All the places i've seen available to rent in Victoria/Vancouver Island ask for references. How do I provide these given that we are currently owner occupiers in the UK? Can I provide employment/personal refs from friends, etc or do they want to see refs from previous landlords? Seems like a catch-22 to me

Cheers, Rob.

Explain the situation to the landlord and maybe offer to pay an extra month up front if possible to smooth the deal. Maybe?

I cannot comment on rental in Canada as i haven't got there just yet but what i have done is to write to all my utility suppliers and building society and ask them for a quick reference to say i have been with them for "x" years and never defaulted on payment.
So far both the building society and local council have supplied what i asked for and i was very impressed with my council as they sent 3 copies with a note saying "thought you might find the extra copies useful"

Maybe this will help