View from Dunsmuir Campus (Photo by Janine Armstrong) Welcome to Vancouver Vancouver lies in a region of more than 2 million people which makes it the largest city in the province of British Columbia and is currently the third largest city in Canada. Vancouver is framed by ocean on three sides and nestled inside white peaked Coastal Range mountains that rise behind the city to more than 1,500 m. Vancouver has one of the mildest climates in Canada where temperatures average 3 C in January and 18 C in July. It does rain quite a bit in Vancouver in winter, but this also adds to the high quality skiing in the surrounding mountains, some as close as a 20 minute drive from downtown. Vancouver is a playground for children and adults alike. Indulge in the award-winning restaurants and eater- ies. Stroll down the streets of one of the many trendy fashionable clothing areas of the city. Visit some of the best antique stores, museums, art galleries and theatres in the world. Some of Vancouver's most popular destinations are its public parks like the world famous Stanley Park, sandy beaches like Kitsilano beach, and natural splendours like grouse mountain or Capilano Suspension Bridge, that are easily accessible from Vancouver. Vancouver BC Climate Vancouver is fortunate to be located nestled between the Coastal Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Since the normally harsh Canadian winters often include sub-zero temperatures in both celcius and farentheight, Vancouver has the distinction of being the largest Canadian city without having to suffer the injustices of a freezing cold winter. Since the currents of the Pacific Ocean keep the temperatures of Vancouver a constant and temperate average, and the coast mountains protect Vancouver from the harsh weather from just on the other side of the range, Vancouver enjoys surprisingly mild temperatures all year round. In the summer you can expect an average of around 20 C to a wonderfully temperate 5 C in winter. In winter you can expect quite a bit of percipitation to fall. Monthly Climate Average for Vancouver British Columbia Month Celcius (°C) Fahrenheit (°F) January 4.8 40.6 February 5.9 42.6 March 7.6 45.7 April 10.0 50 May 13.2 55.8 June 15.9 60.6 July 18.1 64.6 August 18.3 64.9 September 15.4 59.7 October 11.1 51.9 November 7.1 44.8 December 4.8 40.7 Year 11.0 51.8 * Source vancouverbcbritishcolumbia.com * Source skycorpmaps.com Vancouver Attractions These are just some of the many Vancouver BC Attractions you can enjoy when you come to visit Vancouver BC. BC Place Stadium What makes B.C. Place Stadium amazing? For starters, it's the biggest air-supported domed stadium in the world. More than 60,000 people can stay warm and dry while they take in their favourite events. The only thing between them and the elements outside is the thin fibreglass and Teflon roof, high above. It's like walking under a fabric sky -- one that's only 1/30 inch thick but stronger than steel. Capilano Suspension Bridge Your pulse quickens as you step onto the swaying planks of Vancouver's most popular visitor attraction. Breathe in the cedar-scented rainforest air, as mists drift through the canyon below and you make your way across Vancouver's most famous landmark. Pause and marvel at this feat of engineering, surrounded by 300 year old west coast rain forest. No visit to Vancouver is complete without a stop at Capilano Suspension Bridge. Fort Langley National Historic Site Built in 1827, Fort Langley was part of the Hudson's Bay Company's network of fur trading posts across what is now Western Canada. In response to the gold rush, which attracted many Americans, British Colum- bia was proclaimed a Crown Colony at Fort Langley in 1858. Today, Fort Langley evokes a sense of historic place with one original building and several reconstructed buildings, costumed interpreters, historic objects and special events. Gastown Steam Clock This well-known timepiece is a favourite photo subject with visitors, who wait for the sounding of the clocks chimes and the accompanying rush of steam to get the perfect shot. Located at the corner of Cambie and Water streets. HR Macmillan Space Center What's new in the night sky? What are Near Earth Objects? How do rockets fly? What's Canada's role in the International Space Station? Ask the experts and find the answers to these and other universal questions in the ever-changing shows, programs and exhibits at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. There's always something new to explore! Science World Hundreds of interactive exhibits that explore scientific principles, 5 shows each day at Centre Stage, the high-definition Weyerhaeuser Science Theatre and the world's largest dome screen in the Alcan OMNIMAX® Theatre. Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre is a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, education, research, and direct action. Vancouver Lookout – Harbour Centre Tower Free tours are conducted hourly by energetic and informed on-site guides. Included with your admission – tours last 25 – 40 minutes – highlighting Vancouver’s sites and attractions visible from the top – including interesting facts and trivia. It’s a great way to get to know Vancouver better. * Source vancouverbcbritishcolumbia.com Stanley Park Stanley Park, Vancouver's first park, is an evergreen oasis of 400 hectares (1,000 acres) close to the heart of Vancouver's downtown core. Its natural west coast atmosphere offering a back drop of majestic cedar, hemlock and fir trees embraces visitors and transports them to an environment rich in tranquility. The park abounds in wildlife and its features appeal to the naturalist, the plant lover or one who would do nothing more than relax in beautiful surroundings. The Lost Lagoon Nature House, operated by the Stanley Park Ecology Society, offers natural history information, guided walking tours and volunteer opportunities. Lost Lagoon is the haven for many varieties of birds including swans, ducks and Canada geese. The rushes and small islands in the lake make a natural nesting place for the various species that live here. A myriad of recreational facilities are available in Stanley Park including a pitch and putt golf course bordered by the spring-blooming Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden. At the Park's heart is the formal Rose Garden surrounded by mass perennial plantings looking their very best from April through September. The Children's Farmyard, Miniature Railway, tennis courts, bathing beaches, a children's water park, a heated ocean-side swimming pool, Theatre Under the Stars, the Vancouver Aquarium and the 5.5 mile perimeter seawall round out the menu of what a great public park offers. Refreshment stands along with four restaurants are strategically placed throughout Stanley Park for your convenience. Queen Elizabeth Park The top of this beautifully maintained 52 hectare (130 acre) park is the highest point in the city, at 167m (505 ft) above sea level. From the lookouts, visitors have a 360 degree view of the Vancouver skyline. The park receives nearly 6 million visitors a year who marvel at its superior standard of garden plantings. A former stone quarry, the park was developed in the 1950s to include a pitch & putt golf course, paths and display gardens, and a large arboretum. The Bloedel Conservatory geodesic dome was added in 1969. Vancouver SkyTrain The Sky Train is one of Vancouver's best transportation bargains. For the price of a DayPass, $9.00, you can ride it the length of its route and return. You can take side trips on the SeaBus to the North Shore or ride as many of Vancouver's 1000 buses as you can squeeze into the day. DayPasses are available at the SeaBus station, Sky Train station, Safeway grocery stores, 7/11 conve- nience stores, Save On Foods and at many London Drugs and Shoppers' Drug Marts. If you only want to go to the heart of downtown, take the SkyTrain two stops and exit at the Granville Sta- tion. That will put you in the heart of downtown Vancouver. You can shop at Pacific Centre Mall or walk a couple of blocks south on Granville to Vancouver's most fashionable shopping area, Robson Street. If you want to see some of the attractions outside Vancouver proper, the SkyTrain is an easy way to do it. For example, you can take the SkyTrain to Metrotown, B.C's largest shopping complex with over 500 shops and services, 22 cinemas and the Metropolis Entertainment Centre. Metrotown is only eight stops from the Waterfront Station. Six stops beyond Metrotown is the centre of New West, Columbia Station. It puts you near the Canada Games Pool where you can swim in the Olympic size swimming pool or work out in the fitness centre and training circuit. The facility is open daily from 6:30am-10:30pm. From the SkyTrain, transfer to Bus #102. From The Columbia Station you are just four stops from completing the entire 39 minute grand tour to the end of the line Surrey's King George Station. * Source vancouverbcbritishcolumbia.com, bcpassport.com, translink.ca Fare Zone Map There are three fare zones in Metro Vancouver. The number of zone boundaries you cross during your trip will determine your fare. Use our Fare Zone Map to find out how many zones you’ll cross for your next trip. Each zone is a different colour.