Working in Vancouver Canada

Canada

The largest city in Western Canada, Vancouver is a hotspot for tourists and working holidaymakers. For years now, Vancouver has finished near the top of those ‘most livable city’ surveys for its broad mix of offerings.

First of all, visitors are sure to notice the natural beauty of Vancouver with its sprawling metropolis surrounded by snow-topped mountains. This is like a welcome mat to the outdoor activities that surround the city.

On closer inspection, there is a lot more to Vancouver as a traveller’s enjoyment can also extend to the urban areas through inner-city diversity comparable to any major metropolis around the world.

Once you have taken in the beautiful vistas around the city, the fun continues in the shopping areas of SoMa or the unique neighbourhood known as Yaletown. Grow an understanding of how immigration has affected Vancouver in recent decades by wandering through the streets of Chinatown or take in the glamour of the West End.

Whether it is on foot, by bike or on Vancouver’s extensive sky train network these options can be appreciated around the city.

Location

Vancouver

Tourism Video


Airport

Vancouver International Airport
Located on Sea Island, Richmond about 12km from downtown, Vancouver International Airport is the second busiest airport in Canada with 17 million passengers passing through each year. The airport has three terminals – domestic, international and the south terminal. It is a major hub for AirCanada and AirTransit.

The airport is best reached through the Canada Line, Vancouver’s new rapid rail link that connects to downtown in 26 minutes and Richmond in 18 minutes. The rail link’s station is located between the domestic and international terminals. There is also a regular bus service that travels to downtown Vancouver or further on to destinations such as Whistler and Victoria.

Railway Station

Pacific Central Station (1150 Station Street, Vancouver, BC)

Opened in 1919, Pacific Central Station is a key Vancouver rail station for local and intercity travel. The station also provides several services throughout Canada and south to the United States. It is the Vancouver terminal for the cross-country service to Toronto, which is known asThe Canadian. There is also a bus depot, Skytrain station and a taxi stand at Pacific Central.

Transportation

Vancouver operates a multi-faceted transport system, known as TransLink, featuring a bus service, sky train, downtown streetcar, West Coast Express commuter train and sea bus.

The sky train system is regarded as the longest automated light metro system in the world with almost 70km of track connecting 47 stations over three lines.

If choosing to navigate Vancouver by car, travelers will notice the city has no freeways into or through the downtown area. However, Vancouver does have many bridges connecting a city that is surrounded by water on three sides.

When the rain slows for the summer months a great way to get around Vancouver is by bike using of the city’s extensive network. Not only will this keep you healthy but it is a great way to consume the city’s natural beauty.

Cost of Living

Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in North America. According to consultants Mercer, Vancouver was ranked second in Canada and 63rd globally in terms of living costs for expats in 2012.

Working Holidaymakers should be aware that rent payments, in particular, will be high in Vancouver. However, they can also count on salaries being quite, with the average for the city around $3,000 equivalent per month after tax.

According to online cost of living database Numbeo (http://www.numbeo.com/), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (June 2013) are as follows:

Food  
Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) $13.50
Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant $73.00
Domestic beer (500mL) $5.80
Coke (330mL) $2.10
Milk (1 litre) $2.10
Loaf of bread $3.10
Eggs $4.15
   
Transport  
One way ticket (local transport) $2.90
Monthly pass $94.90
Petrol (1 litre) $1.45
   
Rent (monthly)  
One bedroom apartment (central area) $1450 approx
Three bedroom apartment (central area) $3000 approx
   
Accommodation  
Hostel bed (one night) $35
Five star hotel room (one night) $260

Accommodation

Pricing for short-term accommodation in Vancouver can vary greatly depending on whether you are looking for a hostel or hotel during your stay. Some of the most popular areas to look for include Gastown, the West End and in the city centre.

Vancouver has a large range of hostels to choose from. The hostels generally cater for visitors looking for dorm or private accommodation. Travellers can expect to pay between $35-45 a night for a dorm bed depending on the size of the room. On average private rooms cost between $35-50 per person a night.

Hotels in Vancouver are regarded as expensive. However, bargains can be found comparable with private rooms in hostels, starting as cheap as around $70 a night. At the extravagant end, many hotels in Vancouver also exceed $300 a night.

Budget
YWCA Hotel
HI-Vancouver Downtown
SameSun Backpacker Lodge Vancouver

Mid-range
Super 8 Vancouver
Victorian Hotel
The Listel Hotel

High-end
The Fairmont Hotel
L’Hermitage Hotel
Pan Pacific Hotel

Shopping

Vancouver has a very diverse shopping experience reflective of its population. There are several shopping centres in the city unique to a different culture from the city. A few of the most popular shopping areas in Vancouver include Robson Street, Granville Street, Commercial Drive, Chinatown, Downtown and Gastown. A major shopping centre is Burnaby, which is located just outside of downtown Vancouver with easy access on the Skytrain. The must-visit market in Vancouver is the Granville Island Market.

Be aware that in Canada there are two local taxes charged to most goods. The PST (Provincial Sales Tax) at 7% and the GST (Goods and Services Tax) at 5%.

Emergency

Emergency telephone numbers
Police, fire, ambulance & mountain rescue    911

Australia Consulate, Vancouver
Suite 2050, 1075 West Georgia Street
Vancouver B.C. V6E 3C9 CANADA A
Telephone +1 604 694 6160
Facsimile +1 604 684 1856

Insurance and Healthcare

Insurance is a must-have for working holidaymakers in Canada. International Experience Canada states that you are required to buy and maintain health-care insurance (covering medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation) for the entire duration of your stay in Canada. If working holidaymakers do not commit to an insurance policy they may be denied entry. With that in mind, once your visa has been approved and your flights booked, lock in some insurance. With many travelers heading to the ski fields during their stay this is a very good idea regardless. Check out http://www.workingholidaytravelinsurance.com/ for more advice.

According to the Australian government supported Smart Traveller website, the standard of health facilities in Canada is comparable to that in Australia but provincially run health care systems are not easily accessible to temporary visitors.