Apartments for Rent in Vancouver, BC
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Renter's guide to Vancouver, BC

Vancouver is a coastal city located in British Columbia on the western coast of Canada. Known for its natural beauty and ethnic and cultural diversity, it consistently ranks top five in the world for quality of life.

Located 58 miles from Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia, Vancouver is also the third largest metropolitan area in Canada behind Montreal and Toronto. With a population of 2,463,431 people as of 2016, according to census data, spread over 2085 square miles, it’s one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

With its large sea port and international airport, it’s also commonly referred to as the “Gateway to Asia”. This distinction is also reflected in Vancouver’s culture as a large portion of the population is ethnic Chinese.

Sandwiched between a mountain range and the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is one of the warmest cities in Canada during the winter and the coolest during the summer. Temperatures between July and August usually hover around a comfortable 72°F. As one of the wettest Canadian cities, rain is a common occurrence, but the amount varies from area to area.

Tips for renting in Vancouver, BC

Things to do in Vancouver, BC

Known for its natural beauty, outdoor activities are the name of the game. With Whistler, the Rockies and Vancouver Island close by, water and land sports can be enjoyed year-round. If you’re a sports fan, the city is also home to the Vancouver Canucks hockey team and the Whitecaps soccer team. These teams are often the topic of conversation here and fans can be quite fanatic.

For families looking for things to do with kids, top attractions in Vancouver and points of interest include Stanley Park, the PNE/Playland amusement park, Granville Island, Science World, the Vancouver Aquarium, and the HR MacMillan Space Centre’s Planetarium Star Theatre.

After a day on the slopes or on the water, you might be looking for a chance to unwind with dinner, a show or maybe some shopping. Due to its ethnic diversity, Vancouver has a vibrant restaurant scene. The city is home to many of Canada’s best restaurants and you can often find food from all over the world all on the same block.

Vancouver, BC employment & economy

Tech is a major force in the economy with software development, biotech, aerospace, and video game development making up a large percentage of the job market in Vancouver. All the big technology companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, and SAP have offices here.

The film industry is also a large source of employment and economic growth in Vancouver, sometimes referred to as “Hollywood North”. Vancouver is home to 2 of the largest special effects studios in North America and the film industry pumps $1 billion into the economy every year. Many popular movies and TV shows were filmed here including Riverdale, Deadpool, MacGyver, and Star Trek.

Education in Vancouver, BC

The top universities in Vancouver are University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. There are also other trades-oriented schools like the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Vancouver Film School and Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Most Vancouver students are automatically assigned to the public schools in their neighbourhood, it’s very important that you move into an area with good schools.

The top secondary school in Vancouver, as ranked by the Fraser Institute, is Lord Byng in the West Point Grey neighbourhood, followed closely by University Hill on the University of British Columbia Endowment Lands and Point Grey in Kerrisdale.

For younger families, the top elementary school is Dr Annie B Jamieson in the Oakridge neighbourhood. This school is ranked highly due to its music programs, cultural diversity and Mandarin Bilingual Program. Following close behind is Kerrisdale elementary in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood and Graham Bruce in the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood.

Vancouver is also home to many prestigious private schools including St. Georges, West Point Grey Academy and Crofton House.