Alert Bay: Highway 19 at Campbell Way in Port McNeill, looking east

Broughton Strait defines the setting of Alert Bay — its sheltered coastal waters and island geography keep marine travel central to life in this community on Cormorant Island. Alert Bay lies off northern Vancouver Island, amid the channels and forested islands of coastal British Columbia. It is home to the ’Namgis First Nation, one of the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, whose traditions give the community a strong cultural identity. The U’mista Cultural Centre safeguards and interprets ceremonial objects confiscated during Canada’s potlatch ban, alongside important Northwest Coast art. Waterfront paths, local services and ferry connections make Alert Bay a useful base for learning about this part of the coast. Discover other points of interest through webcams located across Alert Bay and coastal British Columbia.

British Columbia has served as Canada’s Pacific frontier since joining Confederation in 1871. This vast western province extends from the Pacific coast across the Coast Mountains and interior plateaus to the Canadian Rockies; these coordinates lie in its sparsely settled northern interior. The Fraser, British Columbia’s longest river, drains a large part of the province before reaching the Strait of Georgia. First Nations have shaped these lands for millennia, and their living cultures remain integral to communities throughout the province. Victoria, on Vancouver Island, is the provincial capital, while Vancouver is its largest city and a major Pacific port. Forestry, mining, fisheries and outdoor travel all reflect a terrain where waterways and mountain corridors matter. View additional webcams nearby to better understand how British Columbia’s northern interior relates to its Pacific coast and mountain ranges.

Canada has served as a frontier between French and British colonial powers since the 17th century. The world’s second-largest country extends from Atlantic shores to the Pacific and Arctic coasts, with the Canadian Shield, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River shaping its vast geography. First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples are central to Canada’s identity, while Ottawa’s Parliament Hill represents its federal political life. French remains the official language of Quebec, adding a distinct dimension to the country’s public culture. See how Canada connects across North America by browsing webcams in neighbouring regions.