1. Life in Vancouver:
Finding a home, settling in, getting around and
exploring the city
July 7 and 8, 2015
Graduate Pathways to Success

2. Metro Vancouver
http://www.metrovancouver.org/about/PublishingImages/MetroV
ancouver-Municipalities-Population.jpg
UBC

3. Deciding where to live:
Vancouver neighbourhoods
Main St. (red line) divides the city into east and west
Western neighbourhoods tend to be more affluent; neighbourhoods
to the east are more economical
The Downtown Eastside (just east of
downtown surrounding East Hastings St.)
is not considered to be a desirable
neighborhood due to crime, drug use,
homelessness, etc.
For more information on Vancouver
neighbourhoods, check out:
http://www.insidevancouver.ca/tag/604-
neighbourhoods/ Image from UBC Housing and Accommodations,
http://www.housing.ubc.ca/off-campus-housing/deciding-where-to-live

4. Neighbourhoods: Know your “Wests”
Pay attention to these names, as they refer to very different areas!
West Side: (ex. Kitsilano, Point Grey, Kerrisdale, Shaughnessy)
- the western part of Vancouver that is not downtown
…but “East Side,” “East End” and “East Van” all mean East Vancouver
West End: the western, more residential section
of the downtown area
West Vancouver: to the north-west of Vancouver
on the North Shore; not a suburb of
Vancouver
- transit to UBC will be longer and require
transferring

5. West Side neighbourhoods
Kitsilano (Kits), Point Grey, Dunbar-Southlands, Fairview, Kerrisdale
 Closest neighbourhoods to UBC
 Rent can be higher here than neighbourhoods to the east...
but the commute is much shorter
 Quick and easy access to campus and downtown by bus
Safe
 Access to beaches and parks
 Many basement suites and small, low-rise
apartment buildings
 Mix of well-cared for older + large, new homes
“April in Vancouver” by iwona_kellie;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iwona_kellie/8663677472/in/photostream/

6. East Vancouver neighbourhoods
 Lower rents and a more diverse
population.
 Direct bus routes to UBC
 Commute will be longer (approx. 60
minutes)
Some neighbourhoods are:
 Grandview (incl. Commercial Drive)
-A diverse, bohemian area; home to many affordable restaurants
-Little Italy: Italian coffee shops, pizza, fresh cheese markets
 Mount Pleasant
- Popular with young professionals, first-time home buyers & artists
- Main St. is popular for vintage clothing shopping, restaurants
Photo by DennisSylvesterHurd
http://www.flickr.com/photos/den
nissylvesterhurd/2619116195/

7. Downtown neighbourhoods
Easy access to transit, including direct buses to UBC
Approximate time to UBC using public transit is 40 minutes
 West End
- Vibrant LGBTQ village
- Close to parks and beaches
- Densely populated
- Mainly apartments and condos
 Yaletown
- High rent apartments and condos
- Trendy restaurants, bars, and
boutiques

8. Deciding where to live: Vancouver
neighbourhoods
Image from UBC Housing and Accommodations,
http://www.housing.ubc.ca/off-campus-housing/deciding-where-to-live

9. Finding roommates and rental spaces
 Try connecting with other graduate students in your program
 Current or graduating students in your program may know about available
rooms / apartments
 Online resources include: AMS Rentsline: http://www.amsrentsline.com/
- http://renthello.com; Craigslist; Padmapper;
- www.eslrent.com (International students)
 Be cautious and beware of scams: do not send money, banking or
personal information
 The turn around time for rental units is fast
 Apartments and suites available to rent will be posted throughout the month

10. Housing: Additional Costs
 Utilities (BC Hydro, internet, cable, cell phones, land lines)
Some apartments or basement suites will include specific utilities
in the rent, others will not
 Laundry (Is it coin-operated or free? Will you have to go to a
Laundromat?)
 Damage or safety deposit: this should be no more than half a month's
rent and will be refunded when you move out if you leave the
apartment or suite clean and have not caused damage. Ask for a
receipt when you pay this.
 Renter’s insurance is highly recommended (minimal cost)
 Furniture
-used: Craigslist, Kijiji, garage sales
-new: Ikea (2 locations), etc.

11. Housing: Protecting yourself
 Know your rights as a tenant: http://www.rto.gov.bc.ca/
 Get your rental agreement in writing
 Document all existing damage with photographs: This
could help you get your damage deposit back when you
move out.
 Vancouver Bedbug Registry
http://bedbugregistry.com/metro/vancouver/

12. Public transit
 U-Pass is included in your student fees and is good for all zones. See:
http://www.upass.ubc.ca/
 Only exact change if paying cash on a bus (e.g. visitors)
 Translink: http://www.translink.ca/
See for schedules, maps, Trip Planner, Transit 101, etc.
- Google maps can also plan transit trips
 Major express bus lines: 99 B-line (express along Broadway), 44 (express
UBC to downtown on W 4th), 84, 480
 Skytrain: Canada Line (downtown to Richmond and airport), Expo Line
(Surrey, New West, Burnaby, Vancouver), Millennium Line (Coquitlam, New
West, Burnaby, Vancouver).
 Sea Bus: Connects the North Shore to downtown Vancouver
 Stand up / wave to stop bus at bus stop
 Red stop button / cord on windows to request stop

13. Cycling in Vancouver
 Bike lanes/routes: http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/cycling-routes-
maps-and-trip-planner.aspx
 Best Bike Trails in Vancouver and Beyond
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/06/08/best-bike-trails-
vancouver_n_3386973.html
 City of Vancouver Bike Projects http://vancouver.ca/streets-
transportation/separated-bicycle-lanes.aspx
 AMS Bike Coop
 Get a good lock and always use it. A U-lock is best.
 Helmets are mandatory and lights are strongly recommended
 Do not ride on the sidewalk unless signs are posted allowing you to
 It’s easy to combine cycling and transit: buses have bike racks on the front
and the Canada Line has designated spaces for bikes

14.  Taxi
If you want to take a taxi from the airport to UBC, there is 24-hour taxi
service from the airport. The fare to UBC is around $45 Canadian dollars.
Possibly worth the extra cost if you have a lot of luggage.
 Public transportation
You can also take the Canada Line, a rapid-transit system that runs
frequently from the airport to downtown Vancouver. There will be signs
within the airport directing you to the Canada Line.
From the Canada Line, you will need to get off at Broadway City Hall and
take the “99 UBC B-Line” bus west to the UBC campus. UBC is the last
stop on the 99.
Getting to UBC from the Airport

15. Grocery Stores
 Around campus:
– Save on Foods; Safeway on 10th Ave
 Lower priced groceries around the city:
– Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Walmart
 Organic and specialty items
- Whole Foods, Choices, Greens
 Fresh, local produce:
- Farmer’s markets, Granville Island,
fruit stands
 Costco (requires a membership)
- bulk food
granville island berries by jordan junck, https://www.flickr.com/photos/fairviewcondo/

16. Groceries
Best areas to purchase Ethnic/World Food:
Punjabi Market on South Main (Sunset neighbourhood)
Chinatown: just east of downtown
Kingsway: Asian and South Asian foods
Greektown: West Broadway
Little Italy: Commercial Drive
Richmond (Golden Village): Chinese
H-Mart (downtown, Richmond, Coquitlam) is a Korean grocery
store
T&T (downtown, Metrotown Mall): Asian foods
See also: http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2010/09/18/best-
ethnic-grocery-stores-in-vancouver-chefs-choices/

17. Culture of Vancouver
 Get outdoors
Go for a hike, lounge on the beach, take a walk…
 Explore
So many things to see and do!
 Be prepared for the rain
A quality umbrella is a beautiful thing
 Reduce, reuse, recycle
Be eco-friendly
 Embrace other cultures
Vancouver is a multicultural city
 Be open!
Celebrate what makes people unique
Stanley Park Totem Poles by David Davies
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davies/890775216/in/photostream/

18. Local Attractions
Beaches: Wreck Beach (clothing optional),
Spanish Banks, Jericho Beach, Kits Beach, English
Bay, 1 + 2 Beach
Mountains: Grouse, Cypress, Seymour, Whistler
Parks: Pacific Spirit Park, Stanley Park and the
seawall
Vancouver Aquarium (in Stanley Park)
Granville Island
Museums: Vancouver Art Gallery, Telus World of Science, Museum
of Vancouver, Maritime Museum
Lots of free festivals: Italian Days on Commercial Drive, Greek Day
on W. Broadway, Khatsalano music festival in Kitsilano, Car Free Day
on Main St and Commercial Drive…and more Vancouver Science World by Franco Ng,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/franco_ng/

19. On Campus Attractions
Museum of Anthropology – world-renowned collection with a focus on First
Nations art and culture
Beaty Biodiversity Museum – Natural history museum
Rose Garden – beautiful view of the oceans and mountains; a great place to
eat your lunch when the weather is nice
Nitobe Japanese Memorial Garden – authentic Japanese garden and Tea
house
Botanical Garden
Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery – contemporary art
School of Music – check their website for events; some are free
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts – music and theatrical performances;
students under 25 can get discounted tickets
UBC Library: Rare Books and Special Collections and the Chung Collection

20. Resources / Tips
Rent varies across the city, but our cost calculator can give you a rough
idea about how much living and studying in Vancouver will cost:
https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/tuition-fees-cost-living/cost-living
Orientation events for Graduate Students:
http://orientation.grad.ubc.ca
 Other ideas for places to go and things to do:
http://www.tourismvancouver.com/
 Take a free workshop from Graduate Pathways to Success
https://www.grad.ubc.ca/pathways

21. www.grad.ubc.ca