Web Directions North » What to Expect

Do I Need a Passport/Visa?

If you’re coming in from outside Canada, you will need a passport.

New American laws went into effect in January 2007 that require US citizens to show a passport for any trips by air to and from the US. This effectively makes having a passport mandatory if you’re American and flying in to Canada for Web Directions.

Everyone else is required to show a valid passport to Canadian officials. Visitor visas are also required for citizens of some countries, however many European and Pacific Rim countries are exempt from this requirement, and no visa is necessary.

Climate

What can we expect from the weather during Web Directions? It’s anyone’s guess really, but what we can tell you is that Vancouver usually experiences mild winters with plenty of precipitation. You might not need a parka, but you may need an umbrella. Normal temperatures during the end of January are usually in the low to mid single digits, (anywhere from 32 - 50 degrees Fahrenheit for our American friends).

Wikipedia has this to say: “Despite it’s reputation as a cloudy city (which Vancouverites love to complain about all winter), Vancouver actually averages 288 days with measurable sunshine.” We’re not quite sure that we believe it, but if Wikipedia says it, it’s obviously gospel truth.

Money

You’ll want to carry Canadian currency while visiting Vancouver. You can exchange in advance of arriving in Canada, but most international bank cards will work in local ATMs so you should be able to get cash at any time. Some shops in tourist areas will accept American money, but we’d recommend not relying on it. Visa and Mastercard are almost universally accepted, and American Express is often accepted. However, the odd cafe here and there still demands cash only, so you’ll likely want to check before ordering if you don’t have any cash on you.

Visitors to Canada from the US and other countries can claim back sales tax (GST) they spent on accommodation, the conference, and other expenses while in Canada, making Web Directions even better value. See here for more details.

Quick Facts

• Vancouver is the largest metropolitan centre in western Canada and the third largest in the country.
• Vancouver will be the host city of 2010 Winter Olympics.
• Vancouver is the third largest film production centre for US-based productions in North America after Hollywood and New York, giving it the nickname of Hollywood North.
• The city’s population is estimated to be 602,231 (2005) and that of the metropolitan area 2,186,965 (2001 census).
• A fire in 1886 destroyed most of the city, which was quickly rebuilt.
• Those unfamiliar with the region may be surprised to learn that Vancouver is not on Vancouver Island. However, both the island and the city (and its U.S. counterpart) are named after Royal Navy Captain George Vancouver of Great Britain, who explored the region in 1792.
• Vancouver’s winters are the fourth warmest of Canadian cities monitored by Environment Canada, after nearby Victoria, Nanaimo, and Duncan, all of which are found on Vancouver Island.
• Native vegetation of Vancouver is dense temperate rain forest, mostly conifers with scattered pockets of maple and alder.
• Vancouver is consistently ranked within the top 3 cities in the world in which to live.
• A recent survey found Vancouver was the most unaffordable city for housing in Canada — and the fifteenth worst in the world, just marginally better than London.
• Vancouver is home to people of many ethnic backgrounds and religions. Chinese is by far the largest visible ethnic minority group in the city. There are also many multicultural neighbourhoods, such as the Punjabi Market, Little Italy, Greektown, Japantown, Commercial Drive, and a series of Koreatowns.
• The city of Vancouver has developed a reputation as a tolerant city that is open to social experimentation and alternative lifestyles as well as being willing to explore alternative drug policies. Although it is technically illegal, Vancouver police generally do not arrest people for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
• With its location on the Pacific Rim and at the western terminus of Canada’s transcontinental highway and rail routes, Vancouver is one of the nation’s largest industrial centres.
• Vancouver is, for the most part, electrically powered by hydroelectric dams.
• City planners deliberately encouraged the development of high-rise condominium towers downtown, which has resulted in a compact, pedestrian/transit/bike friendly urban core.
• Although Vancouver has more high-rises, per capita, than any other city in North America, the city’s skyline is relatively “mid-rise” by North Amercian standards. Most buildings in the downtown have a height of around 90 to 130 m, with the tallest skyscrapers around 150 m tall. This is the result of a strict height restriction to protect mountain views.

Source: Wikipedia