Why is British Columbia unique within Canada? What are the physical processes that have made this province so rugged  and that have produced such wonderful variation in climate and vegetation? Why did non-Natives come to British Columbia and what impact did they have on First Nations? Why were there so few treaties inthis province? Why did so many Asians come to this province and then leave for other parts of Canada, or return home? How were resources developed in the past and how are those resources developed today?

British Columbia has a rich and varied resource base. Forestry fishing, mining, energy, agriculture and tourism are discussed in terms of their physical characteristics, historical development, and present day importance to the province.  For many of these resources the legacy of exploitation and poor management has been the basis of present day crises.  Other resources, such as tourism, are steadily increasing, bringing employment and growth to some regions more than others and often running into conflict with the long established extractive industries.

The book is divided into two parts. The first focuses on processes of change and development to the landscape and the people of British Columbia and examines natural hazards, physical processes, European historical geography, First Nations peoples, and Asian immigration. The second part contains a detailed examination of the economic geography  of the province, as well as addressing the present-day issues of urbanization, economic development, and resource management.