Vancouver is a coastal city located in British Columbia, Canada. Known as one of the top cities for education in the world, Vancouver is the perfect setting for your English program. Vancouver has just over 2 million people in its metropolitan area. It is also the largest city in western Canada and the 3rd biggest overall.

Unlike many parts of Canada, there is very little snow in the city of Vancouver. However, it does snow in the local mountains. During winter the weather is usually mild and rainy. In summer the weather is drier and sunnier with moderate temperatures.

Vancouver rarely has temperatures below freezing. However, if you plan to study English in the winter, please come prepared for cooler temperatures. On average, there are only 4.5 days a year when the temperature stays below freezing.

There are five public universities in the Greater Vancouver area. The University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU) are the largest. The other public universities are Capilano University, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Quality of Life

Vancouver has been ranked one of the most livable cities in the world for more than a decade. Similarly, Vancouver regularly ranks in the world's top 5 cities for quality of living. Furthermore, Forbes also ranked Vancouver as the 10^th cleanest city in the world.

Recreation & Sports

The warmer climate and close proximity to ocean, mountains, rivers and lakes make the area a popular destination for outdoor recreation. The city has several large beaches, many adjacent to one another. Beaches include Second and Third Beaches in Stanley Park, English Bay (First Beach), Sunset Beach, Kitsilano Beach and Jericho Beach.

By the same token, the North Shore Mountains, with three ski areas are within a 20-to-30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. Equally as exciting, Mountain bikers have also created world-renowned trails across these mountains.