• Population
• Climate
• Languages
• Currency
• Taxation
• Standard Time and Days
• Visitor Information & Accommodation

Population

Based on 2001 Canadian Census reports, the population of the City of Vancouver in 2004 is estimated at 583,296.

Greater Vancouver's estimated total population for 2004 is 2.1 million, 50.8% of BC's population of 4.2 million.

Languages

Federal government departments provide service in English and French, but most of the population speaks English as either a first or second language.

The City of Vancouver is quite cosmopolitan and is a mix of many multicultural groups. Because the city is multicultural, it's also multilingual on an unofficial level. Its people speak many different languages and many follow the traditions of their native lands, sometimes moderating them with Canadian culture.

After English and Chinese, the most common mother tongue languages spoken are Punjabi, German, Italian, French, Tagalog (Filipino) and Spanish. More than half of Vancouver's school-age children have been raised speaking a language other than English.

Climate
Warmed by Pacific Ocean currents and protected by a range of mountains, Vancouver enjoys mild temperatures year-round. From high 70's Fahrenheit (low 20's Celsius) in summer to a mild mid 40's Fahrenheit (0º to 5º Celsius) in winter, the climate is always hospitable. Our winters are wet, but it rarely snows, except on our local ski hills.

Average Daily High Temperatures:

Month Celsius Fahrenheit January 5 42 February 7 44 March 10 50 April 14 58 May 18 65 June 21 69 July 23 74 August 23 74 September 18 65 October 14 58 November 9 48 December 6 43

Current weather forcast

Currency Converter

The Canadian dollar is worth about two-thirds of a US dollar. Most Greater Vancouver establishments accept US dollars and Japanese yen, and usually offer reasonable exchange rates. The effect of the Canadian dollar's value against the US dollar is that Canada is a good bargain for Americans and several other countries. (Some stores tell their American customers that Canada is having "a 1/3 off sale!") The Canadian dollar against most other currencies is quite strong.

The Canadian dollar itself is a relatively large gold-coloured coin and the locals have nicknamed it the 'Loonie', officially because it features a Canadian bird, the loon, on its face. There are all kinds of unofficial reasons why it has that nickname.

The current Canada/US exchange rate and the exchange rate between Canada and other countries can be found here: Currency Converter

Taxation

There are three levels of taxation that affect visitors to Vancouver. There is a 10% tax charged on accommodation and liquor. For just about all other goods and services, there is a 7% provincial sales tax (PST)-its official title is "Social Services Tax"-as well as the 6% federal goods and services tax (GST.) There are a number of exemptions and complexities to the way those taxes are applied, particularly where food is involved. PST, for instance, is not applied to, among other things, food and children's clothing.

Visitors to Vancouver from outside the country can apply to have the GST returned to them when they leave the country, but they have to keep their purchase receipts as proof of the amount paid. The application form is included in the booklet Tax Refund for Visitors to Canada. It's widely available, and specifically at Tourist Information Centres, hotels or motels, duty-free shops, most shopping centres and retail stores, boutiques, travel agents. You can also phone the Visitor Rebate Program at 1.800.668.4748 (within Canada) or 902.432.5608 (outside Canada); or for a FAQ, use the Internet web site:

Canada Revenue Agency

Standard Time and Days

Time
Vancouver is in the Pacific time zone, eight hours ahead of Greenwich, or Universal Coordinated Time (UCT). When it's midnight in London, England, it's 4pm Pacific Time. That's during Standard Time, which runs from the last Sunday each October to the last Saturday in April. During Daylight Savings Time, from the last Sunday in April to the last Saturday of October, Vancouver is seven hours ahead of UCT.

You can see Vancouver's time in relation to most cities on the globe by visiting www.TimeAndDate.com, which also can provide a Canadian calendar.

Workdays
Greater Vancouver, like all major cities, runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The main workdays are Monday to Friday, from roughly 8am to 6pm - but hours vary for each organization or business. Retailers are usually open seven days a week, and most stores are open from 9:30am to 6pm each day-except Thursday and Friday, when they are open until 9pm. A number of large retail stores, nearly every hotel and motel, and several restaurants, remain open around the clock.

See also Holidays in our Travel Tips section for our statutory holiday dates each year.

Visitor Information & Accommodation

Tourism Vancouver operates a visitor information centre in the downtown core of Vancouver. It's at the Plaza Level, Waterfront Centre, 200 Burrard Street (604.683.2000.) We also have information centres at the Vancouver International Airport, the Peace Arch border crossing and a seasonal infocentre at the cruise ship terminal at Canada Place.

To make online hotel reservations or find out more about staying in Vancouver, see our Accommodation section for full details.