university of british columbia (ubc) - getting to know vancouver
DESCRIPTION
Two graduate students prepared a presentation for new grad students at UBC to help them getting to know Vancouver, BC, Canada.TRANSCRIPT
Getting to know Vancouver
James Boak and Katharine Wilson
September 3, 2009
Welcome to Vancouver!
Outline
• Practical Advice - James– Vancouver geography– Housing– Transportation
• Fun in Vancouver - Katharine– UBC Sports– Vancouver Sports– Local Outdoor Activities– Around Vancouver
We are on the West Coast
Greater Vancouver
Neighbourhoods
Google Maps is a great tool
• Get directions (car/transit/walk)
• maps.google.com
Online Bike Map
• www.cyclevancouver.ubc.ca/
Transit Website
• www.translink.ca/
Handy (free) little city maps
• Transit routes: from Trek Office or book store
• Bike routes: from Trek Office or MEC or bike kitchen
Biking Information
• Must wear helmet• Must have lights (front and back) if riding after
dark• Bike theft is CRAZY in Vancouver
– Get a beefy lock– If your bike is the best bike on the rack, don’t
leave it there• Cheapest bike accessories at MEC (but not the
best locks)
Biking Information
• Obey rules of the road • Designated Bike routes
– Bike lanes– “Traffic calmed” bike streets– Traffic light buttons
• Can take bike on bus or skytrain• Borrow tools to do own repairs at Bike Kitchen
(on campus) or Our Community Bikes
Transit
• U-pass at bookstore– Unlimited use
– All zones
– Buses
– Seabus
– Skytrains
Transit
• www.translink.bc.ca or google maps
• Call 604-953-3333 and then 5-digit stop number for schedule info
• Or text the 5-digits to 33-333
• B-line express buses• Night-buses
Housing
• Vancouver is EXPENSIVE
• If west of Granville, cheapest likely to find is:– Bachelor (one room no bedroom) - 700– One Bedroom - $900– Two Bedroom - $650 (each person)
• Cheaper east of Granville
Housing
• Many basement suites (family lives above)• Month to month or lease• Know your rights! BC Tenancy Act
– http://www.rto.gov.bc.ca/
• Listings:– Craiglist: vancouver.en.craigslist.ca– Even better: www.housingmaps.com/– AMS rentsline: www.amsrentsline.com– Canada.com: classifieds.canada.com/vancouver.html
Grocery Advice
• Costco/superstore – Can be cheap if you can buy in large quantities– (Flour/sugar/meat)
• Small independent produce markets – Very cheap fruits and veggies
• Safeway and IGA or other super-markets – Have everything – Can be expensive if items not on sale
• Capers/Choices Markets – Nice organic stuff– Very expensive
Fun Stuff
• UBC Sports
• Vancouver Sports
• Local Outdoor Activities
• Around Vancouver
UBC REC
• www.rec.ubc.ca
• UBC REC Leagues:– Soccer– Ultimate Frisbee– Hockey– Volleyball– Basketball, etc
• Make your own team or join an existing one!
UBC REC• Outdoor Instructional
– Climbing, Kayaking, Scuba Diving, etc
• Events– Day of the Long Boat (Sept 26/27)– Storm the Wall (Mar 28 – June 2)
• AMS Clubs Day
UBC Birdcoop Gym
• In the Student REC Centre• $25 per term
– Exercise Machines– Weights– Dance classes– Spin classes– Rock Climbing/Bouldering Room
UBC Aquatics Centre
• www.aquatics.ubc.ca• Indoor and Outdoor Pools• Diving Boards (1-10m)• Hot tub, Sauna, Steam Room• FREE for students!
Vancouver Sports• Vancouver Ultimate League (VUL)
• Urban Rec (volleyball, soccer, softball)
• Vancouver Rowing Club
• Dragon Boating at False Creek
• Jericho Sailing Centre
• and many others…
In Vancouver
In Vancouver
• Pacific Spirit Park / Endowment Lands– 50 km of forested walking, cycling and
horseback riding trails
• Stanley Park– 1000 acres, second-growth forest– Sea Wall : biking, walking, rollerblading– Pitch & Putt golf course– Tennis– Beaches– Restaurants/Tea House
• Beach volleyball
• Skimboarding
• Concession stands
• Change rooms, showers
• Jericho Beach: sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding
Beaches
In Vancouver
Granville Island• Public Market (local produce, homemade
products, unusual ingredients)
• Shops (glass blowing, ceramics, woodwork, stone carvings, jewellery, etc)
• Granville Island Brewery
• Art schools and Galleries
• Restaurants/Patios
• Street performers
• Kayaking
• and more…
Festivals
• Fringe Festival (Sept 8-18)
• Vancouver International Film Festival (October)
• Cherry Blossom Festival (April)
• explorASIAN Festival (May)
• Celebration of Light Fireworks Competition (July)
Hiking• Local Mountains:
– Cypress– Seymour– Grouse (Grouse Grind)
• Lynn Valley and Canyon– GSS Hiking Trip: Sept 12th, $8
• Capilano Pacific Trail• The Lions• Baden Powell Trail• Howe Sound Crest Trail• Stawamus Chief in Squamish (“The Chief”)
Skiing
• Local Mountains:– Cypress– Seymour– Grouse
• Whistler Blackcomb• Mt. Baker
• Equipment: Vancouver Snow Show (Oct 24/25), Whistler Turkey Sale & Swap (Oct 12/13)
• UBC Ski & Board Club
Whistler Blackcomb• Student Season’s Pass: AMAZING DEAL! $460 (under
25) or $780 (over 25)
• Edge Cards (1,5,10 days)
• UBC Hostel: $25/night
• Rental Equipment Available
• Greyhound Bus from UBC to Whistler
www.ubcwhistlerlodge.com
Okanagan
• Penticton, Summerland, Kelowna, Vernon
• Wine Touring
• Fruit Orchards
• Lake Okanagan
• Mountain Biking
• Skiing (Big White, Apex, Silverstar)
• Golf
Thanks for listening!