Greater Vancouver, also known as Metro Vancouver, is the metropolitan area with the City of Vancouver in the center, and it is also home to 21 other municipalities, from Bowen Island and West Vancouver to Langley and Maple Ridge.
Some popular municipalities:
- West Vancouver
West Vancouver is located northwest of Vancouver and is connected to the city by the Lions Gate Bridge. West Van is surrounded by the ocean, mountains, and provincial parks and also encompasses Horseshoe Bay which provides a ferry link between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
West Vancouver is Greater Vancouver’s wealthiest municipality and Canada’s richest community. West Vancouver’s average housing price is $2.8 million — also the highest in the country.
Along with North Vancouver, West Vancouver is home to some of British Columbia’s best outdoor and mountain activities (Cypress Provincial Park, Lighthouse Park, Whytecliff Park…)
Video: Welcome to West Vancouver
Find more information about West Vancouver on the City of West Vancouver’s website.
- North Vancouver
North Vancouver is known for hiking and skiing trails in the forested North Shore Mountains, including Grouse Mountain. High-suspension bridges straddle the popular Capilano Canyon and tranquil Lynn Canyon. Near the Seabus ferry terminal, Lonsdale Quay Market is home to fashion shops and a mix of food vendors serving fish and chips, souvlaki, and Asian dishes.
This city is home to many younger families or retired citizens and it also hosts a large population of diverse ethnic groups as well. There are several Persian grocery stores, plenty of Asian-cuisine restaurants as well as an abundance of businesses that provide bilingual language customer service.
Video: North Vancouver
Get more information on the city of North Vancouver’s website.
- Richmond
Richmond is located in the south of Vancouver. It is a multicultural area that is known for its strong Asian influences — one of North America’s most vibrant Chinese Communities, home to the International Buddhist Temple, and lots of Asian restaurants… Due to the culture within Richmond, this is a popular city for families immigrating from major cities in Asia.
Richmond is a popular city for many younger families due to the ease of access to public transportation (Canada Line), an abundance of cheap food options, and many activities such as Go-Karting, Night markets, shopping malls & karaoke bar/lounges.
The city is home to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and is located 45 minutes away from the US border.
Video: City of Richmond municipal profile
Find more information about Richmond on the city’s website.
- Burnaby
Burnaby is the city that borders Vancouver to the east and is British Columbia’s third-largest city. Like Vancouver, it is a diverse multicultural city with a large proportion of its population originating from China, India, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Burnaby is a family-friendly city offering a lot of cultural activities and events.
The city is very accessible to Downtown Vancouver by transit — a 20-minute skytrain ride — and its cheaper rents make it attractive when looking for a place to live near Vancouver.
Burnaby offers its residents a wide selection of international cuisine, numerous parks, lakes, and trails, a wide range of shopping options — with Canada’s third largest mall in Metrotown — as well as a lot of multicultural events. BCIT and Simon Fraser University, two of the biggest Universities in BC, are located in Burnaby. The city is also home to many companies such as EA, IBM, and Happy Planet.
Video: The city of Burnaby profile
This other video presents some pros and cons of living in Burnaby.
If you need any additional information on Burnaby, take a look at the city’s website here.
- New Westminster
As the oldest city in western Canada, New Westminster has a long and rich history and was also the former capital of British Columbia. Famous for its heritage buildings, waterfront area, various festivals and Queens Park, it is located on the north bank of the Fraser River, and bordered by Burnaby and Coquitlam.
New Westminster is easy to reach, it’s only a 30-minute travel time from Downtown Vancouver by Skytrain or Car and it’s also within reasonable distance from the YVR Airport for those looking to travel often.
Video: City of New Westminster profile
Find more information on New Westminster City Homepage
Here you can also find a video on the Pros and Cons of living in New Westminster.
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6. Tri-Cities
The Tri-Cities area includes Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody. It is considered one of the fastest-growing regions in Metro Vancouver and over the past 35 years, there has been a substantial increase in industrial and commercial development.
The Tri-cities are well noted for their closeness to nature, providing a lot of hiking trails, outdoor activities, and parks. Within each of the respective cities themselves, there is a mixture of historical and new buildings coming about. The Tri-cities area holds a lot of history of Canada which you can learn more about through the various museums and buildings they have available.
For those looking to settle down with a family, the Tri-cities are a great area to consider as the cities are newly developed with a lot of family-friendly facilities and local shops. If you do plan on working within Downtown Vancouver, something to consider is the longer commute that may add up due to traffic congestion. However, SkyTrain and WestCoast Express might be a good option.
Video: City of Coquitlam profile
For more information on Coquitlam.For more information on Port Coquitlam.For more information on Port Moody.
- Langley
The City of Langley, situated east of downtown Vancouver, is a thriving and dynamic community known for its diverse housing options, including single-family homes, apartments, and condominiums. With an average one-bedroom apartment price of 2,000 as of June 2024, Langley offers a range of living arrangements to suit different lifestyles and budgets.
Langley is celebrated for its family-friendly atmosphere, boasting numerous parks, scenic trails, and state-of-the-art community centers. The city is home to reputable public schools such as Alice Brown Elementary School and Langley Senior Secondary, ensuring high-quality education for younger residents.
Nearby there is Fort Langley, a historic village along the Fraser River, featuring shops, restaurants, parks, and the Fort Langley National Historic Site.
Note that there are no SkyTrain stations around, and commuting to Downtown will take a minimum of 1h on public transport depending on your location.
Video: Langley
For more information on Langley
- Surrey
The city of Surrey is located southeast of the City of Vancouver, between the Fraser River and the US/Canada border. Surrey is the second largest city by population in British Columbia (after Vancouver) and is also Metro Vancouver’s largest city in terms of area. The city is growing rapidly - it’s actually one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada — and according to estimations, it’s expected to become BC’s most populated city by 2041.
Surrey offers lots of recreational activities, affordable accommodation, and parks — more than 400 parks are located within Surrey — and the Skytrain Expo lines can take you from Downtown Vancouver to Surrey in 30 minutes. Surrey’s fast-growing population will also come along with more development. By 2026, the City of Surrey has planned to create more than 36,000 direct jobs with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
The population of Surrey is composed of young people — a third of the population is aged 19 or under — as more than 20,000 students are enrolled in the 2 big campuses located in Surrey: Simon Fraser University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University Surrey. Surrey is also home to an important portion of larger families (five or more people) and a big Indian community.
Video: City of Surrey profile
Find more information about the City of Surrey on this website.
Suggested Prompts
How might the different cultural influences in cities like Richmond and Surrey shape the community life and local traditions?
In what ways could the rising housing prices in West Vancouver impact long-term residents and overall diversity in the area?
How do transportation options and commute times influence the decision-making process when choosing a municipality to live in around Vancouver?
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