Vancouver Island (island)

Vancouver Island is the main island and namesake of the Canadian province of Vancouver Island, located in the Pacific Ocean off the western coast of mainland Canada. It is often colloquially referred to as the Island of Vancouver to distinguish it from the province as a whole. The island is home to 97% of the province's population, as well as its capital and largest city, Victoria, the capital city and surrounding metropolitan area of which accounts for almost 50% of the total provincial population. Other major settlements on the island include Saanich, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Comox, Tofino, lLangford, Sooke, Campbell River, Port McNeill and Port Hardy. It is connected to the province of British Columbia on the mainland by Discovery Ferries, which runs regular service between the island and Vancouver, the largest urban area of British Columbia, as well as regular or semi-regular service to all other inhabited islands in the province.