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If you are seeking a sophisticated urban center surrounded by spectacular beauty and outdoor pursuits, then Vancouver is for you. Safe, clean, friendly, scenic, lively and multicultural -- these are just a few reasons why Vancouver is a great city to call home. It is arguably the most upscale English-speaking city in Canada. Vancouver’s Downtown/West End boasts the largest concentration of high-rise condominium/ apartment buildings in Canada; it is second only to Manhattan, N.Y. in North America. The
City of Vancouver, located on the south-west coast of Canada in
the province of British Columbia, is less than an hour away from
the American border (about 3 hours' driving distance from Seattle,
U.S., the home of major corporations such as Boeing and Microsoft).
As one of the fastest growing cities in North America, primarily
due to immigration, Vancouver's population has reached 2 million Vancouver has the second-highest concentration of immigrants in Canada; 35% of Vancouverites are immigrants. It is the number one destination of Business immigrants from abroad, as well as immigrants from other provinces within Canada. The results of a recent survey by the Angus Reid Group confirms the popularity of Vancouver among Canadians. Among the employed people in Canada’s three largest cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver), 38% ranked Vancouver as their first-choice city (out of 12 Canadian cities) in which to live and work. In fact, the number of people preferring Vancouver is about twice that favouring Toronto, the second most popular location. The survey further indicates that about 85% of the Vancouverites would not accept a matching job offer in another city, whereas in Toronto and Montreal, 59% and 54% respectively would quit their present jobs for an equivalent position in another city. Vancouver is a diverse city with its population coming from more than 60 ethnic backgrounds. Also known as the Gateway to the Pacific, it is not surprising that Vancouver's largest number of immigrants have come from Asia. The city's multicultural flair is celebrated with various festivals, gardens, restaurants and eclectic neighbourhoods. While
serving as a host to several headquarters of BC's natural resource
industries such as forestry, fishing, mining and natural gas, Vancouver's
largest industries are tourism and services. Vancouver is Canada's
top tourist destination and an increasingly favoured site for holding
major conventions. In fact, in 1997, Vancouver hosted the APEC meeting
for the leaders of the economies in the Pacific Rim. Vancouver is
only one of two cities in North America with four "5-Diamond"
top luxury hotels. One of Vancouver's fastest growing On the other hand, Vancouver has been designated as a Centre for International Banking and International Arbitration. As a result of incentives provided by the provincial government, several international shipping companies have moved their head offices to Vancouver. In addition, Vancouver boasts a substantial number of reputable engineering, architecture, and consulting firms whose services are highly sought-after by clients around the world. Vancouver is also known for its innovative Stock Exchange, which serves as a major vehicle for raising venture capital. Manufacturing in B.C. is still largely resource-based, but is being gradually diversified by high-tech and computer-based industries related to telecommunications and the aerospace and sub-sea industries. British Columbia has the most balanced export market of all Canada's provinces, with the United States, Japan, the European Union and the Pacific Rim countries as its clientele.
Vancouver is home to the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, two of the most prestigious post-secondary institutions in Canada offering a wide variety of programs and specializations. For more career-oriented programs, a number of colleges offer technical and trade diplomas or certificates. The government in British Columbia is the only provincial government that has frozen tuition fees for the past years, making B.C. institutions more affordable to attend.
Vancouver is the most expensive city in Canada, especially for those interested in purchasing a house. An average house in Vancouver costs about CND $257,626. A
Bachelor Studio rents for C $500-$750, a one-bedroom apartment for
$600-$900, and a two-bedroom apartment for $700-$1100, three-bedroom
apartment for $800- $1200, depending on the neighbourhood and the
floor (if you want to live on the 25th floor, expect to pay much
more than someone who lives on the first floor of the same building).
Food costs and public transit fares are reasonable. The average
single adult individual needs approximately $900 a month to live
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Its strategic location makes it attractive to an immigrant entrepreneur
who wishes to expand his/her Canadian business and penetrate the
U.S. market, perhaps by establishing a branch in Seattle. Surrounded
by water and coastal mountains, Vancouver has been grouped with
Hong Kong and Rio de Janeiro as cities with the most beautiful physical
settings. Within a few minutes from the downtown core, you can enjoy
activities such as a walk amongst the Cedar trees in Stanley Park,
skiing on the North Shore, or a stroll along the beach. You can
ski, swim, and play golf in the same day. Vancouver boasts one of
the mildest climates in Canada with temperatures rarely dipping
below zero. However, the range of coastal mountains provides for
spectacular snow and skiing anywhere from a 20-minute to two-hour
drive out of downtown Vancouver. One such highlight is the world-renowned
ski-resort town of Whistler, whose mountains boast the largest area
of skiable terrain in North America.
industries is the High Tech sector, with hundreds of fast-growing
firms, promising to employ more individuals in the near future than
all the traditional resource-based industries combined. Moreover,
Vancouver is only third to Los Angeles and New York as a North American
film and TV production centre. The terrain, mother nature and architecture
are so varied that TV and movie companies are able to film in Vancouver,
shots that portray different parts of the world as diverse as China,
Hong Kong, Turkey, Vietnam and the vineyards of France.