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Item is an educational/informational motion picture film presented by Imperial Oil as a tribute to British Columbia on its centennial. The film uses historical re-enactment, stock footage, original footage, and voice-over narration to tells the story of the growth of BC industry with special attention to the importance of the petroleum industry.

The film opens with City Archivist Major J.S. Matthews at the Vancouver City Archives discussing the importance of gasoline and diesel engines in the development of the province. The film discusses the beginnings of European settlement and development; the introduction of the ?horseless carriage? and the gasoline industry. The film links the development of the engine to great strides in urbanisation and industrialisation, lingering on shots of cars, city streets, and airplanes. The following sections depict aerial views, scenes of construction and development in the mountains with heavy equipment, logging and mining in remote parts of the province, lumber/pulp mills, mining, the fishery, canning plants, the irrigation of the Okanagan valley and the tree fruit industry, cattle ranching and wheat farming in the Peace River region, petroleum drilling and exploration. Shipments of petroleum by rail and pipelines to refineries are depicted, as well as shipping.

The prosperity granted by industry and machines are illustrated with scenes of modern home life, leisure and sport activities, the development of higher learning and education. The film ends with a discussion of the changes since the time of Capt. George Vancouver.