Ever since 3rd grade geography class with Ms. Druffle, I’ve loved looking at maps, and have always wondered if I would have been a cartographist if I lived in a previous era.  I’ve become aware of my keen sense of space and I’ve come to understand I have a very spatial memory (no wonder tetris was so addicting).

So, as I learn about new cities and regions, its always important for me to start with a map.  You can make plenty of assumptions about people and places if you first understand their spot on a map. Neighbors, topography, and climate are huge factors in culture.

Looking at the map, one can draw plenty of similarities between British Columbia and California.  Both are shaped in the same skewed upright rectangular shape, both have hundreds of miles of Pacific Coastline.  Both are dissected by impressive inland mountain ranges.  Both have enviable wine country real estate and thriving wine and tourism industries.

The similarities may end there. One is inhabited by 4M people and the other by 37M.  California’s GDP is $1.85T, while all of Canada is $1.3T.

More to come on this fascinating land over the next few weeks.