Vancouver – “Hollywood North” English Course in Vancouver
Here is a short update about another great city where you could spend your English course!
Vancouver is a city with about 600.000 inhabitants in the State of British Colombia. It is situated on a peninsula right at the West coast of Canada and only about 45km away from the American border.
The name “Vancouver” derives from the British captain George Vancouver, who explored and measured the area in the 18th century. It is the third most important location for the North American film industry after Los Angeles and New York and ist therefore often referred to as “Hollywood North”.
History
The first European settlers, who discovered the region from the waterside, were the Spanish captain José María Narváez in 1791 and the British captain George Vancouver in 1792. The first European who discovered the area by land was Simon Fraser, a furrier of the North West Company.
The region was populated in the 1860s during the Fraser-Canyon-goldrush, when about 25.000 people moved to the Fraser river (in the South of Vancouver) where they built up a settlement called Gastown. The main business branch of the first settlers was forestry and many saw mills were built to cover the need for the ship construction. The new settlement grew bigger and bigger after being connected with the transcontinental railway in 1887 and the name was finally changed into Vancouver. In 1900, the population had already risen to 100.000 people!
The city´s economy enjoyed a big boom due to the inauguration of the Panama channel in 1914 which opened a direct sea way to Europe. The boom stopped in 1929 due to the world economic crisis. But during the Second World War, the situation became better when Vancouver produced ships for the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1986 started a new building boom (which continues until now), when the World Exhibition took place in Vancouver. In 2010, it was the location of the Olympic wintergames.
Districts
Vancouver is divided into 23 districts:Arbutus Ridge, Downtown, Downtown Eastside, Dunbar-Southlands, Fairview, Granview-Woodland, Hastings-Sunrise, Kensington-Cedar Cottage, Kerrisdale, Killarney, Kitsilano, Marpole Mount Pleasant, Oakridge, Renfrew-Collingwood, Riley Park, Shaughnessy, South Cambie, Strathcona, Sunset, Victoria-Fraserview, West End, West Point Grey
Means of transport
In Vancouver you will easily get from one place to the other. First of all, it´s a great city for biking friends, because it offers a vast net of bicycle routes.
Furthermore, the city provides a vast net of busses and a Sky Train. For the exact schedule and prices, visit: www.translink.ca
And if you want to visit other Canadian or American cities, there are great train connections leaving from the Pacific Central Station.
www.viarail.ca
Vancouver is home of the second largest international airport of Canada and the second largest airport at the West coast of North America: Vancouver International Airport.
www.yvr.ca
Climate
Compared to the rest of Canada, Vancouver enjoys a quite mild climate. The winters are 2 to 4°C and the summers are 3 to 8°C warmer than in the inland.
The warmest month is August with an average temperature of 17,6°C and the coldest month is January with an average temperature of 3,3°C. The months between November and March are the wettest months. But due to the mild temperatures, the snow in the city is less than in the high-lying surroundings.
Must-Do´s
In Vancouver you will never get bored. Some of the most visited sites are:
Stanley Park: It covers a small peninsula west of the city and you can go for a one-hour ride on a bicycle while enjoying spectacular views.
Gastown: The reflection of the city’s past, now inhabited by trendy bohemian artists at prohibitive prices. It is full of brick buildings that are housing caféss, restaurants and nightclubs.
The Port of Vancouver: A place full of movement. Not only can you see the big freighters arriving from around the world, but also the coming and going of seaplanes which will leave you spellbound.
Capilano Suspension Bridge: Since 1889, this bridge has astonished visitors. It is 135 meters long and crosses the Capilano River at a 70 meters height.
The Vancouver Aquarium: It houses more than 70.000 creatures from around the world.
Kitsilano: The university neighborhood. Its beaches are excellent to enjoy amazing views over the city. It also has a fervent street full of shops and international restaurants.
Grenville Island: The most touristic part of Vancouver. Here are several seafood restaurants, craft workshops and of course the spectacular food market. To get here you can take a “SeaBus”, one of the colorful boats plying the river.
Vancouver Island: Just 15 minutes by seaplane or 1 hour by ferry. Sightings of whales are one of the best attractions in the area.
Conclusion
Vancouver is a great possibility to combine your English course with a holiday full of adventure and nightlife! English Course in Vancouver
