2013 pre-arrival webinar - part 2

& UBC Graduate Student Society (GSS)

UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies | Graduate Pathways to Success

JULY 23 & 24, 2013

CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, 2013 UBC GSS ORIENTATION COORDINATOR

Life in Vancouver: Finding a home, settling in, getting

around and exploring the city

Graduate Student Society (GSS) UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Deciding where to live: Vancouver

neighbourhoods

Image from UBC Housing and Accommodations,

http://www.housing.ubc.ca/off-campus-housing/deciding-where-to-live



neighbourhoods

Main St. divides the city into east and west

Housing in western neighbourhoods tends to be pricier

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.

UBC (end of the peninsula). Many areas on campus

http://www.maps.ubc.ca; info at http://www.housing.ubc.ca/ .

http://www.maps.ubc.ca/



http://www.housing.ubc.ca/

http://www.housing.ubc.ca/


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

West End

- the western, more residential section of the downtown area

West Vancouver

- to the north-west of Vancouver on the North Shore

- is a municipality, not a suburb of Vancouver

- transit to UBC will be longer and require transferring

…but “East End” and “East Van” both mean East Vancouver


West Side neighbourhoods

(ex. Kitsilano, Point Grey, Dunbar-Southlands)

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

Basement suites and small, low-rise apartment buildings


Downtown neighbourhoods

Easy access to transit, including direct buses to UBC

Approximate time to UBC using public transit is 40 minutes

West End

- Home to Vancouver’s vibrant LGBTQ village

- Close to parks and beaches

- Densely populated; mainly apartments / condos

Yaletown

- High rent apartments and condos

- Trendy restaurants, bars, and boutiques


Image from Google Maps


East Vancouver neighbourhoods

Direct bus routes to UBC are available, but the commute will be longer

than in western neighbourhoods (approximately 60 minutes)

East Van neighbourhoods generally feature lower rents and a more

diverse population. Some neighbourhoods are:

Grandview (incl. Commercial Drive)

- A diverse, bohemian area; home to many 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


Metro-Vancouver area

Cities surrounding Vancouver include:

- Richmond, Delta (south)

- Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge (east)

- Surrey, Langley, Cloverdale, White Rock (south-east)

- West and North Vancouver (north, the North Shore)

Rent can be lower in these cities, but the commute to UBC

will be much longer (1 to 2 hrs)


Image © Metro Vancouver's Vital Signs 2007

http://2007.vancouverfoundationvitalsigns.ca/?q=node/6





neighbourhoods

Image from UBC Housing and Accommodations,

http://www.housing.ubc.ca/off-campus-housing/deciding-where-to-live


Housing: Online Resources

Search options

- AMS Rentsline: http://www.amsrentsline.com/

- www.rentalhomes4students.com

- Craigslist

- Padmapper

- www.eslrent.com (International students)

Lots of information in our forum:

http://forum.grad.ubc.ca/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=139

http://www.amsrentsline.com/

http://www.rentalhomes4students.com/

http://www.eslrent.com/



Finding roommates and rental

spaces Late July or August is the best time to look for a place for

September

- The turn around time for rental units is fast

Try connecting with other graduate students through the

Graduate Studies online forum (forum.grad.ubc.ca)

Current or graduating students in your program may know

about available rooms / apartments

Be cautious and beware of scams: do not send money,

banking or personal information


Housing: Additional Costs

Utilities (BC Hydro, internet, cable, cell phones, land lines)

Laundry (Is it coin-operated or free? Do you have to go to a

Laundromat?)

Renter’s insurance is highly recommended

Furniture

-used: Craigslist, Kijiji, garage sales

-new: Ikea (2 locations), etc.


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

Vancouver Bedbug Registry

http://bedbugregistry.com/metro/vancouver/

http://www.rto.gov.bc.ca/

http://bedbugregistry.com/metro/vancouver/


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 (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

http://www.upass.ubc.ca/

http://www.translink.ca/


Cycling in Vancouver

Bike lanes/routes:

http://www.translink.ca/en/Cycling/Cycling-Routes.aspx

http://www.cyclevancouver.ubc.ca/cv.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

Helmet and lights are required

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








http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/06/08/best-bike-trails-vancouver_n_3386973.html








http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/separated-bicycle-lanes.aspx









Grocery Stores

Around campus:

– Small stores and food court in International Village

– Save on Foods; Safeway (10th Ave)

Lower priced groceries around the city:

– Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Walmart, T & T,

independent fruit stands

Organic and specialty items

- Capers/Whole Foods, Choices

Fresh, local produce:

- Farmer’s markets

Costco

- bulk foods


Grocery Stores

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: W. Broadway

Little Italy: Commercial Drive

Richmond (Golden Village): Chinese

H-Mart (downtown, Richmond, Coquitlam) is a Korean grocery store

See also: http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2010/09/18/best-ethnic-

grocery-stores-in-vancouver-chefs-choices/

http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2010/09/18/best-ethnic-grocery-stores-in-vancouver-chefs-choices/
















Clothes Shopping

Brand-name clothing

– Downtown: Robson and Granville

– West 4th

– Malls: Metrotown (Burnaby), Park Royal (North Van), Richmond

Centre (Richmond), Pacific Centre (downtown)

Boutiques

– Main St. (new and vintage)

– Commercial Drive

– South Granville

– West 4th


On Campus Attractions

Museum of Anthropology

Beaty Biodiversity Museum

Rose Garden / Flag Pole

Nitobe Japanese Memorial Garden

Botanical Garden

Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery

School of Music

Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

UBC Library: Rare books and special collections


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, Seawall

Museums: Vancouver Art Gallery, Telus World of Science, Museum of

Vancouver, Maritime Museum

Stanley Park & Vancouver Aquarium

Granville Island

Lots of free festivals: Italian Days on Commercial Drive, Greek Days on W.

Broadway, Khatsalano music festival in Kitsilano, Car Free Day on Main St

and Commercial Drive…and more


Resources / Tips

The graduate student forum is a great place to ask questions.


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/resources/













http://orientation.grad.ubc.ca/resources/

www.grad.ubc.ca

2013 pre-arrival webinar - part 2

Education