(yestoforever/Pixabay)

Vancouver is a beautiful place. That’s not just bias from a Metro Vancouverite, either; the Lower Mainland is one of the most naturally stunning places on the planet. From the towering Northshore mountains to rugged rainforests, our area is a stunning showcase of a place where the human world meets the wilderness. But with all that being said, everyone needs a vacation once in a while, and as nice as it is here, sometimes being somewhere that doesn’t rain for three quarters of the year is enticing. So, where do we travel? There’s no clear answer to that question, but as an adventurer myself, I can think of a few places where you’d be hard-pressed not to run into someone from Vancouver.

Remember when I said that some people like to take a break from the rain? Some don’t seem to mind it, as Vancouver Island has cemented itself as a favorite destination for mainland tourists. Ask anyone what they think of the island and the answer is always the same: “It’s beautiful!” Besides natural beauty, there’s another big perk: It’s convenient. About 2.5 hours on a ferry from Tsawwassen (and another half an hour on the road) takes you right into the heart of historic downtown Victoria, with all the shops, dining, and attractions you could ever want. And if you’re willing to drive for a few more hours, Tofino is a haven for both surfers and storm watchers.

Beyond BC, there are several places that come to mind when one thinks of vacationing, but one stands out in the crowd. Somewhere convenient (well, if a 6-hour flight is your idea of convenient), full of white sand and crystal clear waters, and somewhere so jam-packed with Canadian tourists that it’s not hard to find our flag flying right beside the star-spangled banner itself. The Hawaiian islands provide a sense of safety for Canadian tourists, as part of the United States, it’s about as stress-free as international tropical travelling gets, and for Vancouverites, it’s like stepping into a different world. Instead of beaches covered in barnacle-laced boulders, the islands are home to some of the greatest recreation-friendly beaches on earth. I visited Waikiki beach on O’ahu for the first time last month, and I’ve never seen bluer water in my life. Their relatively small size makes them a breeze to trek across. For instance, traveling halfway across Maui takes roughly the same amount of time as driving from Langley to Vancouver in low traffic. With tourist attractions at every turn, there’s enough to keep you busy for months. For those assuming I’m greatly exaggerating Metro Vancouverites’ love for Hawaii, here’s some proof. Two years ago I visited K’aui, the northernmost and least travelled to of the main islands. On the beach, I noticed a man in a familiar hat. Upon closer inspection, it was a cap from a local brewery in my neighborhood in South Langley. A few minutes later, I find my dad talking with a retired Surrey firefighter he worked with years ago. Something tells me this isn’t common in many other places.

Another tropical location on the itinerary is Mexico, which is the second most-travelled-to country by Canadians outside of the US. Similarly to Hawaii, its beaches are a sharp contrast to those back home, and the rich culture and cuisine provide something that can’t be found here. Europe is also a favorite, specifically the UK, France, and Italy, and of course, there’s Cuba, a country known for its staggering Canadian tourist population. And finally, there’s Canada. Well, the rest of the country that is. Edmonton, Montreal, and Toronto are just a handful of places we like to visit, as domestic vacations are as hassle-free as they get.

With all that being said, I can’t help but feel a sense of comfort when I get back from a vacation. While most are justifiably upset to leave a tropical destination like Hawaii, as soon as the plane lands at YVR, I’m happy to be home. No matter how blue the waters at Waikiki Beach are, nothing beats the panorama of the north shore, the sunsets at English Bay, or the calm quiet of the rainforest. So even though travelling is fun, I feel privileged to call this place home.

Written by Noah Schmidt

Contact: nschmidt20@my.bcit.ca

(Dayamay/Pixabay)

If you live anywhere near Fraser Highway, you’ve no doubt been pulling your hair out during your daily commute recently. The Surrey-Langley extension of the Skytrain’s Expo Line has been underway for a few years at this point, delaying traffic on the highway as construction crews begin to go vertical. I mean, it’s not ideal for the thousands upon thousands of commuters who use Fraser Highway every day, but as a bit of a Skytrain nut, it’s fantastic to see the massive crawler cranes, the piers for the track, and the stations themselves beginning to materialize. But as we approach the tentative 2029 opening date, one must ask this question: What’s next? 

Well, actually, we do already know some things about the immediate future of the network. UBC will be integrated further into the system with the upcoming Broadway Subway project, which will expand the Millennium Line to Arbutus Street, providing easier access to the province’s most prominent university. The line won’t go all the way to the Endowment Lands just yet, but it’ll only be a matter of time until it pushes through.

So after that, what’s next? Well, we don’t really know, but we can certainly make some educated guesses. 

1.The Northshore 

If you pull out a map of the Skytrain system, you might notice that one notable part of Metro Vancouver is entirely empty. North Vancouver and West Vancouver have been a thorn in TransLink’s side for a long time, as any effort to take the train across the Burrard Inlet will no doubt cost a fortune, requiring a new bridge or tunnel. So, are there any plans set in stone? Well, no, but in 2020, the province stated they have been discussing six separate routes for fixed transit across (or beneath) the Burrard, so it’s safe to say that something is undoubtedly in the pipeline. 

2. Port Coquitlam 

The seeds for a Port Coquitlam expansion of the Skytrain were planted long ago. Infrastructure was built during Coquitlam Centre’s expansion of the Evergreen line; the plan has always been to eventually reach PoCo. Despite this, I can’t see this happening soon. At all. There are quite a few high-priority projects going on at the moment; in comparison, a Port Coquitlam extension seems like something that can wait another decade or so. 

3. South Surrey and White Rock 

Another region that’s lacking the Skytrain is South Surrey and its tiny neighbor, White Rock. The Surrey-Langley extension will bring the train within a reasonable distance of the area, and potentially serve as a jumping-off point for a future line, say, down King George Boulevard, but like Port Coquitlam, there’s no world where this is a priority for TransLink. The region is connected enough to the rest of Metro Vancouver via Highway 99 and bus routes, although a line that terminates near one of the two US border crossings in Surrey couldn’t be a bad idea. 

4. Beyond Metro Vancouver

TransLink operates transportation in Metro Vancouver only; the rest of the province is administered by BC Transit, whose buses you may have seen on Highway 1 or in Victoria. But TransLink’s presence does extend into our neighboring region, the Fraser Valley, with the West Coast Express, which runs from Waterfront Station downtown all the way to Mission. So, is there any future for the Skytrain in the Fraser Valley? Unless Abbotsford’s population magically grows to be that of Surrey’s overnight, no. Even if such a thing were to happen, the answer would likely stay the same. The SkyTrain was designed with Metro Vancouver in mind. Sure, it can theoretically be expanded outwards, but where’s the limit? The further you get from Vancouver, the fewer people there are to serve. I’m sure there are probably people in Chilliwack who’d like a train, but it’s just not feasible for the system in place.

As one of the seven people that live in Langley (I kid. There are nine of us.), I’m excited to see my city become further integrated into Metro Vancouver. I would’ve been even more excited if the train opened when I’m still at school, but I guess sitting in an hour of traffic on the highway every morning will have to do until 2029. Whatever the future holds for the SkyTrain, I’m sure it will continue to serve us well for years to come, and I, for one, can’t wait for the inevitable extension to Kamloops.

Written by Noah Schmidt

Contact: nschmidt20@my.bcit.ca