Vancouver

Vancouver is a coastal city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Known as one of the top cities for education in the world, Vancouver is the perfect setting for your English program.

The city is the most populous in Western Canada and third-largest in the country. Vancouver has a population of just over 2 million people in its metropolitan area. Over the last 30 years, immigration has dramatically increased, making the city more culturally diverse.

Climate

Unlike many parts of Canada, there is very little snow in the city of Vancouver. However, we do get snow up in our local mountains. During winter we usually have mild or rainy weather. Summer months are drier and sunnier with moderate temperatures. The daily maximum averages 22 °C in July and August, with highs reaching 30 °C.

Vancouver rarely has temperatures below freezing, but if you are joining our program in the winter, come prepared for cooler temperatures. On average, we only have 4.5 days a year with temperatures staying below freezing. If you are joining us in the summer, bring your bathing suit and sandals!

Education

There are five public universities in the Greater Vancouver area, the largest being the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU), with a combined enrollment of more than 80,000 undergraduates, graduates, and professional students in 2008. In 2006, UBC was ranked 27th best university in the world by Newsweek magazine, and SFU ranked as the best comprehensive university in Canada by Maclean's University Rankings in 2009. The other public universities are Capilano University, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

The Canadian College and other colleges in the surrounding areas of Metro Vancouver provide career, trade, and university-transfer programs.

Quality of Living

Vancouver has been ranked one of the most livable cities in the world for more than a decade. As of 2010, Vancouver has been ranked as having the 5th highest quality of living of any city on Earth. Forbes has also ranked Vancouver as the tenth cleanest city in the world.

Sports & Recreation

The warmer climate of the city and close proximity to ocean, mountains, rivers and lakes make the area a popular destination for outdoor recreation. The city has several large beaches, many adjacent to one another, extending from the shoreline of Stanley Park around False Creek to the south side of English Bay, from Kitsilano to the University Endowment Lands. The 18 kilometres (11 miles) of beaches include Second and Third Beaches in Stanley Park, English Bay (First Beach), Sunset Beach, Kitsilano Beach and Jericho Beach. The coastline provides for many types of water sport, and the city is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts.

Within a 20-to-30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver are the North Shore Mountains, with three ski areas: Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, and Mount Seymour. Mountain bikers have created world-renowned trails across the North Shore.