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 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...”

Dictionary of Island Terms Tofino

The Legendary Tofino Restaurant at the End of the Canadian Road

"The first thing I do whenever I get to Tofino is hit SoBo for some Tofu Pockets and a big slice of Key Lime Pie..."

Dictionary of Island Terms Gulf Islands

The Breathtaking, Quintessential Gulf Island Journey Some Love, Others Hate

"Hi Mom. I made the ferry just in time but it's a milk run so it's probably best that you start dinner without me."

Dictionary of Island Terms Victoria

The Colloquial Abbreviation of an Iconic Victoria Restaurant

"When I was at my poorest I survived on bottomless soup and focaccia bread at Pag's..."

A-Z

A

B

C

D

F

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

W