I.

Introduction

Victoria (city, British Columbia), capital of the province of British Columbia, Canada, and part of the province’s urban core. Once an important trading and manufacturing center, it now functions as a government, educational, military, and tourist center. It is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, next to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Many older people choose to retire to Victoria, attracted by the dry, warm summers and wet, mild winters. The average daily temperature range in July is 11° C to 22° C (51° F to 71° F), and the average January range is 0° C to 7° C (33° F to 44° F). The annual precipitation is 858 mm (33.8 in), some of which occasionally falls as snow. On average, Victoria receives about 2,185 hours per year of bright sunshine, which comes to about six hours per day.