Air Travel to Vancouver

Vancouver is located on the West Coast of Canada and is the largest city in British Columbia. There are direct flights to Vancouver International Airport (http://www.yvr.ca) from International destinations and most major US cities, depending on the airline. We suggest that you call your travel agent immediately and ask them to negotiate the best airfare for your trip.

See the Customs Information section on this website for details on the Airport Improvement Fee (departure tax) from Vancouver International Airport.

Travel from Seattle (Washington State, USA) to Vancouver

If you are planning on flying into or out of Seattle you may wish to check out the Quick Shuttle Express Bus Service. This service operates between SeaTac Airport and downtown Vancouver with stops in downtown Seattle, Bellingham and at Vancouver Airport. The trip takes approximately 4.5 hours from SeaTac Airport to downtown Vancouver.

British Columbia has a number of border crossings on its southern boundary with the United States. From Seattle, you can drive up Highway I-5 to the border, then Highway 99 directly into the heart of Vancouver. Driving time for this 180 mile trip is approximately 3.5 hours. During rush hour or on weekends it can take over 4 hours to make the trip.

Climate and clothing

What to wear: Warmed by off-shore currents and protected by the Coast Mountains, Vancouver enjoys warm, comfortable summers that are rarely hot. June daytime temperatures linger just above 20°Celsius (70° Fahrenheit). Evenings, especially in the surrounding mountains, are a bit cooler so it's best to pack a light jacket and sweater.

Casual attire is appropriate for all conference sessions, including evening events.

Disclaimer

The program planning committee and Simon Fraser University will accept no liability for personal injuries sustained or for loss or damage to property belonging to delegates either during or as a result of the meeting.

Emergency 911

In emergency situations, you can contact the local police, ambulance service, fire department and other emergency services by calling 911, where available, or by dialing the numbers for local police and ambulance services listed in the front of all local telephone directories.

Health Insurance

Be wise and plan ahead: Visitors to Canada should have medical protection coverage. Canadian government health plans do not cover non-residents visiting Canada. Purchase health insurance before your visit.

Commercial Information

Canadian Currency

The facts about our money: The monetary system in Canada is based on dollars and cents. All prices quoted on this website are in Canadian dollars.

International currencies (American dollars, pounds Sterling, etc.) can be exchanged at any bank, or at the International Currency Exchange at the Vancouver International Airport.

Major credit and charge cards are readily accepted in Canada including American Express, MasterCard and VISA. ATM machines (automated teller machines) are also widely available in banks and retail areas.

Conference participants are advised to use a credit card wherever possible to take advantage of the best exchange rates. When changing funds into Canadian dollars do so at a bank or foreign currency exchange outlet where you will receive the prevailing rate of exchange. Many places will accept US dollars but they set their own exchange rate or accept US dollars at par (not a good deal!).

Taxes

As a non-resident visitor, you can claim a refund for goods and services tax (GST), currently 7%, paid on eligible goods and/or short-term accommodation while visiting Canada. Save your receipts for submission to Revenue Canada.

Hotels charge a 10% hotel tax that is not refundable.

Provincial sales tax is 7%. There is no sales tax on food or restaurant meals. If a visitor purchases goods and has them shipped by the vendor directly to his or her home location outside of Canada, no taxes are charged. (This is subject to availability and dependant on whether the vendor offers this option).

Customs Information

Entry into Canada

The following information is provided to assist visitors in crossing Canadian borders with ease and minimal delays.

All visitors should carry a valid passport. In addition to a passport, there are a number of countries whose citizens also require a visa to enter Canada. Because visa requirements for countries change, we suggest that you visit the Canada Customs website or call the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your country at least a couple of months before your visit to check on document requirements.

Have your papers ready when you arrive in Canada: All visitors and residents who arrive by air have to complete a Customs Declaration form that is handed in to an Immigration Officer when you go through Canada Customs and Immigration. You can help make the immigration interview as short as possible by answering all questions simply and honestly. You should have your passport and other documents ready and with you rather than in your luggage.

Departure from Canada

Visitors departing Vancouver International Airport for US destinations should note that they clear US Immigration and Customs at Vancouver Airport. Please make sure that you leave enough time to clear customs before your flight departs. It is recommended that you allow no less than half an hour after you check in for your flight to clear US customs and proceed to your departure date.

Airport Improvement Fee

Everyone flying out of Vancouver International Airport has to pay the Airport Improvement Fee (AIF). The cost is $10 for domestic flights (including the US and Mexico), $15 for international flights.

Things to do in Vancouver

Here are just a few suggestions - check out the websites below for more ideas/information:

• A visit to Stanley Park, a 1000-acre park, located in the heart of Vancouver, with lakes, woodland, beaches, 'totem' poles, a seawater pool and an outstanding aquarium. The flat 6.2 mile Seawall surrounding the park is perfect for walking, jogging, biking, or rollerblading and for enjoying spectacular views over English Bay and Burrard Inlet;
• A day of waterfront sightseeing on Granville Island with its fascinating collection of craft shops, artists’ studios, farmers’ market, street performers, bars and cafes. You can rent a kayak here to explore the marina and False Creek;
• Walking the cobbled streets of Gastown with its many restaurants, galleries and shops (a popular photo op is the famous Steam Clock);
• A browse through the curio shops in Chinatown, the second largest in North America, before sitting down to a delicious restaurant meal;
• Riding the SeaBus across Vancouver’s inner harbour to Lonsdale Quay Market for shopping and dining (the SeaBus Terminal is located two blocks from the Ramada Vancouver Downtown). The building housing the SeaBus Terminal is also the terminus for the Skytrain, which will take you to a variety of destinations south and east of the city centre;
• Visit Vancouver's 'gay village' on Davie Street, or use the Skytrain to check out Commercial Drive for lesbian life;
• Shopping, shopping and more shopping. At Leone’s at Sinclair Centre, in Gastown, on Robson Street or at the Pacific Centre Mall, visit Canada’s own high fashion store, Holt Renfrew, or (for the outdoor life) Mountain Equipment Co-op on West Broadway (East of Cambie) across the Cambie Street Bridge (not downtown);
• Bookstores: SFU has a small store in the Harbour Centre complex; also check out Chapters on Robson Street (and elsewhere); Little Sister's (lesbian & gay) on Davie; Women in Print (feminist) and Banyan Books (new age) on West 4th (on the way to UBC);
• A visit to the CN IMAX Theatre at Canada Place; the Vancouver Art Gallery on Robson Square; or Science World on the eastern edge of False Creek;
• Enjoying some evening entertainment at one of our theatres, night clubs, sports stadiums or arenas; and don't forget that Vancouver restaurants are second-to-none for variety and good value.

Further afield, there's the Skyride up Grouse Mountain (for an aerial view of the city and islands. Don’t miss seeing the orphaned grizzly bear cubs); Deep Cove (a beautiful fjord-like inlet); the funky suburb of Kitsilano (check out Kits Pool); the west side beaches (including the famous clothing-optional Wreck Beach); and the internationally-acclaimed Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.

Other vacation possibilities include the mountain resort of Whistler (a scenic drive up the sea-to-sky highway); Vancouver Island (the provincial capital, Victoria, is just a couple of hours away by ferry; the west coast – a four hour drive from Victoria – is wild and surf-swept); or spend a few days in the Canadian Rockies, where there will be wildflowers in late June.

Tourism Links and Information

Tourism Vancouver http://www.tourismvancouver.com/docs/visit/index.html
Tourism BC http://www.hellobc.com
BC Passport http://www.bcpassport.com
BC Travel http://www.travel.bc.ca
BC Ferries http://www.bcferries.bc.ca
Vancouver Public Transit http://www.translink.bc.ca
Washington State Ferries http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries

Customs and Revenue Information

Canada Customs and Revenue www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit for visitor information.
Currency Conversion http://www.oanda.com/converter/classic
Refunds of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/visitors/index-e.html

Vancouver Attractions

Granville Island http://www.granvilleisland.com
Science World http://www.scienceworld.bc.ca
Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Science Centre http://www.vanaqua.org
Vancouver Museum http://www.vanmuseum.bc.ca
Vancouver Art Gallery http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca
Vancouver Space Centre http://www.hrmacmillanspacecentre.com
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks
(Including Van Dusen Botanical Gardens, Queen Elizabeth Park Gardens, and Stanley Park)

Weather

Local Vancouver Weather Forecast from Environment Canada http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca
Local Vancouver Weather Forecast from the Weather Network http://www.theweathernetwork.com