At its core, Vancouver really is a beautiful city. Its small area gives it a unique appeal with the abundance of skyscrapers surrounded by luscious green areas and mountain ranges.

When I moved here from Kamloops for school about a year ago, I expected the worst living in a big city could provide. But it didn’t take me long to start to fall in love with my new home. There’s so much opportunity everywhere, and that’s an exciting proposition.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and rainbows. In fact, considering the abundance of rain, it’s almost anything but. To get the full scope of what this city has to offer, this is the start of a two-part series where I dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly of Vancouver. First, let’s look at the good.

 

The Good:

There’s ALWAYS something to do.

In Vancouver, it doesn’t matter what you’re into. There’s a little something for everybody in this city. If you’re into music, concerts are happening every night across all genres.

If you like sports, we have the Canucks for hockey, Lions for football, Whitecaps for soccer, and Canadians for baseball. Not to mention countless minor sports teams. Check online to see what’s happening near you. Something is happening on any given night.

The aquarium, planetarium, science world, and so much more. Not to mention all the hiking and skiing just outside the city. There really is a little something for everyone in Vancouver.

 

SkyTrain

I think many locals take for granted just how great our transit system is. Vancouver’s “TransLink” is ranked #1 in Canada, and #4 in North America. Only New York, Chicago, and San Francisco are ranked higher. That’s elite company when you consider the size difference. Vancouver punches well above its weight, and we have the SkyTrain to thank. With an automated system and trains arriving every few minutes, you can always get to where you need to go without having to deal with traffic.

Back in Kamloops, busses arrive about every hour, so if you miss your bus, your whole day is screwed. If you miss a bus in Vancouver, you might be 5 or 10 minutes late. Masks are recommended though, as they can get pretty tight, and germs spread fast.

Plus, TransLink is switching to electric-powered buses intending to reach zero net emissions by 2050. What’s not to love about this green initiative?

 

Green

Speaking of green, Vancouver is one of the greenest cities in the world. Over 95% of the city’s electricity comes from renewable energy! It has set out a plan to become #1 in this department, intending to reach 100% renewable energy by 2050. New buildings being built are all energy-efficient, and older buildings have been retrofitted for energy efficiency.

We’re on the right track.

 

Nature

Not only is Vancouver green in energy, but it also boasts so much green from the nature surrounding the city and within it. We have so many beautiful parks, highlighted by Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, John Hendry Park, Pacific Spirit Regional Park, and so many more all over the lower mainland.

Just outside the city, there are mountains ideal for hiking, biking, and skiing. We have Whistler, Grouse, Cypress, and Mount Seymour among others further away. At certain times of year, it’s possible to spend your morning skiing and your afternoon at the beach!

Is there anything you can’t do in Vancouver?

 

Rain

I know what you’re thinking, shouldn’t this be on the negative side? Spoiler: It will be. But the rain is a HUGE benefit. As I stated earlier, I’m from the desert of Kamloops. Which means dry air and dust, which seriously messes with my sinuses. When I come down to the lower mainland, the moisture opens the sinuses, and I can finally breathe.

Plus, the huge trees and green spaces surrounding us are because of the rain. Without it, we’d have dry air and yellow grass. So next time you complain about the rain, just think about what it would look like without it.

We experienced a serious lack of rain last year and ended up with a severe drought. We need the rain. It makes Vancouver what it is.

 

Mild Winters

When I went back home to Kamloops for Christmas last year, I nearly froze to death. Temperatures got down to -30 Celsius! It was so cold, it literally hurt to go outside. Not exactly ideal. When I came back in January, it was about -5. That’s a staggering difference!

Plus, the snow makes it a nightmare to drive. Just look at what happens every time it snows in the lower mainland. Complete and utter chaos. Every time. Now imagine 5 straight months of that. While the rest of the province is more prepared and it doesn’t shut the entire city down, it still sucks to deal with.

 

Cultural Diversity

Vancouver is a melting pot of different cultures. Which gives Vancouver itself a unique culture. Visible minorities make up over 50% of Vancouver’s population, with a wide array of different ethnic groups coming together making Vancouver one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.

There’s so much you can learn from different cultures, and I find getting to know people who come from other countries to be a little taste of what travel can provide: knowledge. And knowledge is power!

 

Food

Another part I love about the diversity in Vancouver is all the food options that come with it. In the past year, I’ve been exposed to a whole new world of different food. I’ve only scratched the surface, as my limited budget only lets me eat out so often. But I look forward to trying out more soon!

There are just so many delicious food options all over the place. It’s hard sometimes to choose where to eat with such an abundance of choices. It’s made me step out of my comfort zone a bit. I used to stick with what I knew, but I’m realizing now I was shutting out so many tasty choices by not broadening my horizons.

So go out and experiment with different cuisine options. You don’t know what you’re missing!

 

Walking/Biking Trails

This city is built for those without vehicles. In addition to our excellent transit system, Vancouver also has many walking and biking paths, making it easy to get around without a car. And with the nightmares associated with rush-hour driving, that sounds like ideal. Basically, unless you live in the suburbs and need to commute into the city, there’s no need to own a car. This is something that could help combat the high cost of living.

There’s a lot to love about Vancouver, and I’m not alone. A 2023 Forbes list ranked Vancouver as the 5^th best city to live in the world. It was #1 in North America, trailing only Vienna (1), Copenhagen (2), Melbourne (3), and Sydney (4). It was graded 100% for its healthcare and education.

Vancouver is a great place to live or to visit. However, the positives only tell half the story. There are many negatives on the flip side. But to hear the negatives, you’ll have to wait till next time.

In the next installment, I’ll decipher if the positives are enough to make it worth the negatives.

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned to Evolution!