Living in Vancouver

Vancouver has scenic views, a mild climate, and friendly people. It is known around the world as both a popular tourist attraction and one of the best places to live in.

Vancouver is also one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada with 52 percent of the population speaking a first language other than English.

Vancouver has hosted many international conferences and events, including the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT VANCOUVER

• One of the world’s most livable cities according to the Mercer’s Quality of Living index
• Has sunny summers and mild winters
• An ethnically-diverse city
• Has the largest port in Canada
• British Columbia’s commercial hub with a huge variety of industries

Transportation

There are several public transport options available for travelling around Vancouver.

• Rapid Transit
  SkyTrain has three lines of operation for travelling around metropolitan Vancouver—Expo Line, Millennium Line, and Canada Line.

• Buses
  TransLink offers bus services around the city throughout the day.

• HandyDART
  It is a ride-sharing service for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. 

• SeaBus
  It is a water transport that ferries people from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay.       

• West Coast Express
  It is a train service connecting Waterfront Station and Mission, with select stops in between.

• Mobi
  It is a public bike share program available in daily, monthly, and annual use options.

Recreation

Vancouver has a cosmopolitan lifestyle and cultural scene. It has a multitude of facilities that cater to people’s diverse tastes in the arts, music, food, sports, and the outdoors.

Various entertainment, art, and theatre productions are held in places like the Orpheum, Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Plaza, Vancouver Playhouse, and Annex. Concerts and other kinds of events also take place in Malkin Bowl at Stanley Park, Jericho Arts Centre, Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre, and Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre. Annual events like the Vancouver International Festival and the Vancouver Fringe Festival also highlight the city’s artistic flair.

Prized cultural and historical artifacts can be viewed in the Museum of Vancouver and the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Areas like Kitsilano and West End are other popular Vancouver destinations. Kitsilano, locally known as Kits, features the stunning Kits Beach, restaurants and organic-food spots, and shopping stores. More food and shopping hubs can be found in West End.

Vancouver’s landscape and seascape are sights to behold, which is why locals have a passion for outdoor activities and a preference for biking or walking to work. Golf, sailing, hiking, canoeing, skiing, and snowboarding are popular in the city. Interestingly, this love for the outdoors has been linked to Vancouver’s relatively low obesity rate. About 3,200 acres of parklands decorate Vancouver’s scenery, the largest and most famous of which is the designated national historical site of Stanley Park. 

Accommodation

Finding affordable long-term accommodations in suburban Vancouver and its city-centre can be a challenge due to expensive prices. That is why students choose between homestays and shared renting while studying in Vancouver.

• Homestays
  Many Canadian families open their doors to students in need of accommodation. Host families provide meals and a private, furnished room for a student throughout his or her studies. Homestays are arranged by schools, whereby families and prospective students are matched according to their shared interests.

• Shared Renting
  Rent rates in Vancouver may be a little pricey for some. To temper costs, students typically share rented spaces with fellow students. Suites and apartments for rent usually have a kitchen, a toilet, a bathroom, and a bedroom. They do not always include meals, furniture, or utilities, however.