EuRA: Vancouver City Guide Updated: 6/29/17 Helping you feel at Helping you feel at home abroad. home abroad. Relocation Guide to Vancouver, Canada www.iorworld.com Visit IOR’s Global Services Knowledge Center for Canada IOR makes every effort to ensure that the information contained in this guide is as current as possible. If you notice errors, or information which is no longer accurate, please contact us immediately so that we may correct the issue. i IOR Global Services • All Rights Reserved Worldwide TABLE OF CONTENTS VANCOUVER OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................... 1 AREA MAP ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 HOUSING ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 EMERGENCY & IMPORTANT CONTACTS ....................................................................................................... 8 HEALTH FACILITIES ........................................................................................................................................ 9 SCHOOLS & CHILDCARE .............................................................................................................................. 10 BANKING & MONEY MATTERS .................................................................................................................... 12 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & DRIVING ....................................................................................................... 13 DRIVER’S LICENSE ........................................................................................................................................ 15 SHOPPING ................................................................................................................................................... 16 RECREATION ................................................................................................................................................ 18 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ........................................................................................................................................ 21 ii IOR Global Services • All Rights Reserved Worldwide VANCOUVER OVERVIEW Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Consistently rated as one of the most livable cities in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual survey, expats moving to Vancouver will discover the nation’s shining star. Vancouver, unlike other British Columbia municipalities, is incorporated under a unique provincial statute, the Vancouver Charter. The legislation, passed in 1953, supersedes the Vancouver Incorporation Act, 1921 and grants the city more and different powers than other communities possess under BC's Municipalities Act. The city is governed by the 10-member Vancouver City Council, a nine-member School Board, and a seven-member Park Board, all elected for three-year terms through an at-large system. In addition, residents of Vancouver vote for representatives in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and the House of Commons. Expats moving to Vancouver will find a city bustling with a myriad of cultures. While English speakers account for the largest language group, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, German, Taiwanese and Punjabi are regularly heard. The impact of Chinese expats is clearly visible in the colorful Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival and Chinatown Night, all of which are well attended annual events. Once you do square away a flat or house, you can begin to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle that residents regularly prioritize; spend the summer boating, kayaking, swimming and surfing along the beaches and waterways of Broken Island, Vancouver Island and Burrard Inlet. Hiking and mountain biking are also popular activities in the countless city parks, forests and local mountains. Furthermore, Vancouver is one of the world’s food capitals, boasting many high-quality dining experiences. With the exception of Victoria, Vancouver has the mildest climate of any major city in Canada; even palm trees can (and do) grow here. It rains a lot in Vancouver, especially during the winters, but during the summer months Vancouver gets less rain than most other Canadian cities. During the winter months, it can go weeks without seeing the sun or a dry day, but the temperature rarely goes below freezing. Heavy snowfalls are an unusual sight and often lead to major traffic congestion. Contrary to Vancouver's wet reputation, during the summer it is actually the second driest major Canadian city (after Victoria). Summer temperatures are not extreme, the typical day time high between June and August is around 24-25°C (75- 77°F) away from the immediate seaside cooling effect. 1 IOR Global Services • All Rights Reserved Worldwide City of Vancouver Overview • Official Website of the City of Vancouver • Land Area: 44.39 sq miles (115km²) • Currency: Canadian Dollar • Vancouver History • Bank of Canada Exchange Rate Information Government Offices • Ministry of Labor • British Columbia Ministry of Education • Vancouver School Board • Vancouver Public Schools • British Columbia Ministry of Health • Important Information on Immigration in Vancouver • Process of obtaining a Canadian driver’s license Tourist Information • Vancouver Tourist Center • Information on attractions Useful Links • Canadian International Chamber of Commerce • Immigration Contact info • Yellow Page Vancouver International Community Organizations • US Consulate Vancouver • American Chamber of Commerce in Canada • British Consulate Vancouver • Australian High Commission Ottawa Libraries The public library is free for anyone who lives, works, goes to school or owns land in the city of Vancouver. At the library you can borrow books, movies, CDs and much more for fun, study or self- interest. The library also has many free programs and services for everyone. The public libraries are made up of 16 locations and 2 bookmobiles within Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, and parts of Cowlitz counties. Access the Library Locations page for hours, descriptions, and locations. 2 IOR Global Services • All Rights Reserved Worldwide Newspapers The main local newspapers are The National Post and The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail holds a status similar to the New York Times in Canada and the National Post is the rival for the Globe and Mail. Local newspapers are the Vancouver Sun, the Vancouver Courier, and Vancouver Observer. They all can be found in newsstands or local supermarkets. Post Office Vancouver has post offices run by Canada Post throughout the city. Their office hours and services differ depending on the location. Find your office through the post office finder. Through the website you can also find a rate, find a postal code and track your mail. Time Zone Vancouver is in the Pacific Time Zone. Daylight savings time is in effect from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November. You can see Vancouver's time in relation to most cities on the globe by visiting www.TimeAndDate.com, which also can provide a Canadian calendar. Metric System The metric system is used in Canada. Dates Dates are written in the order of day/month/year. Currency Canadian one dollar coin ("loonie") ($) = 100 cents. Canadian two dollar coin ("toonie") ($) = 200 cents. Notes, or bills, come in denominations of $5 (blue), $10 (purple), $20 (green), $50 (pink) and $100 (brown). Coins are in denominations of $2, $1, $0.25, $0.10, $0.05 (frequently used) and $0.50, $0.01 (rarely used). Electricity Just like the United States, Canada uses 110-volt electric power with two- or three-pin plugs. Visitors from the UK and Europe will need adaptors, available at most hotels and department stores, to use their appliances from home. Smoking Smoking regulations are strict in British Columbia. It is banned in public spaces and workplaces (including restaurants, bars, and casinos). Smoking is also banned in vehicles if anyone under the age of 16 is present. 3 IOR Global Services • All Rights Reserved Worldwide AREA MAP Courtesy of Eye on Vancouver 4 IOR Global Services • All Rights Reserved Worldwide HOUSING There are various housing options for those living in Vancouver. The major three categories are freehold homes, condominiums and custom homes. A freehold home is a fully detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling that is entirely owned by the purchaser. All maintenance (indoors and out) is the sole responsibility of the owner and no monthly maintenance fees are required. If a home is a condominium unit, the owner is required to pay a monthly fee for the upkeep of the common elements. Common elements are the areas shared by residents, such as lobbies, parking garages, and recreational facilities such as pools and gyms. Finally, a “contract home” is a home that is built on land (a vacant lot, for example) that is already owned by the prospective homeowner. Thinking about the neighborhood and its demographic is also an important aspect when choosing a property. Following sites list some of the popular options • Apartment Rentals • Zoo Casa • Canada Housing Connections • Padmapper Renting a Property There is no shortage of real estate companies in the city. Some apartments can be rented by the month, but to rent a house you usually need to sign a rental agreeme nt (or lease) for a year. This is a