5 Essential Must-Haves In Vancouver
VanWest College would like to share what we believe are 5 essential must-haves when living in Vancouver! There is no doubt about it, Vancouver is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You are just minutes from the city, the beach, and the mountains. Not many cities can be named “most livable” but Vancouver more often than not is. Let us assume when you will be studying at our Vancouver Campus you will be living in the lower mainland. These 5 essential must-haves will sure to make you seem like a local or at least look like one.
The first of these essential must-haves is an umbrella!
Vancouver is known for being the warmest city out of Canada’s major cities. It doesn’t snow as much nor do we get freezing temperatures that last longer than 1-2 weeks. Even if Vancouver is the warmest major city in Canada the weather is still very unpredictable. What we lack in freezing temperatures we make up with the rain. The rain in Vancouver is pretty well-known that the city is sometimes dubbed ‘Raincouver’. That is why a personal umbrella is always good to have. You will find many Vancouverites have umbrellas close by; either in their bags, offices, or lockers.
Don’t let the rain deter your decision to coming to Vancouver, it’s because of that rain we also have the beautiful nature that surrounds the city. The unpredictability of the weather can also prove to be positive, there are many instances when the beautiful sun comes out all week when the forecast stated it would snow or rain. The umbrella is just a handy must-have during those times you didn’t expect it to pour.
The second essential must-have is your Compass Card!
Almost every major city in the world has its own transit system but we believe that Vancouver’s is one of the best in Canada. Translink has a plethora of bus routes, an accessible SkyTrain system, and a convenient sea bus that connects you to the North Shore. To have access to all of these transit options you must load up your Compass Card. Upon arriving in Vancouver one of the best actions to do first is to get yourself a compass card. They’re available for purchase at any SkyTrain station, conveniently, there’s a station in the airport. The Compass Card is a reloadable fare card that is fairly simple to use. You can fill it up as a monthly pass or you can fill it up as you go. You must have a balance on your card before you are able to use it.
For more information about the Compass Card click here. To learn more about fare zones and pricing click here. To watch a video on how the Compass Card works click here.
The third of the 5 essential must-haves is a reusable water bottle!
Vancouver is known to be one of the greenest cities in the world and the locals would like to keep it that way. Traveling around the lower mainland you will see the beautiful colors of nature just embracing the cities. One way Vancouverites help keep the city clean is by making sure everyday items are reusable. One common reusable item almost every Vancouverite owns is a water bottle. Instead of purchasing plastic bottles, we like to have one bottle to use and take care of. Most buildings have a drinkable water source to use to refill the bottles so you don’t have to worry about running out.
Alternatively, if you are an avid coffee or hot beverage drinker there are many reusable mugs for sale as well.
The fourth essential must-have is definitely a device to take pictures with!
It can be your phone or a camera you already have, there is no need to purchase anything brand new. Vancouver is such a beautiful and diverse city, rich with so much culture. It would be advisable to have a device to capture all those once-in-a-lifetime experiences and unbelievable moments. Aside from education, one of the best gifts you can give yourself while studying in Vancouver is the memories you will create. Again, Vancouver is just minutes from the city, the water, and the mountains. You will be immersed in both nature and city life. Can you imagine what you’d be able to capture in these settings?
The fifth of the 5 essential must-haves is Hand Sanitizer!
Yes, this one is almost a no-brainer, right? Along with a trusty face mask, it’s good to have a pocket-sized hand sanitizer on your person at all times. Even when we move on from the pandemic it is wise to always have sanitizer close by. Vancouver is a busy and popular city. You will interact a lot with your surroundings meaning, you might be in contact with surfaces that were in contact with others. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Well, there you are, 5 essential must-haves we here at VanWest college recommend you consider upon studying in Vancouver. Of course, there is so much more but that’s for you to find out once you get here! With the list above you’ll definitely blend in as a local. We would also like to stress that most of these items can be conveniently found all over the city. Come study at VanWest College today!
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