Vancouver

There are many attractions and activities in Vancouver. Throughout the year there are many festivals, and seasonal activities. Some of these include:

• Fright Nights at the PNE*
• The Fair at the PNE*

*PAR-BC members have a discount with this company! Check out the Members’ Discount section for more information. 

• The Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival

• Skating at the GE Plaza in Robson Square

There are also several permanent attractions in Vancouver such as:

• The Vancouver Aquarium – 845 Avaison Way
• Science World – 1455 Quebec Street
• Stanley Park – 610 Pipeline Road
• The Vancouver Art Gallery
• The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

The locations in italics were recommended by a resident!

Check out the distributed database for residents who are at this site, to provide a contact and familiar face when you arrive.

Vancouver also hosts many golf courses, playhouses, movie theatres and hiking trails.

General Orientation

Avenues run East West, while Streets run North South.

The word ‘West’ is used in very specific ways in Vancouver:

• It is used to describe areas that are West of Ontario Street (e.g. West 41^st Ave). This area is often called the ‘West Side’.
• The ‘West End’ is a densely populated area in the western end of downtown Vancouver.
• ‘West Vancouver’ is a separate municipality across the Burrard Inlet from Vancouver

Transit

Vancouver has an integrated transit system run by Translink. It includes:

• Buses – Translink bus service includes, North and West Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows, Richmond, Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley and Aldergrove
• Skytrain – A light Rail Transit system that includes four routes, although some stops overlap.

   

  • Expo Line – Travels between Waterfront Station in Vancouver and King George Station in Surrey passing through South Burnaby and New Westminster.
  • Millennium Line – Travels between Waterfront Station in Vancouver and VCC-Clark Station in Vancouver passing through south Burnaby, New Westminster and North Burnaby.
  • Canada Line (Richmond – Brighouse) – Travels between Waterfront Station and Richmond-Brighouse Station. It travels under the Cambie Corridor and stops near the BC Cancer Agency and Vancouver General Hospital
  • Canada Line (YVR) – Travels between Waterfront Station and the airport. There is an additional five-dollar charge if travelling past Bridgeport on this train (check with Translink for exemptions).
  • Seabus – A ferry that travels between Waterfront Station in Vancouver and Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.
  • West Coast Express – A commuter rail service that runs Monday to Friday during peak morning and evening hours. It travels between Mission and Waterfront Station in Vancouver in the mornings and in the opposite direction in the evenings.

Translink’s service area is divided into zones:

Zone 1: Vancouver

Zone 2: West and North Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Richmond

Zone 3: All other service areas

When traveling with Translink there are several fare options.

• Monthly passes (FareCard)– These can be purchased at any FareDealer and offer a discount over purchasing daily fare. You can purchase them for travel in one, two or three zones. These provide for unlimited travel within the selected zone(s). Should you need to travel farther than the zone purchased you can purchase an AddFare on the bus (exact change only) or from a ticket vending machine at any station. Fares for West Coast Express must be purchased separately. On Sundays and Statutory Holidays you can use your FareCard to take five other riders with you for free. A total of six riders are allowed: Two adults (14 and older) and up to four children (13 and under) can ride on a single Adult FareCard, West Coast Express 28-day Pass, or Annual Employer Transit Pass.

* Resident Tip: Save your monthly passes, because you could be eligible for a federal tax credit

• DayPass – This option provides unlimited travel on the day purchased in all zones. You can purchase it at any Fare Dealer or ticket vending machines in any station. This can be used as a credit towards the purchase of a West Coast Express fare.
• FareSaver Tickets – These are a book of ten TransLink tickets that can be used on the Bus, Seabus or Skytrain. You can purchase them at any FareDealer. They offer savings over buying single fares. They last for 90 minutes and can be purchased for one, tow or three zones. You must validate these when you use them, this can be done on the bus or at any station.
• Single Fares – Can be purchased on the bus (exact change only) or at any station. They provide 90 minutes of travel within the purchased zone.

There is one option that is not available to you that you may hear about:

• U-Pass – UBC has a program for its students to provide transit savings, however as a resident you are classed as a learner so that you only pay registration fees not tuition. You are however entitled to some UBC perks such as a library card.

Hospitals

• British Columbia Cancer Agency: 600 West 10th Avenue Vancouver BC
• British Columbia Children’s Hospital: 4490 Oak Street Vancouver BC
• British Columbia Women’s Hospital: 4500 Oak Street Vancouver BC
• GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre: 4255 Laurel Street Vancouver BC
• Mount Saint Joseph Hospital: 3080 Prince Edward Street Vancouver BC
• St. Paul’s Hospital: 1081 Burrard Street Vancouver BC
• Vancouver General Hospital: 855 West 12^th Avenue Vancouver BC
• UBC Hospital: 2211 Westbrook Mall Vancouver BC

Neighbourhoods 

• Arbutus Ridge
• Champlain Heights
• Chinatown
• Coal Harbour
• Downtown
• Dunbar-Southlands
• Fairview Slopes
• Fraserview
• Gastown
• Grandview-Woodlands
• Granville (Entertainment District)
• Granville Island/ False Creek
• Hastings-Sunrise
• Kensington-Cedar Cottage
• Kerrisdale
• Killarney
• Kitsilano
• Marpole
• Mount Pleasant
• Oakridge
• Point Grey
• Renfrew/ Collingwood
• Riley Park
• Shaughnessy
• South Cambie
• Strathcona
• Sunset
• UBC
• West End
• Yaletown