Page "Greater Victoria, British Columbia" Paragraph 150

In comparison to the Lower Mainland ( Vancouver and environs ), the region does not have a great deal of racial diversity.

Most of the population is of European descent.

A substantial community of those of Chinese descent has existed in Greater Victoria since the Fraser Gold Rush of 1858-60, which saw the first significant influx, arriving first via San Francisco then directly from China.

There is also a substantial First Nations ( indigenous ) population whose ancestors have lived in the area for thousands of years.

Numerous First Nations reserves, forming distinct communities, exist in the region — primarily on the Saanich Peninsula, in Esquimalt, and in the Western Communities — although the majority of the First Nations population live off-reserve.