Victoria is the capital city of the province of British Columbia in Canada. This charming city has about 340 000 inhabitants. Located on the very south of Vancouver Island, west of the Vancouver coast and north of Seattle, Victoria has combined past and modern life with its many facets. The Strait of Georgia is to the east, Juan Fuca to the southeast. This location allows it to be a major pole of development and economic investment. Founded in 1843 by James DOUGLAS for the Hudson's Bay Company, Fort Victoria was the origin of a major centre of activity. It was not until 1852 that the city definitively took the name Victoria. It was during the 1858 Fraser Valley Gold Rush that the city experienced rapid growth. It was granted city status in 1862. Four years later, in 1866, it became the capital of the royal colony. It was not until 1871 that Victoria positioned itself as the capital of British Columbia after joining the Canadian confederation. Today, Victoria is a prosperous city, turned towards tourism. Indeed, its climate is one of the most pleasant in Canada, allowing its inhabitants to enjoy outdoor activities all year round. It is also a resort for retirees. With its historic heritage, fascinating museums in Western Canada, beautiful gardens, Victoria is a great destination. In 2005, Victoria was awarded the label of Cultural Capital. For lovers of flora, Victoria is famous the world over for its gardens, perhaps the most remarkable of which is Butchard Gardens. For wildlife and stargazers, go whale-watching on a boating trip to the Centre of the Universe to study the stars and planets, and stroll through Victoria Inner Harbour where you can see the provincial government house, Thunderbird Park. For experienced sportsmen, many activities are accessible such as golf, scuba diving, kayaking, cycling. To have a Romanesque vision of Victoria, you can explore the city by horse-drawn carriage, and for the gourmands there are numerous restaurants with a variety of dishes in the city centre: from local specialities to exotic and organic dishes. But the local specialty is a fisch and chips on Fisherman's Warf.