Dictionary of Island Terms

Welcome to the Dictionary of island Terms. The purpose of this project is to pin down the patois of Vancouver Island by recording its countless toponyms, nicknames, phenomena, slang, personalities and places. The A-Z is ever-growing with weekly updates added to our front page.

Dictionary of Island Terms

How Generations of Underaged Partiers Have Avoided Cops and Cover Charges in BC

"On our way up to Jones Lake on Sunday we had to wait for a slow convoy of hungover bush party survivors to pass..."

Dictionary of Island Terms

The Dusty Rainbows That Sometimes Lead to Pots of Camping Gold

The FSRs closest to population centres are commonly used as a means for city dwellers to access free and remote campsites.

Dictionary of Island Terms

Somehow These Two Words in Latin Permitted the Crown to Claim Sovereignty Over British Columbia

Despite its fancy Latin name, the doctrine of 'Terra nullius' was of a calibre of argument typically employed by kindergarten bullies.

Dictionary of Island Terms Victoria

The Phenomenon Making Victoria Almost Three Times Sunnier Than Vancouver

"Southwestern BC isn't always wet. It really depends are where you are in relation to the Olympic Rain Shadow."

Dictionary of Island Terms Victoria

How Some BC Neighbourhoods Once Tried to Keep People of Colour Out

"So this racist lady on the bus starting ranting about Land Title Covenants, asking a young Asian couple if they were servants..."

Dictionary of Island Terms Victoria

That Time Our Government Made Millions Being Unabashedly Racist

"Most of my younger friends think racism towards Chinese people is a new thing in BC. Then I tell them about the Head Tax..."

Dictionary of Island Terms Victoria

The Thing Travelling Islanders Cross Their Fingers and Hope For

“I know it's Friday afternoon on a long weekend and I don't have a reservation but I'm crossing my fingers and trusting in ferry luck...”

A-Z

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