art.
Europeans came to the region via the Fraser River and by trekking west through the Rockies from early Canada. Colonies and trade ensued, and British Columbia joined Canada in 1871. The province based its economy on fishing, forestry and agriculture in its fertile valleys. As business grew, a labour movement took root, leading to a series of bitter strikes that even saw the violent deaths of some labour leaders. Immigration has also helped shape the province; large influxes of Chinese and Sikh immigrants have periodically faced resistance to entering British Columbia. Today Vancouver is second only to Toronto in its ethnic diversity.
Politically, the province has had many long-standing governments. The Conservatives took power in the early 1900s, to be replaced by a coalition government with the Liberals in 1941. The Liberal-Conservative coalition stood until they faced a surprise defeat by W.A.C Bennett's Social Credit Party. The Socreds remained in power until 1991, with a brief interruption by the NDP from 1972 to 1975. The NDP governed throughout the '90s until 2001, when Gordon Campbell's current B.C. Liberal Party took power. |
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