Parliament Buildings
In 1859, government buildings for the Crown Colony on Vancouver Island were erected on the site of land where the Parliament Buildings now stand. Construction of the new building, designed by the 25-year-old British architect, Frances Mawson Rattenbury, began in 1892 and was completed in October 1897 at a cost of $923,000.00. Formal opening ceremonies were held on February 10, 1898 in conjunction with the opening of the Legislative Session.

Queen Victoria celebrated her sixtieth year on the throne in 1897. In honour of this Diamond Jubilee, the exterior of the newly completed Parliament Buildings were illuminated with 3,330 light bulbs, one of the world's first large-scale electric light displays. The tradition of illuminating the buildings has continued to the present day.

The public is welcome to attend legislative debates when the House is in session, and to take guided tours during normal office hours in the winter and extended hours in the summer.

Official Symbols of British Columbia
Spirit Bear - Provincial Mammal
The Spirit Bear (also known as the Kermode Bear) was added to the list of B.C.’s official symbols in April 2006. The greatest concentration of Spirit Bears can be found on the Central Coast and North Coast of British Columbia. The Spirit Bear is not albino, but rather it is a black bear that has white fur due to a rare genetic trait.

Pacific Dogwood - Provincial Flower
The Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) was adopted in 1956 as British Columbia's floral emblem. The Pacific dogwood is a tree that grows six to eight metres high and flowers in April and May. In the autumn it is conspicuous for its cluster of bright red berries and brilliant foliage.

Steller's Jay - Provincial Bird
The Steller's jay (Cyanacitta stelleri) became the province's official bird on December 17, 1987. Coloured a vibrant blue and black, it is found throughout the province. This lively, smart and cheeky bird was voted most popular bird by the people of British Columbia.

Jade - Provincial Gemstone
Jade became the official mineral emblem in 1968. Consisting mostly of nephrite, B.C. jade is prized by carvers of fine jewellery and sculptures at home and particularly in the Orient. It is mined in many parts of British Columbia.

Western Red Cedar - Provincial Tree
The western red cedar (Thuja plicata Donn) was adopted as the official tree of the province on February 18, 1988. Historically, the tree has played a key role in the lives of west coast aboriginal people, and continues to be a valuable resource for the province.

British Columbia's Provincial Tartan
The provincial tartan has five colours, each with its own significance: blue for the ocean; white for the dogwood; green for the forests; red for the maple leaf; and gold for the crown and sun on the shield and flag. The tartan was adopted in 1974.

Film Industry
British Columbia is Canada's most attractive film and TV location, now a $1.2 billion industry in B.C. and directly employs about 35,000 people. Indirect jobs generated by the industry fuel the construction, tourism, and small business sectors.

British Columbia is the third-largest film and television production centre in North America - after New York and Los Angeles. Twenty TV series, including the X-Files, were produced in B.C in 1998, as was the largest film production ever completed in the province - Michael Crichton's Eaters of the Dead (Feature film now called "The 13th Warrior" starring Antonio Banderas).

Archaeology
	The oldest and best preserved specimen of a large-mammal fossil ever to be found on Vancouver Island was a 17 000 year old fossilized tooth of an extinct woolly mammoth found on the Island View Beach in 1990.
	The skull and bones of a bear found in a cave complex on Vancouver Island was carbon-dated at 9,400 years old.
	Ancient Indian sites in British Columbia are over 9,000 years old.
	Evidence suggests that the Chinese may have visited the coast of British Columbia as early as 500 AD. Natural Resources British Columbia is Canada's third-largest generator of hydro electricity, providing some of the lowest power costs in North America. The province is also Canada's second-largest natural gas producer, and the oil and gas industry continues to see tremendous growth, particularly in north-eastern B.C. We're Game B.C. is hosting the biggest sporting event in the world next year - the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler. The Olympic are expected to generate over $4 billion in economic activity. Vancouver is B.C.'s biggest city and is home to the NHL Canucks. Other pro sports teams in the city include: B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League, and a new Major League Soccer Franchise the Whitecaps. Over the last eight years, B.C. has developed an international reputation for sport hosting and have attracted, among other events: 2011 Grey Cup Championship 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships 2009 World Police & Fire Games (Burnaby) 2008 North American Indigenous Games (Cowichan) 2008 World Women’s Curling Championships 2007 FIFA Under 20 World Cup Soccer 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships (Kamloops, Kelowna, Victoria & Vancouver) 2005 Grey Cup Championship (Vancouver)