Overview

Bordered by the Coast Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is recognized as one of the world's most livable cities. Vancouver is famous for its innovative programs in areas of sustainability, accessibility and inclusivity.

Canada's West Coast design hub
Vancouver ranks consistently in Canada's Top 3 of cities for designers to work, as well as in the Top 3 cities with the largest workforce in design-related fields. It is home to some of Canada's leading design consultancies and education institutions.

Language
English is the most spoken language in Vancouver.
 
Currency
The Canadian Dollar (CAD) is the local currency in Vancouver. The most convenient way to exchange money is to use your ATM card at a Vancouver bank or credit union. Most ATM machines accept ATM cards from other countries. If your ATM card doesn't work, try your credit card.

For a better rate, go into the bank or credit union and make a direct money exchange by using cash or traveller’s cheques.
 
Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most common. Cards can be used in most hotels, department stores, but cannot be used to finance your transportation costs.
 
Time Zone
The time zone in Vancouver is Pacific (UTC-8).
 
Weather in April
The average temperature in April in between 4ºC (39ºF) and 14ºC (57ºF). We advise you to pack for a wide range of temperatures, especially if you’re planning to be near the water (the Convention Centre is right on Coal Harbour). Please also be sure to pack water-resistant wear, as it rains about half the days in April.
 
Electricity
Vancouver and the rest of Canada uses the same electricity voltage as in the United States, which is 110V.

There are two types of sockets. Some have just two pins, whereas some have two pins plus a round pin underneath. If you’re coming from a country with different shaped pins, you’ll need to bring a plug converter with you. But, be advised that these aren’t particularly easy to find in Vancouver.

Also bear in mind the differences in voltage. Some electrical equipment, such as camera and laptop chargers are usually dual voltage, this means that provided you have a plug socket converter these should charge up just fine. Look at the charger and see what it says, laptops often say ‘100 – 240 volts’ hence it is suitable for use in countries which have a voltage anywhere between 100V and 240V.

Telephone Codes
Calling Vancouver from the United States is just like calling any American city. Dial 1 + the area code + the phone number. Vancouver's area codes are 604 or 778. The international calling code for Canada is 001, so you can call Canada from anywhere in the world.

All Vancouver numbers are 10 digits even when you're making a local call. You use both the area code and the number.