Welcome to Vancouver!
With its stunning scenery and superb quality of life, Vancouver is consistently rated one of the world's best places to live. Located on the southwest coast of the province of British Columbia less than an hour from the US border, Vancouver is surrounded by spectacular beaches and mountains. Vancouver and Whistler, North America's top-rated ski resort, and is taking the global centre stage as hosts of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
View the Mercer Report to see how high Vancouver ranked in the World by clicking here >>
Climate and recreation
Vancouverites enjoy mild temperate weather all year round and have easy access to many outdoor activities including hiking, golf, sailing, kayaking, fishing and some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world. A 40-kilometre sea wall connects most of the city's waterfront neighborhoods, and bustling downtown Vancouver is bordered by the spectacular 1,000-acre Stanley Park.
Urban culture
With a metro-area population of three million, Vancouver is an exciting cosmopolitan city full of galleries, museums, theaters, world-class shopping districts and a tantalizing array of restaurants. Vancouver has always attracted visitors and immigrants from all over the world, and has evolved into one of the world's most diverse and multicultural cities. View some great places to visit >>
Transportation - BC Transit
Vancouver is a highly accessible city with excellent public transportation, including comprehensive bus routes, the SkyTrain rapid-transit system, and Sea bus service to the
North Shore. There are bike lanes and bike paths throughout the city, and many people commute to work by bicycle.
Learn more at the BC Translink.ca website >>
Schools
Families appreciate the high quality of education offered in Vancouver's public and private schools, along with the region's extensive selection of excellent post secondary institutions.
Community Centres - Vancouver Parks Board
The Vancouver Park Board operates a community centre in each of our 23 neighbourhoods. These centrally located facilities serve all ages and offer a wide range of resources that focus on recreational, social and cultural pursuits. Programs can include fitness, arts and crafts, culture, dance, swimming, skating, child care and a multitude more. Residents use these centres of activities as meeting places to exchange ideas and meet new friends. For more information, click here >>.
Vancouver Neighbourhoods (click here for detail)
How Vancouver Works
You've heard that Vancouver is gorgeous -- nestled into a fjordlike setting between ocean, mountains, and mighty river. That said, the city formally established in 1886 in a coastal rainforest, by the sometimes dour Brits and Scots, was once a bit staid. No more. In recent years, Vancouver has morphed into a lively, cosmopolitan metropolis.
Heritage Vancouver
"Encouraging the study and understanding of heritage preservation with a local and regional perspective" Link here >>
Newcomer's Guide to Vancouver
The Newcomer’s Guide has information about the City of Vancouver and other levels of government, as well as community agencies and services. Intended for newcomers to our city, it will also be useful for long-time residents. Link here >>
