Vancouver

Population: City of Vancouver: 582.045 - the largest group (35%) is between ages 25 and 45 years Greater Vancouver: 2.028.996
- 49.5% of BC's population of 4.1 million

Culture of the city

Vancouver is a coastal city and major seaport located in the Lower Mainland of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest city in British Columbia and in the Pacific Northwest region. It is bounded by the Strait of Georgia, Burrard Inlet, the Fraser River, the city of Burnaby, and the University Endowment Lands. Vancouver is named after Captain George Vancouver, a British explorer.

Vancouver is consistently ranked one of the three most livable cities in the world. It is considered the most active out of all major cities in Canada. Those that live in Vancouver participate in many outdoor activities such as mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking hiking and climbing to name a few.

Languages

The primary language spoken in Vancouver is English however as the city is made up of many cultures it is not uncommon to hear languages from all over the world.  Many of Vancouver’s residents are bilingual and some even trilingua

Climate / Weather

Vancouver is a casual town with mild weather year-round; layers and smart casual clothes will see you through most situations.

Summer
Vancouver enjoys warm, comfortable summers that are rarely scorching. June to August daytime temperatures linger just above 20º Celsius (70º Fahrenheit). Evenings, especially in the surrounding mountains, can be cool, so it's best to pack a light jacket and sweater..

Fall
Autumn on the coast is very mild with summer-like weather often stretching into October. By November, the air turns crisp in the mornings and leaves start to fall. Bring warm, waterproof clothing if visiting at this time of year, and expect to see some spectacular fall foliage!
Winter
Our winters are mild and wet - it rarely snows in this part of Canada except, of course, at our local ski hills. From November to February, temperatures average from 0º to 5º Celsius (around 45º Fahrenheit). To stay cozy and dry, you'll need warm clothes, a raincoat and an umbrella. Waterproof footwear is always a good idea.
Spring
The fresh spring air blows in early to our coastal city. By February or March, you'll see early crocuses and daffodils popping up, quickly followed by an eruption of spring blossoms. Active locals suddenly emerge from hibernation, flooding the streets on bicycles, inline skates, and running shoes. Pack light clothing along with a few sweaters for good measure.

Average Daily High Temperatures

Month	Celsius	Fahrenheit
January	5	42
February	7	44
March	10	50
April	14	58
May	18	65
June	21	69
July	23	74
August	23	74
September	18	65
October	14	58
November	9	48
December	6	43

Currency

The primary currency used in the city of Calgary is Canadian dollars, however many restaurants and retail stores accept American dollars and the daily exchange rate..

Holidays

There are 10 statutory holidays and one civic holiday celebrated annually in Alberta. Generally, banks and some businesses remain closed. Theatres, restaurants, and corner grocery stores remain open for business as usual. In some centres most shops remain open.

HOLIDAYS	2008	2009	2010
New Year´s Day	January 1	January 1	January 1
Good Friday	March 21	April 10	April 2
Easter Monday	March 24	April 13	April 15
Victoria Day	May 19	May 18	May 24
Canada Day	July 1	July 1	July 1
Civic Holiday	August 4	August 2	August 2
Labour Day	September 1	September 7	September 6
Thanksgiving Day	October 8	October 12	October 11
Remembrance Day	November 11	November 11	November 11
Christmas Day	December 25	December 25	December 25
Boxing Day	December 26	December 26	December 26

Tourism office information

Address: Tourism Vancouver
The Greater Vancouver Convention
and Visitors Bureau
Suite 210 - 200 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6C 3L6

Local Phone: 604.682.2222

Fax: 604.682.1717

Types of Accommodations

Vancouver has a wide variety of accommodations for every type of traveler.  For most of our students schools provide the safe environment of a home stay family which can be organized through one of our Education Consultants.

• Hotels
• Bed and Breakfast
• Motels
• Resorts
• Vacation Rentals
• Luxury Accommodations
• Boutique hotels
• Fishing lodges
• Dude Ranches
• Hostels
• Extended Stay Accommodations

Vancouver Airport

Vancouver Transit Zones map:
translink.bc.ca
tripplanning.translink.bc.ca

Arriving at Vancouver Airport: What You Need to Know When Arriving at Vancouver Airport (YVR).

Here's some helpful advice and tips on arrivals and getting around Vancouver Airport.

You'll like Vancouver International Airport - it's well organized, clean, easy to get around and full of shops, restaurants and services. It's even won numerous awards as the best medium-size airport in North America.

If you see the term "YVR", that is the 3-letter airline code for Vancouver International airport.

Location of Vancouver Airport: The location of Vancouver International Airport is 13km (8 miles) south of downtown Vancouver. It's located in the suburb of Richmond, BC. It is connected by major roads and highways to downtown Vancouver, Whistler, Seattle and the ferry to Victoria, Bc (on Vancouver Island).

When Arriving at YVR: Here's some things you should know about arriving at Vancouver Airport:

Terminals: There are 2 main terminals at YVR: Domestic and International.

The Domestic Terminal is for flights to/from Canada, and has 3 levels. The International Terminal is for flights to/from the USA and overseas, and has 2 levels.

There is a 3rd terminal for smaller regional airlines and helicopters called the South Terminal. Transfers to the South Terminal are by shuttle van from outside of level 2 of both terminals.

Baggage Storage: There are baggage storage facilities in Vancouver International Airport. Both are on arrivals level 2: one is in the domestic terminal, just past baggage claim on the extreme left-hand side. The other is in the International Terminal, past immigration and in the arrivals hall on the other side of Burger King & Starbucks.

First-Class Departure Lounges at YVR: Air Canada has 3 Maple Leaf lounges at YVR: 1 in the domestic terminal, 1 for US departures, and 1 in the international departure area. There are also 2 Plaza Premium Departures Lounges (open to all airline customers) located in the domestic and international terminals.

YVR Arrivals Lounge: There is a Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge at Vancouver airport, and it's located on arrivals level 2 of the International Terminal.

Parking at Vancouver Airport: Short term, Long term, valet - find out all the options and prices of Parking at Vancouver Airport.

Restaurants at YVR: Vancouver International Airport has over 40 restaurants, cafes and fast-food outlets. Where should you eat? Find out here in our Guide to the Best Restaurants at Vancouver Airport.

Things to do

Stanley Park: is operated by the city of Vancouver and is a jewel in the city with a wonderful mix of cultivated gardens, playing fields, recreational space and densly wooded forest.  On Dec. 15, 2006.

Granville island: former industrial site has been transformed into an artsy, posh neighborhood with quaint shops, cafes and bookstores.

Lynn Canyon Park: is best known for its suspension bridge, which rivals the more famous Capilano Canyon bridge for length and height--and, unlike its rival, the Lynn Canyon bridge is free!

Science World: Science doesn't have to be dorky: this kid-friendly museum is entertaining and informative

Queen Elizabeth Park: Peaceful park located on a hill overlooking the city.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden: An oasis of tranquility in an otherwise bustling Chinatown, this garden is modeled on a 15th-century Chinese garden and is named after the founder of modern China.

Vancouver Art Gallery: A neoclassical building houses over 177 of Canadian artist Emily Carr's paintings.

Harbour Centre Tower: The view from the observation deck located atop the 40-story Harbour Centre Tower is spectacular.

UBC Museum of Anthropology:  Is a stunning place to learn about the indigenous cultures of Canada at this museum. The true beginnings of a great nation

Cypress Mountain: This recreation area offers an array of winter sports year-round, from downhill skiing to snowboarding and snowshoeing. The mountain also has challenging hiking and biking trails.

Grouse Mountain: Just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, this rugged mountain attracts locals and tourists alike. During the summer, visitors enjoy hiking and mountain biking. In winter, there's skiing, snow boarding and sleigh rides. The Mountain also features a refuge for endangered wildlife.

NHL Hockey:  The Vancouver Canucks are part of the National Hockey League which is considered the fastest team sport in the world. Located in the heart of  Vancouver’s downtown, GM place is an exciting place to watch the local team take on all challengers.

Transit

Link to great video: www.translink.bc.ca

Vancouver`s transit system offer a divers range of services to the cities residents and to vistors, The transit System is operated by Translink and provides Bus, Street Car, Subway, Rail, Ferry and Seabus services.

CASH FARES

Buses require exact coin fare. SkyTrain accepts coins (except pennies) & bills (up to $20). Debit & credit cards are accepted at most SkyTrain stations.

REGULAR FARES	ZONE	ADULT	CONCESSION
Weekdays from start of service to 6:30pm	1 2 3	$ 2.50 $ 3.75 $ 5	$ 1.75 $ 2.50 $3.50

DISCOUNT FARES	ZONE	ADULT	CONCESSION
Weekdays after 6:30pm and all day Sat/Sun/Hol	all zones	$ 2.50	$ 1.75

FARE SAVER TICKETS (BOOK OF 10)	ZONE	ADULT	CONCESSION
Weekdays from start of service to 6:30pm	1 2 3	$ 19 $ 28.50 $ 38	$ 16 N/A N/A

DAY PASSES	ZONE	ADULT	CONCESSION
All day, 7 days a week	all zones	$ 9	$ 7

More Value in Monthly Fare Cards Monthly FareCards provide unlimited travel within the selected zone(s) on weekdays and across all zones on weekends, statutory holidays, and after 6:30pm on weekday evenings.

FARE CARDS	ADULT	CONCESSION	COMMUTE SAVINGS
ZONE 1	$ 73	$ 42	$ 27
ZONE 2	$ 99		$ 51
ZONE 3	$ 136		$ 64