About Vancouver

Host City to the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the City of Vancouver is one of the most culturally diverse, temperate and scenic cities in the world, making it an ideal destination to study, work and play.

According to the Mercer Quality of Living Survey comparing 215 cities based on 39 criteria including safety, education, health care, culture, environment, recreation, political-economic stability and public transportation, Vancouver currently ranks in the top three cities in the world, slightly behind Geneva and Vienna. It has also been voted 'the best city in the Americas' for three straight years by Conde Nast Traveler magazine and named 'the world's most livable city' eight years in a row by The Economist Intelligence Business Unit. Further, Forbes rates Vancouver as one of the top ten cleanest cities in the world.

Vancouver is the largest city in the province of British Columbia and the third largest metropolitan area in Canada. It is surrounded by water on three sides and is nestled alongside the Coast Mountain Range. The Metro Vancouver region is home to more than two million people in 21 municipalities.

The mild climate of the city and close proximity to ocean, mountains, rivers and lakes make the region a popular destination for outdoor recreation. Vancouver has over 3,200 acres of parks, most notably, Stanley Park, which is the largest. In fact, Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world at almost four square kilometers, with 150 year old forest, nine kilometers of seawall, and numerous popular attractions. The city has several large beaches, many adjacent to one another. The coastline provides for many types of water activities, and the city is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts.

Vancouver is also renowned for exceptional access to world-class ski and snowboarding destinations. Situated within a 30 minute drive from the downtown core are the North Shore Mountains, which feature three separate ski areas: Cypress, Grouse and Mount Seymour. Also located in close proximity to Vancouver, is the beautiful, resort-city of Whistler, best-known for hosting the majority of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic ski, snowboard and sledding events.

Nicknamed 'Hollywood North,' Vancouver is known for being a major film and television production centre, In 2008, the BC Film Commission reported more than 260 productions were filmed in Vancouver making it the third largest film centre in North America, after only Los Angeles and New York City.

The city itself features a vibrant, culturally-diverse metropolitan core. Often referred to as the 'city of neighbourhoods,' Vancouver offers a wide selection of traditional and modern cultural activities, sights, entertainment and cuisine. Visitors can take a walk through Little Italy and enjoy a leisurely meal, explore historic Chinatown and take in the traditional shops and fresh markets, visit Vancouver's premier shopping district on Robson Street or experience the bustling Downtown Vancouver nightlife on Granville Street.

For any lifestyle, there truly is no shortage of activities to keep any student occupied. Ashton College is proud to be a downtown resident of such a spectacular city like Vancouver. We encourage all prospective students to come to Ashton College and complete your studies here and experience all Vancouver has to offer.