10 interesting facts about Vancouver

Vancouver is an incredibly beautiful city that attracts tons of tourists and immigrants from all over the world. Here you will be amazed by the cultural diversity, cuisines from all over the world, mirror skyscrapers and stunning woods near the city center … Vancouver is spectacular, full of wonders and here are just a few interesting facts about it.

The best city to live in

Vancouver is ranked among the World’s Top-10 most-livable cities worldwide. The Economist Intelligence Unit provides rankings annually and evaluates 173 cities on 30 factors of stability, health, culture, environment, education and infrastructure.

Vancouver was ranked 5th in the 2022 report.

And on Mercer’s list of the best cities on the planet 2019 Vancouver was third (out of 221 cities) Important criteria for this ranking are: safety, education, healthcare, culture, environment, recreation, political and economic stability, public transportation, and access to goods and services.

Hongcouver

More than 40% of Vancouver’s population are immigrants, the majority of whom came from Asian countries. The first Chinese began arriving in the city during the Gold Rush of the mid-19th century. Later, they came for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Soon the population of Chinese workers increased so much that the government was forced to impose an additional tax on them. And from 1923 to 1947 immigration from China to Canada was banned at all. The population of the local community decreased significantly.

The revival of Chinatown began in the 1970s when Vancouver once again was in need of a labour force and money. The flow was mostly from developing Hong Kong, and in the 1980s and 1990s people even started to call the city Hongcouver.

According to statistics from Worldpopulationreview about 30% of Vancouver residents are ethnic Chinese.

The most expensive housing in Canada

Here is a less exciting fact about Vancouver: until recently, housing in Vancouver was considered to be the most expensive in Canada (it lost the title to Toronto).

The Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey ranked Vancouver third behind Hong Kong and Sydney in “most unaffordable housing” in 2022.

The average home here costs more than 1.2 million Canadian dollars.

Home of the California Roll

California roll was invented in Vancouver Japanese Chef Hidekazu Tojo moved to Canada and noticed that customers were skeptical about raw fish and seaweed dishes. Then he came up with the idea of making rolls “inside out”: rice on the outside and stuffing on the inside. It was against the tradition of Japanese cuisine, but the customers and especially the visitors from Los Angeles liked it. That’s how we got the name “California”. In Tojo’s signature restaurant in Vancouver, the roll can be found on the menu as “Tojo.”

READ MORE: Vancouver’s favorite Japanese restaurants

Hollywood North

Vancouver got this nickname for a reason. In North America, the city ranks second in TV series production and third in movie production (after Los Angeles and New York).

Canadian tax incentives and a good dollar exchange rate began to attract major American studios in the 90s. Over time, local film crews became more experienced and the infrastructure developed. Mountains, ocean, forests, beaches, skyscrapers. In addition, companies were attracted by the mild climate of Vancouver and the same time zone as Los Angeles.

Before the pandemic, B.C.’s film industry brought in more than $3 billion a year to the economy. By the way, anyone can get a paid job as an extra by filling out an application at an agency (such as BCF Casting or Hollywood North Extras).

You can check what interesting movies or shows are being filmed in the city now on this website.

World’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path

Vancouver’s Seawall isn’t just a 9-kilometre walkway in Stanley Park. Its length is 28 kilometres from the Convention Center to Kitsilano Beach! The Seawall is divided into a pedestrian zone and a bicycle lane. The construction began in 1917 and some works are still in progress. Today Vancouver’s Seawall is the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path.

READ MORE: What to visit in Vancouver? Top 15: Best of the Best

Greenpeace was founded in Vancouver

Another interesting fact about Vancouver is related to the well-known environmental organization Greenpeace. In the mid-20th century, America conducted nuclear tests off the coast of Alaska, which could have caused earthquakes, tsunamis, and negative environmental impacts on the entire region.

Several courageous activists from Vancouver organized Greenpeace and in 1971 sailed towards Alaska on a rusty boat. In support of their mission, well-known American and Canadian musicians played a charity concert for 16,000 people in Vancouver.

The activist boat never reached its destination. The bomb was detonated. But the fearlessness of the Greenpeace attracted public attention and led to the mass protests.

Today, Greenpeace is the world’s most effective and largest environmental organization with 55 offices in different countries.

Alaska’s largest cruise port

Vancouver’s cruise terminal, Canada Place, is considered to be the fourth largest in the world. Each year it welcomes over 800,000 passengers and 240-270 ships, mostly headed to Alaska. As the number and size of cruise ships have increased over the years, the terminal is increasingly being rated as congested. It was designed for old ships and for less capacity.

The season lasts from April to late October and plays an important role in the region’s economy.

Greenest city in North America

Vancouver has been consistently ranked among the ten most eco-friendly and green cities in the world for many years. The government and citizens actively support all environmental initiatives.

In 2009, for example, there was a plan to make Vancouver the greenest city in the world. “The Greenest City 2020 Action Plan called for better water and air quality, more parks, more cycling and walking lanes, less solid waste in landfills, support for local farmers, and several other important targets. Have all these targets been achieved? Rather yes than no. Even though Vancouver still lags behind the Scandinavian countries.

By 2040, the city will try to get rid of non-recyclable garbage -“Zero Waste 2040“

The administration also plans that everyone switch to electric cars by 2040. Today, the province reimburses up to $8,000 for the purchase of a zero-emission vehicle.

The friendliest city in the world

According to 2.5 million subscribers of the popular international travel magazine Big 7 Travel, Vancouver is named the friendliest city in the world. And this is completely accurate. Locals will always help a tourist (or any passerby) to get out of trouble. People here are polite and tolerant. It doesn’t matter if you have different coloured eyes, green hair, disability, black skin, extravagant clothes. Walk as you like, just be polite and don’t disturb others.

Vancouver is home to one of the largest LGBT communities in North America and hosts an annual Pride Parade every summer. Communities of different nationalities hold carnivals and festivals (the Chinese New Year alone is amazing!) And it’s worth mentioning, perhaps the most scandalous event, Cannabis Festival. 4/20. By the way, the organizers reimburse the city for all expenses and make generous donations.

What interesting fact about Vancouver did you like the most? What other unusual facts do you know about this city? – share in the comments.