Why live in Greater Vancouver?
One of the primary reasons that locals love calling the Greater Vancouver Area home is due to the ideal balance it strikes between the great outdoors and city living. Offering residents the best of both worlds, you can head to your office job in Vancouver’s downtown core in the morning and be mountain biking or kayaking by lunchtime. In the Greater Vancouver Area, you have the sea and mountains in your backyard. This translates to endless opportunities for hiking, cycling, skiing, swimming, golfing, paddling, fishing, and more, all of which are only helped by the mild climate that allows locals to enjoy the outdoors year-round. Beyond the breathtaking natural beauty that surrounds Metro Vancouver in all directions, the region is a cultural hub, featuring the best shopping and dining in the province of British Columbia. The diversity of its population has resulted in all kinds of restaurants, festivals, markets, and other family-friendly attractions. Finally, the Greater Vancouver Area is known for its commitment to public transit, so it’s no wonder it boasts one of the top public transportation systems in North America. If you love getting out in nature but don’t want to compromise on urban amenities and job opportunities, the Greater Vancouver Area might be perfect for you.
Quality and diversity of education in Greater Vancouver
The Greater Vancouver Area is made up of several school districts, all of which are provincially operated. For instance, public schools in the City of Vancouver are operated under British Columbia School District No. 39, whereas those in West Vancouver are run by British Columbia School District No. 45, and those in Delta are operated by British Columbia School District No. 37. As you can see, each city or region that is part of what is known as the Greater Vancouver Area has its own school district. These districts are responsible for educating thousands of students between kindergarten and Grade 12. However, the Greater Vancouver Area is also home to a number of Catholic schools, French Immersion schools, and private schools. Some of the top private schools in Vancouver include Vancouver College, Crofton House School, Vancouver Talmud Torah School, Pear Tree School, and Bodwell High School.
Meanwhile, the Greater Vancouver Area also has no shortage of post-secondary options. For example, the region is home to the University of British Columbia (UBC), a world leader in post-secondary education. More specifically, UBC was ranked the second best university in Canada and 13th around the world in 2022. The university sees a typical enrollment of 72,000 students per year and offers a diverse range of programs in faculties like education, law, music, social work, nursing, medicine, business, architecture, arts, and more. Other esteemed colleges and universities that can be found in the Greater Vancouver Area include Simon Fraser University, Capilano University, Vancouver Film School, University Canada West, the Art Institute of Vancouver, Langara College, Columbia College, and the Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
Most populous cities in Greater Vancouver
The Greater Vancouver Area encompasses a number of densely-populated cities and regions, with a few of the largest being the City of Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, the Township of Langley, Delta, Maple Ridge, the District of North Vancouver, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, the City of North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Port Moody, the City of Langley, White Rock, Pitt Meadows, Bowen Island, Anmore, Belcarra, Linos Bay, and Tsawwassen.
Quality of infrastructure for Greater Vancouver
The infrastructure in the Greater Vancouver Area is second to none, especially when talking about public transportation, which the area is known for. Unlike many other cities in the province of British Columbia that are served by the provincially-run BC Transit system, the Greater Vancouver Area is served by TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s own public transit network. TransLink primarily operates three types of transit: buses, the SkyTrain, and the SeaBus. Buses travel all over the region, from downtown Vancouver to North Vancouver, Lions Bay, Langley, Pitt Meadows, and beyond. Meanwhile, the SkyTrain, Vancouver’s rapid transit system, consists of nearly 80 kilometres worth of track that connects downtown Vancouver with Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, and Coquitlam. However, there are plans to extend the SkyTrain line further into the Greater Vancouver Area, including into Langley via the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain Project. Lastly, the SeaBus is a passenger-only ferry service operated by TransLink that crosses the Burrard Inlet to connect downtown Vancouver with North Vancouver. Beyond these local public transit options, there are a number of regional transit options, too. For instance, downtown Vancouver has a Via Rail station, where trains run to Kamloops, Prince George, Prince Rupert, and all across Canada. Pacific Central Station in downtown Vancouver has several coach bus services to the rest of the province and other parts of Canada and the U.S. Meanwhile, there are two main ferry terminals in Vancouver, which BC Ferries operates out of, and they are Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal and Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. Ferries from these terminals connect Vancouverites with Victoria, Nanaimo, the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast, and more. Of course, flying in and out of the Greater Vancouver Area is also possible, and made easy thanks to the region’s many airports. Vancouver International Airport in Richmond is the largest airport in British Columbia and the second busiest in Canada. However, there is also Abbotsford International Airport servicing the Fraser Valley, and a number of smaller regional airports like Boundary Bay Airport, Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, and Pitt Meadows Regional Airport. Last but not least, healthcare infrastructure in the Greater Vancouver Area is top-notch. Many of the province’s best hospitals are located here, including Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital, UBC Hospital, and Vancouver General Hospital.
Safety and security for Greater Vancouver
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) keeps the City of Vancouver safe and secure. Some other cities in the Greater Vancouver Area have their own police departments, such as the Surrey Police Service and the Delta Police Department. However, many of the surrounding areas are maintained by a regional detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, such as the Bowen Island, Coquitlam, and Langley detachments of the RCMP. If there is an emergency anywhere in the Greater Vancouver Area, emergency services can always be reached by calling 9-1-1. That said, crime rates are relatively low in the area compared to other parts of the province and of Canada.
Greater Vancouver property market
The Greater Vancouver Area has one of the hottest property markets in all of Canada, which makes the area an excellent investment. Depending on what part of the region you’re looking to live in, you will find everything from luxury high-rise condos to waterfront mansions. Of course, there are also plenty of semi-detached homes, townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, and apartments.
Standard of living in Greater Vancouver
The standard of living in the Greater Vancouver Area is simply unparalleled. Not only is it known as being one of the best places to live in Canada, but it is also known as being one of the best places to live in the world. Just look at The Global Liveability Index’s 2023 Liveability Report, which ranked Vancouver as the fifth most liveable city in the world, evaluating cities based on categories like stability, healthcare, culture & environment, and education.
Something wonderful about Greater Vancouver
Perhaps the most famous park in the Greater Vancouver Area, and possibly even Canada, is none other than Stanley Park. Stanley Park is beloved by locals and tourists who travel to the Greater Vancouver Area. The park consists of 1,001 acres, making it bigger than New York City’s world-famous Central Park. However, unlike Central Park, Stanley Park is not man-made. Rather, it exists because of thousands of years of steadfast preservation and growth. In fact, technically, the park is a temperate rainforest, which is why you will see all kinds of diverse flora and fauna there. Of course, no trip to Stanley Park is complete without a walk (or bike ride) around the iconic SeaWall.
