Welcome to Vancouver!

1. What is the weather like in Vancouver?

Vancouver has one of the mildest climates in Canada. Spring weather usually starts in March when the 60,000 plum and cherry trees begin to blossom. Summers in Vancouver are warm but not humid with an average high temperature of 22°C. Fall brings a fantastic display of colour to the streets as the leaves turn red, yellow and orange before falling. Of course in the winter Vancouver gets a little bit colder but it doesn’t usually snow. Once or twice a winter we get snow but it only lasts a few days. Vancouver does however have rainy winters.

Yearly Average Temperature in Vancouver (Celsius)

2. What kind of clothes should I bring to Vancouver?

Spring: you should dress in layers, for example a t-shirt, a long sleeved shirt, and a jacket, so that you can take off the layers as it gets warmer.

Summer: you should bring a light jacket, but t-shirts and shorts will be enough for most of the summer days.

Fall: you should dress in layers, for example a t-shirt, a long sleeved shirt, and a jacket, so that you can take off the layers as it gets warmer.

Winter: you should bring a warm jacket, boots, hat, and gloves. Jeans and sweaters are the best option.

An umbrella in Vancouver is always a good idea!

3. Where is the school located in Vancouver?

ELS Language Centers is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, only minutes from the waterfront and popular Stanley Park. The Center is in a dynamic, international neighbourhood of fashionable shops and cafés, with places of student interest, such as art galleries, theatres and public libraries, all located within walking distance. It is easily reached by public transit (two blocks from the Skytrain station) and water taxi (4 blocks from the Seabus), as well as numerous buses

4. What kind of activities does ELS Language Center s Vancouver offer?

We have a full activities program every month. They include things like ice-skating at the top of Grouse Mountain; going for lunch and to the botanical gardens in Chinatown; seeing a double feature of IMAX movies; going to Whistler, Victoria, the Rocky Mountains or Seattle for weekend trips; spending an evening at a neighbourhood pub playing billiards and talking English to other students, staff and teachers; spending an afternoon shopping for bargains; going to see an NHL Hockey Game; going for a walk through famous Stanley Park; and many other fun activities.

We try to have a good mix of activities for students to attend, some are more expensive (like overnight trips) but most of our activities are low cost.

5. What do people in Vancouver like to do?

Because of our wonderful natural setting and mild climate, outdoor activities are the most popular pastimes for people in Vancouver. Here are some of the common activities divided into spring summer fall and winter.

Spring, Summer & Fall:

Biking, camping, golf, hiking, rollerblading, tennis, beach volleyball, walking, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, river-rafting, sailing, whale-watching, windsurfing, and horseback riding.

Winter:

Curling, ice-skating, skiing (downhill & cross –country), snowboarding, snowtubing, tobogganing, and hockey (playing & watching)

6. What special events or festivals go on in Vancouver and at what times of the year?

There are many different events, festivals, celebrations and opportunities available in Vancouver and the surrounding area throughout the year. Here is a list of some of the popular ones and the approximate time of year that they are available.

January
· The Annual Polar Bear Swim January 1st - start the new year with a shiver by joining hundreds of Vancouverites jumping into English Bay. After you can join them for a big cup of hot chocolate at one of our many local coffee shops
· The Brackendale Bald Eagle Festival all month – check out the large concentration of bald eagles during this fun yearly festival. Don’t forget your binoculars!

February
· Chinese New Year early February – ring in the lunar new year in one of the largest Chinatowns in North America
· Valentines Day February 14th – a day to celebrate the ones you love, usually by giving and receiving cards, flowers and chocolates

March
· St. Patrick’s Day March 17th – wear something green and visit a traditional Irish pub!
· Playhouse Wine Festival end of March – visit over 48 events featuring 900 wines from 156 wineries in 14 different countries.

April
· Playland opens mid April – ride one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the world, check out the other rides and eat some cotton candy from now until late September.

May
· Hyak Festival late May – join this week-long celebration of Queen Victoria’s birthday with a parade and activities for all ages

June
· The BC Lions CFL football team early June – the season & playoffs run until November
· The Dragon Boat Festival mid June – join the excitement and cheer on your favourite team as they paddle for first prize!
· Bard on the Beach mid June. – productions run until mid-Sept. Relax and spend an evening watching a Shakespearean production on the beach.
· Vancouver International Jazz Festival end of June – the festival runs until early July. Listen to the cool jazz stylings of local and visiting musicians.

July
· Canada Day July 1st – help celebrate Canada’s birthday with pancake breakfasts, parades, festivities and fireworks
· Theatre Under the Stars early July – productions run until late August. Watch a play while sitting in an open-air theatre in the famous Stanley Park, the largest urban park in the world.
· TISSOT-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup mid July – ride the Gondola up Grouse Mountain and watch these extreme riders compete for the top prize. If you feel adventurous, hike up the mountain on the Grouse Grind. This trail is not for beginners!
· Vancouver Folk Music Festival mid July – head to Jericho Beach and watch the sunsets while listening to folk music legends and sampling foods from around the world.
· Celebration of Light late July – 4 nights of fireworks going into early August. Sit at English Bay and watch fireworks displays by teams from around the world as they compete to win the festival.
· Molson Indy late July – watch as some of the best racers in the sport compete for first place on the tricky course set up in downtown Vancouver.

August
· Abbotsford Airshow mid August – this weekend long airshow features planes, helicopters and more from all over the world.

September
· Vancouver International Film Festival late Sept – the festival runs until early October. Pick up a pass and check out films by cutting-edge filmmakers from around the world.

October
· The Vancouver Canucks NHL hockey season early October – regular season runs until April followed immediately by the playoffs until June. Don’t miss your chance to watch this truly Canadian sport

November
· The Snow Geese Migration early November – As many as 20,000 snow geese from Russia arrive at the Reifel bird sanctuary.

December
· The Carol Ship Cruises early December – join fellow singers on a cruise around English Bay while singing seasonal Christmas carols

7. What’s the nightlife like?

Vancouverites like to go to sports bars to watch hockey games; to pubs to play pool and have a few pints of beer with friends; and dancing at nightclubs. All bars and nightclubs close at 2:00am in Vancouver. You must be 19 years old or older to go to a bar/pub/nightclub in Vancouver.
For those people who are under 19 Vancouver offers lots of other nighttime activities. There are plenty of interesting restaurants, bowling alleys, movie theaters and shopping.

8. What’s the transportation like?

Greater Vancouver (which includes the city of Vancouver and the surrounding suburbs) have an excellent public transportation system. There is the Skytrain, which is a combination subway/elevated train system, the Seabus, a water taxi system linking North Vancouver with downtown Vancouver, and an excellent system of buses. The school is located very close to the Skytrain station, Seabus station and bus stops. For more information about the public transit system visit their website at www.translink.bc.ca. Taxis in Vancouver are easy to spot because they are usually bright yellow in colour. Most students go their entire trip without ever taking a taxi. The average cost of a taxi from downtown Vancouver to the homestay at night is $25.00.

9. What kind of day and weekend trips can I make from Vancouver?

Vancouver is really the gateway to the Pacific Northwest and you can reach a variety of places with ease.
· A trip to the world famous ski resort of Whistler-Blackcomb can be a simple day trip to hike in the summer or snowboard in the winter or you can make a weekend out of it and enjoy the nightlife of Whistler Village. You can find snow year-round at the top of the mountain.
· Got your US Visa? Then spend a day or a weekend in Seattle. See the Space Needle, the Rock and Roll Museum and the Museum of Flight while you visit our neighbour to the south.
· Take a ferry ride to Victoria for the weekend or just for a day. Tour the Provincial Legislature buildings, spend some time at the beautiful Butchart Garden, have high tea at the Empress Hotel.
· Take a long weekend and take a bus tour of the Rocky Mountains. With stops including Lake Louise and Banff this is one trip you won’t want to miss. Don’t forget your camera, this is your best opportunity to see Northwest wildlife in their natural habitat.
· Widgeon Creek is a popular location for hiking and canoeing fans. Take a day trip here and prepare to do some active exploration of the beautiful BC wilderness.
· Spend a weekend in the Okanagan Valley. In the summer water-ski, hike, bike and take tours of the local vineyards. In the winter snowboard, snowmobile, cross-country or downhill ski or spend a quiet day snowshoeing. There is something for everyone.