Diverse Vancouver

Vancouver is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in North America with dozens of cultures represented in restaurants, stores, markets and distinctive neighbourhoods throughout the region. For travellers, exploring these cultures should be a part of any Vancouver visit.

Chinese
North America's third-largest Chinatown (after San Francisco and New York) occupies a handful of blocks running east of Main Street between Hastings Street and the Georgia Street viaduct. Strathcona, Vancouver's oldest residential neighbourhood, butts up against Chinatown and also has a rich history of immigrant settlement. More than 60 per cent of Chinatown's residents list Cantonese or Mandarin as their mother tongue which explains why the street signs here are all bilingual.

Many of Vancouver's younger Chinese immigrants now shop at the modern Asian malls in Richmond, but the rest of the city comes to the old Chinatown area to check out the displays of crimson barbecued duck, coils of spicy sausages, and stores brimming with silk, jade and trinkety novelties. For visitors, soaking up the scents and sounds, lunching at one of the many traditional dim-sum houses, then seeking tranquility at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (www.vancouverchinesegarden.com) is an ideal Chinatown day out.

Story idea
Consider a summer story on Chinatown's bustling weekend night market. Sample the array of hawker food and duck among the stalls for the best cheap-and-cheerful shopping in town.

Trivia
The oldest building in Chinatown is the Wing Sang building at 51 East Pender Street, completed in 1889.

Southeast Asian & East Asian
Southeast Asian immigration has steadily swelled in recent decades as an increasing number of people from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam have begun to call Vancouver home. Many have moved to the Lower Mainland suburb of Richmond where colourful ethnic neighbourhoods and businesses have emerged. This is also the destination of choice for many immigrants from Korea, and is a popular spot for the thousands of Japanese language students who arrive in the Lower Mainland every year.

Known as Asia West, Richmond has several Asian shopping and dining complexes including Aberdeen Centre (www.aberdeencentre.com), Parker Place (www.parkerplace.com) and Richmond Centre (www.richmondcentre.ca). Mixing Southeast Asian and East Asian influences, visitors here can find some of the best dining in the region alongside karaoke bars and traditional temples. Among the most popular attractions is Kuan Yin Temple (www.buddhisttemple.ca), one of Canada's finest traditional-style Chinese buildings. Visitors can check out exquisite antiquities and partake in a vegetarian lunch in the cafeteria.

Story idea
Spend a day dipping into the Lower Mainland's youthful Japanese scene, including the hottest lunch spots in Richmond, the best stores in the area's Asian malls and the quirkiest nightlife: from manga-themed café's to clamorous karaoke bars. You'll be "lost in translation" without leaving North America.

East Indian
While the Lower Mainland is home to thousands of Indo-Canadians, Vancouver's Punjabi Market area - located on Main Street between East 49th and 51st Avenues - is the city's primary East Indian focal point. Dozens of fabric and jewellery stores line the area which is also home to some authentic and well-regarded Indian restaurants. Inexpensive silks, groceries and 22-carat gold jewellery are a big draw for visitors, and there are several colourful festivals in the area. These include November's Festival of Lights and April's Vaisakhi Day Parade which celebrates Indian New Year. The nearby Sikh Temple, at the south foot of Ross Street, is also worth a visit. It was designed by prominent Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson.

Story idea
Hook-up with a local and trawl the stores for your very own wedding outfit. Not only the most colourful outfit you'll ever own but also at the cutting edge of current fashion: the "Bollywood" look is hitting the mainstream around the world, so make sure you ask around for some tips on what's hot.

First Nations
The Vancouver region has been the ancestral home to dozens of First Nations communities for thousands of years and their influence can be seen throughout the city. From the ornate artworks on display at the airport to the totem poles of Stanley Park and the unique businesses and tour operators founded by First Nations people around the Lower Mainland, the area's first residents are still much in evidence.

Many travellers are fascinated by this ancient heritage and often make a point of visiting those attractions that incorporate First Nations elements. These include Capilano Suspension Bridge (www.capbridge.com), UBC Museum of Anthropology (www.moa.ubc.ca), the Museum of Vancouver (www.museumofvancouver.ca) and the Vancouver Art Gallery (www.vanartgallery.bc.ca) and the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art (www.billreidgallery.ca).

Story idea
Consider a story on Takaya Tours (www.takayatours.com), a Coast Salish tour company that takes visitors out on the tranquil waters of Deep Cove in an authentic cedar canoe. The First Nations guides sing songs, tell stories and relate the history of their people in the region.

Gay
Western Canada's largest gay population is centered on the West End's Davie Street area, complete with its pink-painted bus shelters and rainbow-flag window decals. Scattered with gay-friendly cafés, bars and stores, the area is renowned for its nightlife, combining loud and proud pub hangouts with hopping clubs. The city's annual Pride Week (www.vancouverpride.ca) in August features dozens of events and its family-friendly street parade is one of the largest in North America. For more information on Vancouver's gay culture, visit www.gayvan.com and ww.gayvancouver.net.

Story idea
Visit during Pride Week and profile some of the local drag queens as they prepare for their most important event of the year - great visuals and some colourful characters will make for an entertaining backstage story.

Greek
East Vancouver has been the centre of the city's colourful Greek community for decades - it is home to several Greek Orthodox churches and dozens of Greek-owned businesses including family restaurants and specialty food stores. The area comes alive for Vancouverites and visitors alike in late June when the popular Greek Summer Festival (www.greeksummerfest.com) attracts thousands for a multi-day, family-friendly fiesta of music, performance and great food. All events at the festival are free.

Story idea
Visit the Greek Summer Festival and take some cooking tips from a local chef as he prepares the finest (and largest) mountain of butter-soft lamb for hundreds of meat-eating partygoers. He might even let you sample some.

Italian
Just a mile east of the downtown core is the neighbourhood of Grandview-Woodland centered on Commercial Drive - the cultural heart of East Vancouver. Traditionally nicknamed "Little Italy", this neighbourhood has opened its arms to other ethnic minorities as well as the city's Bohemian young professionals. Indicating its laid-back vibe, most Vancouverites refer to Commercial Drive simply as "The Drive." Natural food eateries sit shoulder-to-shoulder with reggae record stores, gelatterias, and the Drive's perennial foundation…the good-old Italian-style coffee bar. A quirky collection of cafes, bookstores and funky shops routinely draw people from all over Vancouver - especially in summer when the coffee shop patios are stuffed with chatty people-watchers.

Story idea:
Consider a story on the area's Italian coffee bars, making sure you interview the locals on what makes a good cup of java. If you're lucky, they may even train you to be a barista and allow you to serve some of the customers.

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