British Columbia
While latitudinal position usually dictates just how cold things get in Canada, longitude determines much about the Canadian climate as well. In general, winter is a bit milder the closer you are to the Pacific Ocean. And thanks to the warm Japan Current, southern British Columbia enjoys the mildest winter temperatures in Canada. B.C. is the only place in Canada where golf can be played year-round. The provincial capital of Victoria is located on Vancouver Island in the Pacific, and is only accessible by air or by ferry from mainland B.C. and the U.S. state of Washington to the south. The island is the only place in western Canada located south of the 49th parallel, which defines the Canada-U.S. border.
The average January highs and lows in Victoria are 7°C (44.6°F), and 3°C (37.4 °F) respectively. Snow occurs there infrequently (two or three light dustings per year). Central and northern B.C., on the other hand, experience cold, snowy winters.
Thanks to the Rocky Mountains, to the south and the Coastal Mountains along the northern Pacific Coast, B.C. is home to some of the finest skiing in North America if not the world. In fact, the 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in the resort town of Whistler (and in Vancouver, B.C.’s largest city). The province has some 35 ski centres, ranging from small, family-run operations to behemoths like Whistler-Blackcomb. Located in Whistler 126 kilometres (78 miles) north of Vancouver, it is one of the largest and best ski resorts in North America. You can ski and play golf in Whistler (and elsewhere in B.C.) on the same day. Apart from the mountains, southern B.C. gets little in the way of snow but lots of rain instead. Of all the provinces in Canada, B.C. has the fewest snow days annually.