A class act on the world stage, Vancouver has all the attributes of stardom, and Hollywood North is just one of its calling cards. It certainly doesn’t need a make-over –
Vancouver is a natural beauty. With a backdrop of mountains to the north and the Pacific Ocean at its feet, practically everywhere you turn in Vancouver commands stellar views.
Although skyscrapers dominate the urban landscape, Vancouver recognizes its historical past:
Totem poles and native sculptures are a reminder that the First Nations people lived here undisturbed for thousands of years until 1791, when the Spaniards anchored in Burrard Inlet, followed a year later by the city’s namesake, British Captain George Vancouver.
Celebrated for its fleece-wearing populace, Vancouver is often thought of as a haven for tree-huggers. That reputation is true to a certain extent – Vancouverites tend to be politically liberal and environmentally conscious. (After all, Greenpeace was founded here.) And Vancouverites do enjoy a healthier lifestyle than most of their eastern counterparts. That’s mainly due to a climate of mild, rainy winters and cool, comfortable summers, which has earned Vancouver a reputation as a mecca for those who love outdoor activities.
Thanks to temperatures averaging three degrees Celsius in January and 18 degrees Celsius in July, it’s possible to golf, ski and sail here, and to do it all in one weekend. While the rest of the country is shoveling snow, Vancouverites are hiking and biking, snowboarding and scuba-diving. With the siren call of the great outdoors, it’s a wonder anyone in Vancouver gets any work done. Yet the city is a leading industrial centre. Furthermore, it is Canada’s gateway to the Pacific Rim – a deep water harbour makes Vancouver one of the busiest and largest ports in North America.
Since more than a third of its population is between the ages of 25 and 44, Vancouver has a large, young workforce: the median family income in Vancouver is $51,268 and Vancouver’s average individual working income is $33,913, according to Statistics Canada (from 2001; 2006 statistics will be published March, 2007).
Local industry runs the gamut of possibilities, from those based on natural resources to creative and corporate operations, including high-tech, biotechnology, software development, forest and mining products, trade and financial services and tourism.
In 2005, Vancouver – also known as Lotus Land – took the honour of “most livable city” over 127 cities worldwide, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). More than one-third of Vancouver’s half million residents are of Asian descent and its Chinatown is the second largest in North America. The population is truly diverse, with Chinese, Greek, Indo-Canadian, Italian and Jewish immigrant communities, just to name a few. This makes for a rich cultural landscape – and great restaurants. Vancouver attracts foodies worldwide as a culinary destination; it boasts award-winning chefs who create innovative cuisine with local produce, meats and, of course, seafood.
A city of newcomers, Vancouver has one of the highest percentages of foreign-born residents in the world. Approximately 39 percent of the 593,273 people who live in the City of Vancouver claim to be immigrants. (The population of the GVRD – Greater Vancouver Regional District – is over two million). English is the main language, but at least 70 others are spoken in the city, including Chinese, Punjabi, German, Italian, French, Tagalog (Filipino) and Spanish.
And people keep on coming. More than 6,000 people moved to the city last year, and by the year 2021, the population is predicted to surpass 635,000. Industrial areas are being rezoned to accommodate housing; more housing is being created through higher density redevelopment, and mixed-use schemes are creating housing above commercial property – a total of 18,914 housing units were started in 2005. And with such an influx of new residents, it’s not surprising housing costs in the city are the highest in Canada. The average price for a home in 2006 is $700,000; that is expected to climb to $725,000 in 2007.
Preparations are well underway to welcome the world during Vancouver’s 2010 Olympics. Highways are being upgraded and state-of-the art facilities erected. It is obvious, though, to anyone who has gazed upon a majestic cedar in the 1,000-acre forest of Stanley Park or watched the waves while strolling its seawall, it’s the city’s natural beauty that will steal the show. MTV