Vancouver - Canda
PopulationBased on 2001 Canadian Census reports, the population of the City of Vancouver in 2004 is estimated at 583,296.
Greater Vancouver’s estimated total population for 2004 is 2.1 million, 50.8% of BC’s population of 4.2 million.
Languages
Federal government departments provide service in English and French, but most of the population speaks English as either a first or second language.
The City of Vancouver is quite cosmopolitan and is a mix of many multicultural groups. Because the city is multicultural, it’s also multilingual on an unofficial level. Its people speak many different languages and many follow the traditions of their native lands, sometimes moderating them with Canadian culture.
After English and Chinese, the most common mother tongue languages spoken are Punjabi, German, Italian, French, Tagalog (Filipino) and Spanish. More than half of Vancouver’s school-age children have been raised speaking a language other than English.
Climate
Warmed by Pacific Ocean currents and protected by a range of mountains, Vancouver enjoys mild temperatures year-round. From high 70’s Fahrenheit (low 20’s Celsius) in summer to a mild mid 40’s Fahrenheit (0º to 5º Celsius) in winter, the climate is always hospitable. Our winters are wet, but it rarely snows, except on our local ski hills.
See our What to Wear page for additional information.
The Canadian dollar is worth about two-thirds of a US dollar. Most Greater Vancouver establishments accept US dollars and Japanese yen, and usually offer reasonable exchange rates. The effect of the Canadian dollar’s value against the US dollar is that Canada is a good bargain for Americans and several other countries. (Some stores tell their American customers that Canada is having “a 1/3 off sale!”) The Canadian dollar against most other currencies is quite strong.
The Canadian dollar itself is a relatively large gold-coloured coin and the locals have nicknamed it the ‘Loonie’, officially because it features a Canadian bird, the loon, on its face. There are all kinds of unofficial reasons why it has that nickname.
Taxation
There are three levels of taxation that affect visitors to Vancouver. There is a 10% tax charged on accommodation and liquor. For just about all other goods and services, there is a 7% provincial sales tax (PST)-its official title is “Social Services Tax”-as well as the 6% federal goods and services tax (GST.) There are a number of exemptions and complexities to the way those taxes are applied, particularly where food is involved. PST, for instance, is not applied to, among other things, food and children’s clothing.
Time Zone
Vancouver is in the Pacific Time Zone. Daylight savings time is in effect from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.
You can see Vancouver’s time in relation to most cities on the globe by visiting www.TimeAndDate.com, which also can provide a Canadian calendar.
Workdays
Greater Vancouver, like all major cities, runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The main workdays are Monday to Friday, from roughly 8am to 6pm - but hours vary for each organization or business. Retailers are usually open seven days a week, and most stores are open from 9:30am to 6pm each day-except Thursday and Friday, when they are open until 9pm. A number of large retail stores, nearly every hotel and motel, and several restaurants, remain open around the clock.
See also Holidays in our Travel Tips section for our statutory holiday dates each year.
Visitor Information & Accommodation
Tourism Vancouver operates a visitor information centre in the downtown core of Vancouver. It’s at the Plaza Level, Waterfront Centre, 200 Burrard Street (604.683.2000.) We also have information centres at the Vancouver International Airport, the Peace Arch border crossing and a seasonal infocentre at the cruise ship terminal at Canada Place.
To make online hotel reservations or find out more about staying in Vancouver, see our Accommodation section for full details.
istra @ July 4, 2007