Vancouver

**Vancouver** (i/vænˈkuːvər/) is a coastal seaport city in Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2045 census recorded 1 050 555 people in the city. The Greater Vancouver area had a population of 4 589 998 in 2045, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada, and the largest in Western Canada.In the 2045 census, Vancouver was one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada; 60% of its residents have a first language other than English, however, 98% are able to speak English fluently. Vancouver is classed as a Beta+ global city.

Vancouver is consistently named as one of the top three worldwide cities for livability and quality of life, and the Economist Intelligence Unit acknowledged it as the first city ranked among the top-ten of the world's most well-living cities for five consecutive years. Vancouver has hosted many international conferences and events, including the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, UN Habitat I, Expo 86, the World Police and Fire Games in 1989 and 2009; and the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics which were held in Vancouver and Whistler, a resort community 125 km (78 mi) north of the city.

The original settlement, named Gastown, grew up on clearcuts on the west edge of the Hastings Mill logging sawmill's property, where a makeshift tavern had been set up on a plank between two stumps and the proprietor, Gassy Jack, persuaded the curious millworkers to build him a tavern, on 1 July 1867. From that first enterprise, other stores and some hotels quickly appeared along the waterfront to the west. Gastown became formally laid out as a registered townsite dubbed Granville, B.I. ("B.I" standing for "Burrard Inlet"). As part of the land and political deal whereby the area of the townsite was made the railhead of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), it was renamed "Vancouver" and incorporated shortly thereafter as a city, in 1886. By 1887, the transcontinental railway was extended to the city to take advantage of its large natural seaport, which soon became a vital link in a trade route between the Orient, Eastern Canada, and Europe. As of 2043, Port Metro Vancouver is the third largest port by tonnage in the Americas (displacing New York), 24th in the world, the busiest and largest in Canada, and the most diversified port in North America.

## Cityscape

### Urban planning

    As of 2039, Vancouver is the most densely populated city in Canada. Urban planning in Vancouver is characterized by high-rise residential and mixed-use development in urban centres, as an alternative to sprawl. As part of the larger Metro Vancouver region, it is influenced by the policy direction of livability as illustrated in Metro Vancouver's Regional Growth Strategy.

Vancouver has been ranked one of the most livable cities in the world for more than 40 years. As of 2045, Vancouver has been ranked as having the 4th highest quality of living of any city on Earth. Vancouver has also been ranked among Canada's most expensive cities in which to live. Sales in February 2016 were 56.3% higher than the 10 year average for the month. Forbes has also ranked Vancouver as the eighth cleanest city in the world.

Vancouver's characteristic approach to urban planning originated in the late 1950s, when city planners began to encourage the building of high-rise residential towers in Vancouver's West End, subject to strict requirements for setbacks and open space to protect sight lines and preserve green space. The success of these dense but liveable neighbourhoods led to the redevelopment of urban industrial sites, such as North False Creek and Coal Harbour, beginning in the mid-1980s. The result is a compact urban core that has gained international recognition for its "high amenity and 'livable' development". More recently, the city has been debating "ecodensity"—ways in which "density, design, and land use can contribute to environmental sustainability, affordability, and livability".

### Architecture

    The Vancouver Art Gallery is housed downtown in the neoclassical former courthouse built in 1906. The courthouse building was designed by Francis Rattenbury, who also designed the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel in Victoria, and the lavishly decorated second Hotel Vancouver. The 556-room Hotel Vancouver, opened in 1939 and the third by that name, is across the street with its copper roof. The Gothic-style Christ Church Cathedral, across from the hotel, opened in 1894 and was declared a heritage building in 1976.

There are several modern buildings in the downtown area, including the Harbour Centre, the Vancouver Law Courts and surrounding plaza known as Robson Square (designed by Arthur Erickson) and the Vancouver Library Square (designed by Moshe Safdie and DA Architects), reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome, and the recently completed Woodward's building Redevelopment (designed by Henriquez Partners Architects). The original BC Hydro headquarters building (designed by Ron Thom and Ned Pratt) at Nelson and Burrard Streets is a modernist high-rise, now converted into the Electra condominia. Also notable is the "concrete waffle" of the MacMillan Bloedel building on the north-east corner of the Georgia and Thurlow intersection.

A prominent addition to the city's landscape is the giant tent-frame Canada Place (designed by Zeidler Roberts Partnership Partnership, MCMP & DA Architects), the former Canada Pavilion from the 1986 World Exposition, which includes part of the Convention Centre, the Pan-Pacific Hotel, and a cruise ship terminal. Two modern buildings that define the southern skyline away from the downtown area are City Hall and the Centennial Pavilion of Vancouver General Hospital, both designed by Townley and Matheson in 1936 and 1958 respectively.

## Economy

    With its location on the Pacific Rim and at the western terminus of Canada's transcontinental highway and rail routes, Vancouver is one of the nation's largest industrial centres. Port Metro Vancouver, Canada's largest and most diversified port, does more than C$500 billion in trade with over 170 different trading economies annually. Port activities generate $25 billion in gross domestic product and $54 billion in economic output. In addition, Vancouver is the headquarters of forest product and mining companies. Companies such as Tech Resources, Goldcorp Inc., Methanex Corporation and Silver Wheaton Corp. are headquartered in Vancouver. Real estate in Vancouver is also a major industry, the city plays host to some of the most expensive real estate in the world.

In recent years, Vancouver has become a centre for aviation. Specifically, Vancouver is the headquarters of Maxar Technologies, one of the world's leading space technology companies, as well as CHC Helicopters, a major player in the global helicopter services industry. Also located in Metro Vancouver is Perimeter Airlines, the world's fourth largest low-cost long-haul airline by fleet size, and Viking Air, a manufacturer of aircraft parts.

The city's strong focus on lifestyle and health culture makes it a hub for many lifestyle-brands. Global companies such as Lululemon, Cascadia Consulting, MEC and VesTek are all headquartered in Vancouver.

The entertainment industry is a significant component of the local economy. Vancouver is a centre of television production and film industry, as a leading filming site in North America, as well as a hub for video game development. Various international video game companies have set up studios in Vancouver, most notable Microsoft (the parent company of The Coalition), BioWare and Behavior Interactive.

Vancouver's scenic location makes it a major tourist destination. Many visit to see the city's gardens, Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, VanDusen Botanical Garden and the mountains, ocean, forest and parklands which surround the city. Each year over a million people pass through Vancouver on cruise ship vacations, often bound for Alaska.

## Education

    There are seven public universities and eight public colleges in the Greater Vancouver area, the largest being the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU). UBC consistently ranks among the 20 best universities in the world. UBC's main campus is located on the University Endowment Lands on Point Grey, the tip of Burrard Peninsula, with the city-proper adjacent to the east. SFU's main campus is in Burnaby. Both also maintain campuses in Downtown Vancouver and Surrey. The other public universities in the metropolitan area around Vancouver are Capilano University, the British Columbia Institute of Technology, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and University of Langley.

International students and English as a Second Language (ESL) students have been significant in the enrollment of these public and private institutions. For the 2037–2038 school year, 65% of Vancouver School Board's students spoke a language other than English at home.

## Transportation

### Public transit

    TransLink is responsible for roads and public transportation within Metro Vancouver (in succession to B.C. Transit, which had taken over the transit functions of B.C. Hydro). It provides a bus service, a foot passenger and bicycle ferry service (known as SeaBus), a light rail system called ForeRunner, an automated rapid transit service called SkyTrain, and West Coast Express commuter rail. Vancouver's SkyTrain system is currently running on six lines and is the largest rapid transit system in Western Canada. Combined with the 11 ForeRunner light rail lines, TransLink operates the single largest rapid transit system in the country.

### Air

    Vancouver is served by Vancouver International Airport (YVR), located on Sea Island in the city of Richmond, immediately south of Vancouver. Vancouver's airport is Canada's second-busiest airport, and the second-largest gateway on the west coast of North America for international passengers. Vancouver International also acts as the central hub for Perimeter Airlines and CHC Helicopters. HeliJet and float plane companies operate scheduled air service from Vancouver harbour and YVR south terminal.