Vancouver, British Columbia is a coastal city and major seaport, located on the mainland of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is named after Captain George Vancouver, a British explorer.
Vancouver is located between the Strait of Georgia and the Coast Mountains. Its economy has traditionally relied on British Columbia’s resource sectors: forestry, mining, fishing and agriculture.
Vancouver, British Columbia
The population of the city of Vancouver is 587,891, while the population of the metropolitan region, previously known as the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) and more recently called Metro Vancouver, is 2,180,737 (2006 estimate).
This makes it the largest metropolitan area in western Canada and the third largest in Canada. Many people lover the ethnic diversity of Vancouver, with 52% of city residents and 43% of Metro residents having a first language other than English. It is often seen as a destination city by people immigrating to Canada.
Its population density is highest in Canada and ranks after New York City, San Francisco, and Mexico City. Due to the population density, and confined geographically by the mountains and the ocean, property prices continue to escalate. Presently a modest three bedroom older home in Vancouver is worth more than 1 million dollars. Making it an expensive place to live for those who were not so fortunate as to get into the real estate market prior to the rapid increase in property values.
It was first settled in the 1860s as a result of immigration caused by the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, particularly from the United States, although many immigrants did not remain after the rush. The city developed rapidly from a small lumber mill town into a metropolitan centre. The arrival of the transcontinental railway in 1887 linked Vancouver to the rest of Canada and was instrumental in bringing British Columbia into Confederation.
It boasts of the busiest seaport in Canada, and exports more cargo than any other port in North America.
The Port of Vancouver became internationally significant after the completion of the Panama Canal, which reduced freight rates in the 1920s and made it viable to ship export-bound prairie grain west through Vancouver.
The economy of Vancouver has diversified over time, however. Vancouver has a growing tourism industry. Vancouver’s film production ranks after Los Angeles and New York City, earning it the nickname Hollywood North. Vancouver has had an expansion in high-tech industries, most notably video game development.
Vancouver is consistently ranked one of the three most livable cities in the world. According to a 2007 report by Mercer Human Resource Consulting for example, Vancouver tied with Vienna as having the third highest quality of living in the world, after Zürich and Geneva. In 2007, Vancouver was ranked the second most expensive in Canada after Toronto, and, in 2006, the 56th most expensive city in which to live among 143 major cities in the world; in the same survey, Zurich and Geneva were ranked as the ninth and seventh most expensive, respectively.
The 2010 Winter Olympics was be held in Vancouver and nearby Whistler from February 12, 2010 to February 28, 2010. The event was broadcast to over 3 billion viewers, with over 82 countries participating. The event was very successful with Canada finishing 3rd in the overall medal count, but they won more gold medals than any other country.
Top 5 countries:
- United States: 9 Gold, 15 Silver, 13 Bronze
- Germany: 10 Gold, 13 Silver, 7 Bronze
- Canada: 14 Gold, 7 Silver, 5 Bronze
- Norway: 9 Gold, 8 Silver, 6 Bronze
- Austria: 4 Gold, 6 Silver, 6 Bronze
Useful Links:
Visit Olympic.org to view a full list of results and learn more about the 2010 Olympics and upcoming events.
Visit HelloBC.com if you are planning on coming to Vancouver and British Columbia for vacation.
TourismVancouver.com is the official website for The Greater Vancouver Visitors and Convention Bureau
SeniorsBC.ca is an information website on government and non-profit programs and services for BC seniors, their families and caregivers. The SeniorsBC website is provided by the B.C. Ministry of Health Services. Visit SeniorsBC.ca to download the BC Seniors’ Guide and Healthy Eating for Seniors guides.
