International trade has been the mainstay of the City's economy for almost a century, making Vancouver rich in the traditions of Europe, the Orient and the Americas. Vancouver's harbour has the largest container port in Western Canada and facilities for millions of tons of grain. Directly served by Canada's two transcontinental railways and one of the largest railroads in the US, the city continues to benefit from Pacific Rim trade. The City's strong commercial sector occupies over 25 million square feet of office space and a similar amount of retail space. Vancouver is also committed to strengthening its industrial base, and opportunities for industrial developments exist in many convenient locations.

But Vancouver is more than a centre of commerce and industry. One of the world's most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities, it is also a place to enjoy the highly acclaimed symphony, opera, theatre, and art.
 

With a 1,000 acre forest park within 3 minutes drive of downtown, over 10 miles of public beaches, and more than a hundred other public parks as well as a marvelous variety of restaurants, sports, and entertainment facilities, Vancouver is an excellent place to live or visit. Here you can sail, swim, and ski; enjoy the thrill of professional hockey, football, and horseracing or slip away to a retreat in the country or on a nearby island.

In Vancouver, livability has been raised to a high plane by imaginative preservation and reuse of existing buildings in concert with high quality new housing and commercial development. Stable single family neighbourhoods are found within 10 minutes of the central business district. The City's densely populated West End residential district provides a wide choice of high-rise and townhouse accommodation adjacent to the core yet bordered by scenic beaches and parkland. Every neighbourhood is well served by quality educational and recreational facilities as well as modern community centres.

In short, Vancouver is an ideal place to live, work and invest. A world city in the making it offers the perfect combination of location, livability, and opportunity.