Located on the breathtaking West Coast of Canada, Vancouver has been consistently voted by the United Nations one of the world's most desirable places to live. Even more Canadians would prefer to live here than anywhere else in Canada! You will find Vancouver to be a safe, clean, exciting city with a mild climate year round.
Vancouver is a multicultural city with shopping, restaurants, and social and cultural activities to appeal to every taste. Parks and public beaches surround the city's harbour, offering plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities year-round. North of Vancouver, the snow-capped Coastal Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to the city's skyline and endless opportunities for weekend getaways in both Winter and Summer.
With our mild climate, it is possible to ski, sail, and golf all in one day! Discover our natural scenery, Native Indian art or participate in our many outdoor activities, events and festivals. We are also close to other famous cities, such as Whistler, Victoria, and Seattle.
Vancouver is known as Hollywood North, as many movies are made here. You will see a number of music and movie stars, as they are increasingly being attracted to our beautiful city. CSLI students have seen famous stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robin Williams, Justin Timberlake, and Ben Affleck near the school. Ben Affleck's movie 'Paycheck' was partly filmed in the block around CSLI (they used the restaurant next door), and students were able to watch the filming of a car chase scene behind the school!
For more information about Vancouver you can visit the websites listed below:
| City of Vancouver |
www.city.vancouver.bc.ca |
| Tourism Vancouver |
www.tourismvancouver.com |
| Hello BC |
www.hellobc.ca |
| Travel Canada |
www.travelcanada.ca |
| Parks in Canada |
www.parkscanada.ca |
| Via Rail Canada Inc. |
www.viarail.ca |
| Citizenship and Immigration Canada |
www.cic.gc.ca |
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1. 100 Days of Summer
Something new to do every day all summer long! Soon to be released. This is the best list of things to do in Vancouver 
2. Festivals & Parades
Each week there is another event involving music, theatre, comedy and art. For all festivals and events and tickets 
3. Vancouver's Jewel: Stanley Park
Did you know there are free buses riding through Stanley Park all summer? 
4. Dancing in the Park
Meet Canadians and take free dance lessons at the same time! 
5. Free Guided Architectural Tours
From rough-and-tumble mill town to the grandiose terminal city of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Vancouver miraculously grew from a population of 500 to 6,000 in five short years! Whether you are a long-time Vancouver resident or just in the city for a few days, these tours promise to inform and enlighten. 
6. Meet a Movie Star
Vancouver is Hollywood North. Jeff Goldblum has been spotted playing the piano at a downtown lounge. Robin Williams frequents a Chinese restaurant on Burrard Street. Jackie Chan often appears. Gwyneth Paltrow, Barbara Streisand, John Travolta - they've all been here. Vancouver has the largest film industry in Canada, which injects more than $1 billion dollars into the local economy. Movies. TV series. Made for TV movies. It all happens here. Keep your eyes peeled for the requisite big white trailers parked on city streets with a lot of busy folks running around wearing baseball caps and sneakers. Or you could stake out the lobby of any chic downtown hotel and hopefully catch a glimpse of your favourite star. 
7. Gardens & Parks Apart from Stanley Park, there are hundreds to choose from, and all are free. 
8. Free Sports and Recreation Tennis: Most gardens like those in Stanley Park provide free tennis courts (the best time is first thing in the morning):
9. Walking tours
Take a self-guided tour anytime through historic Gastown, colourful Chinatown, trendy Yaletown or elite Shaugnessy. 
10. Free concerts outdoors
June to end of August every Sunday in the West End near English Bay. 
1. Victoria by ferry and return by harbour plane or helicopter.
2. Whistler by rail from North Vancouver, meals included and day around town.
3. Climb Grouse Grind late afternoon, a drink at sunset at the top, and down by gondola at night. Now here's a challenge for you. A 2.9-kilometre (3700 ft) trail straight up to the top of Grouse Mountain. And when we say straight up . . . we mean it. When you do the "Grind" it is recommended that you wear hiking boots and carry water. For those in good shape it takes about an hour. An average time would be between one and a half to two hours. The world record for doing the "Grind" is under 27 minutes. It is free to hike up,
but it's not wise (or advised) for you to hike back down so you'll need $5.00 to pay for the gondola ride to the bottom. Call 604.984.0661 or the Grouse Grind information line at 604.432-6200 .
4. Hike around Lynn Canyon, over the suspension bridge and lunch back at the great new café.
5. Early morning jog or bike around Stanley Park seawall just as the sun comes up, followed by breakfast at the Sylvia Hotel or Milestones at English Bay.
6. Watching the Fireworks Festival from Kits Beach or English Bay.
7. Free performers and sunset at English Bay followed by dessert or dinner along Denman St.
8. Star spotting outside a coffee shop and browsing on Robson St.
9. Brunch at Granville Island Market, and taking the small ferry across from downtown.
10. A cocktail at sunset at the top of Empire Landmark (the best view of Vancouver).
1. Sleepover at the Vancouver Aquarium.
2. Fish'n'chips lunch at Steveston.
3. Relax in the natural springs at Harrison Hotsprings Hotel after a day at the professional Sandcastle Competition and the Agissiz Corn Harvest Festival or nearby Minter Gardens.
4. Go on the Wine Trail train in the Okanagan.
5. Rent a speedboat or kayak at Granville Island and view False Creek or English Bay.
6. Take a sunset harbour cruise from Granville Island. Find out where all the rich and famous people live around the Vancouver's bays.
7. Guided Gastown Walking Tour. Free! Go back in time. Follow costumed historians around the oldest neighbourhood in downtown Vancouver as they relive days gone by. Summer only. Gastown Business Improvement Society at 604.683.5650.
8. Chinatown at dusk: At night explore the cultural richness of Historic Chinatown at the open-air night market. Strollers will find the area pedestrian-friendly as several blocks are closed to traffic, transforming the streetscape into a psychedelic neon-lit scene. With vendors selling everything from dried seafood to exotic fruits and vegetables to life-sized stuffed animals, the Chinatown Night Market is a must-see.
9. Theatre Under the Stars: Professional live theatre under the stars at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park.
10. Whale-watching in Tofino and walking Long Beach, rain or shine.