Vancouver City Hall

I come here for many reasons. From Paying Property taxes to water bill. Every time I come here its because I have to pay. I want to stay away but I can’t. Its expensive to head over here.
Property taxes would be in the main building and if you had to pay for business license its in the west wing. But I don’t pay business license in person anymore. I do it online because the business license print out is the same as if you printed out on a regular printer. At least, I have a color printer so I can make it pretty. Yes City Hall printers are black and white.
Oh Yeah if you are here in regards to development planning. They have moved it across the street since last year. That office is super crazy. If you are dealing with recycling and sanitation issues or concern, that building is located corner of Cambie and Broadway.

Thanks for selling out Vancouver! How many bike lanes do you need for a city that no one can afford to live in?! Tax payer money well spent!!! How’s life on Point Grey Road? BTW… my review would have negative zero stars, but the system forces at least one star.

mayor robertson thank you for standing up against racism and intolerance the sikh community thanks you for your brave stand.
we wish you were premier at least we could have a visible premier for the people unlike the invisible and frankly useless bc liberal government under christie corporate clark

I have nothing to do with Vancouver municipal dealings or anything like that. My rating is strictly on the aesthetics of the exterior and the architecture of the structure.
I had not gone into the building so again this is not of the inside, only the outside and the appearance and the opinion of somebody that has never seen and didn’t know what Vancouver’s City Hall even looked like or where it is located.
I came across Van’s City Hall by accident because I parked down the street to go to a nearby restaurant and noticed the building. I was curious as to what the building was and noticed the stone marker near the street saying it was City Hall.
My impression was that the structure itself was not very impressive. For a very diverse and beautiful city the City Hall representing that city seems very plain looking and doesn’t do anything for me on an architectural level.
My favorite City Hall’s that I’ve seen and been to are still Philadelphia’s and San Francisco’s. They stand out as impressive structures this however does not.

The City of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada is a fabulous city to visit or (as my wife’s aunt can attest) live.
I have visited the city quite a few times over the years. The weather has been great no matter what time of the year. Maybe, I have just been lucky.
This international city is so diverse. Many varieties of ethnic food available. So many places to eat, but not enough time or stomach to try them all.
Only thing I am not too crazy about is the traffic infrastructure. I am not a fan of those blinking traffic lights, and most major intersections do not have a left turn arrow so traffic can get backed up because of that.
Other than that, I am a fan of Vancouver. If I ever moved back to Canada, then Vancouver would be my number 1 choice. I like their mild winters with hardly any snow.
Go to Vancouver and explore this wonderful city for yourself. There is so much to explore both in and out of the city.

Great food all around, in unique neighbourhoods; kitsilano, commercial drive, riley, collingwood, west end, coal harbour, yaletown…
Add the outdoor life, mild weather, easy breezin lifestyle, yeah, it’s all good. You travel around the world, sure, some more exciting aspects in some areas, but Vancouver’s pretty safe, no need to worry.

I have a love hate relationship with Vancouver, mostly love. My hate comes from the economics and the fact that the wage in the city will never match the living cost. We have medical and nice air to make up for it I guess.
It bugs me when people say, «Go move to Alberta.» Sure I would be economically sound but that means starting a whole new social life: my family is here, my lifestyle services are here and there is culture. To be honest given my personality and lifestyle I wouldn’t survive socially anywhere else.
You can’t always have a 100% perfect city.
There are things that bother me like how we allow foreign buying of property, making it inaccessible for locals to buy houses.
I’ve seen many awesome local staple shops being torn down for condo development for foreign buyers. If we continue to do this we are going to lose what makes Vancouver so characteristically awesome. My heart broke when the Rumpus Room closed for this reason.
We’ve allowed a change in language unofficially ’cause the politicians have been pussy whipped to conform to their traditions. My parents are immigrants and they made every effort to conform to Canadian traditions so that we would have a better life. My parents had no expectations of Canada conforming or catering to our religion or culture. They were grateful just to live in Canada. I’ve been disqualified from jobs in the past ’cause the only languages I know are Canada’s official ones that I was taught in school: French and English.
On the same note I appreciate and I am blessed that we have such a diverse culture in Vancouver. All I ask is that you adopt the ones here that you immigrated to. Have an open mind instead of expecting us to change to make you feel comfortable.
I went to the best colleges and universities in hope of advancing my job placement only to get paid $ 1 more. Employers want a long laundry list of duties, often the job of 2 — 3 in one person for $ 12 — $ 13/​hour (if lucky). In spite of the wage vs. living cost battle we still have it better than most countries.
I’m forced to buy gas and groceries across the border ’cause my wage just can’t compete with the living cost in spite of living in subsidized coop housing, having no children and no marriage.
I’ve been lied to by politicians (that’s with everywhere).

I realize that the above are problems all over the world but it saddens me when you see a drastic decline in 10 years. It also saddens me that this isn’t on the politician’s agenda to try and problem solve in baby steps.
I am a very extrovert person and a social butterfly. Vancouver is very anti-​social. Even when I try to be social people think that I am weird. The social aspect is what makes me run to places like Portland and Seattle. Their culture is all about looking into each other’s eyes while conversing rather than texting someone who isn’t the person you’re eating with.
We have awesome neighborhoods with shops.
There are some good things about Vancouver that I won’t find anywhere else (I’ve travelled a bit). There are many communities and cultures to adopt socially.
Our food culture is amazing. You can have any dietary restriction and still find a place to eat.
The weather is decent. Yes it rains 52 weeks of the year, however, we have it better than most provinces.
Traffic is a gong show. Even if I wanted to I don’t drive as much as I used to 7 years ago. I waste more time and gas idling in traffic. For $ 2.75 one way I can still idle in traffic but not waste gas. Also someone else can drive.
We have our issues with Translink, many of which are justified, however, it’s one of the best Transit systems during the day.
It’s a beautiful city to live in. I know that financially I won’t be able to retire here due to the lack of CPP that will be available for our generation. While I am still young and alive I can enjoy the life that I have planted here.
There are some events in the city that I look forward to:
1. Seawall… cheap way to get exercise and talk with a friend.
2. Farmer’s Markets.
3. Fireworks (for others not for me).
4. Zombie Walk
5. Free movies in the park.
6. The awesome Stanley Park.
7. Lantern Festival.
8. Car Free Day.
9. Hot Chocolate Festival.
10. Granville Island.
11. Playland.
12. PNE
13. Food (many different eateries).
14. Walking over the Burrard bridge.
15. The walking trails.
16. Craft Fairs.
17. Food Cart festivals (We still need to aim to be at Portland’s Level).
In spite of my b*tching Vancouver still earns 4 stars.

Came here to look at some building plans — this is done in the E building. They’re still using microfiche here. Wow! Good thing I paid attention in elementary school. They’ve gotten smart though — you can’t just take pictures of the screens. Not sure if there’s a security guard just waiting to kick you in the shins.
The staff were very courteous.

Great experience, friendly staff. Just wish the ride itself had more aromas to entice the senses, but overall it was great. Great way to sum up Canada in 8mins.

What a discovery: Vancity … Vahn-​koo-​vair (Fr) … YVR.
I first saw it on a drizzly June day trip when visiting Seattle from L.A. It was beautiful, but more low key than today’s Vancouver. Not knowing I would be hanging my hat in Seattle, I forgot about the city. I then became reacquainted with it on a glorious summer day, having driven up with a friend. The whole approach to Vancouver is etched in my mind. I remember being naïve about the border crossing in the pre-​passport era, and that naïveté was good. It was routine and easy. Having an edge makes the crossing tougher. The weird thing is that you approach on CA 99, essentially a 2 lane continuation of I-​5, and that it goes through farmland, and you see the tops of high rise condos (probably those of Surrey and Burnaby) over these low evergreen studded hills in the foreground. However, upon completing the broad arc of CA 99 and passing under the Massey Tunnel, Vancouver’s majesty, showcased by its skyline, its topography, and its backdrop, makes itself perfectly clear and you know you are somewhere unique.
In just 44 miles from Bellingham WA, you are clearly in an international destination. The accent has changed, words are spelled the way they would be in the UK, you have to convert kilometers and temperatures in your head, the houses and condo towers have a slightly different look, the interpersonal vibe is different, there are multiple layers of taxes on your restaurant and hotel bills, and more.
New Millennium Vancouver is a world-​class city. While the U.S. has various major port cities on the Pacific, this is Canada’s only major presence on its west coast and west of the Canadian Rockies. It’s an interesting blend of culture, commerce, and natural beauty. Whether downtown or elsewhere in the metro, the sophistication is apparent in its shopping venues with quality goods, museums, or top notch University of British Columbia. In terms of culture, Vancouver has always been a magnet for immigrants and transplants from Canada. There doesn’t seem to be a «you shouldn’t be here» vibe, and it seems that the city has gotten over the circa 1997 inflow of money from Hong Kong in which neighborhoods of single-​story homes saw homes razed to build symmetrical 2-​story McMansions with the obligatory lions on each side of the entry. Prior to this, different communities of Europeans had their enclaves, mostly in the city’s more working class eastern and southern suburbs, and most of the peoples of Europe were represented. Today, many of those people have died, and their offspring are Vancouverites and Canadians to the bone. The old money Anglos have always dominated the chunk of Vancouver that is an almost rectangular peninsula west of Oak, such as Point Grey and areas near UBC, with stunning views or forested streets. They also tend to live on the North Shore, which is technically not Vancouver. However, all of this is changing.
I had to laugh upon this last visit to YVR. It is British Columbia for a reason. I believe the old Canadian flag had the Union Jack somewhere on it. While TO has unmistakably British sounding streets like King and Queen, the naming of streets in Vancouver’s center makes one think they are sitting at a pow-​wow of mucky mucks at Big Ben. Think Howe, Seymour, Robson, Denman, Nelson, Davie, Hastings, Thurlow, Burrard, and Smithe.
In terms of weather, it is much like Seattle, except about 2 °F cooler. The best time to go is in summer, when it is in the low to mid 80sF and dry. However, Vancity is a great destination any time. I would say the top 10 attractions are: 1) Stanley Park, 2) Granville Island, 3) Queen Elizabeth Park, 4) Canada Place /​Gastown /​a SeaBus ride, 5) points of learning such as Science Center, the Anthropology Museum at UBC, and other museums, 6) Chinatown, 7) trendy Kitsilano and its Jericho and Spanish Banks beaches, 8) funky Commercial Drive, 9) perusing mansions in Point Grey or near the University Endowment Lands, and 10) exploring the different flavors of downtown — Robson Street (high end shopping), Davie Village (eclectic and liberal), Yaletown (yuppified), and Georgia St. (business high-​rises and Hotel Vancouver).
Does Vancouver have problems? Yes. There is a drug infested zone around Hastings and Main, and in both directions from there. Somewhere in that area, there is a place known as «Needle Park.» There is poverty and angst along and near East Hastings. Living well has become expensive, being a coveted destination, which has pushed people out to far suburbs or over to the province of Alberta. Some immigrants lament that they feel a little out of place vis a vis the local social conventions, but appreciate that Vancouver has opened a door for them. Lastly, some Eastern Canadians from Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes say that the vibe isn’t like back home and some don’t stay. Doesn’t that sound like the U.S. too, though?
Anybody I’ve ever shown around Vancouver loves it.

I love this city! By far the most laid back city on the coast, even after counting the Washington marijuana laws! Tell your friends!

Full disclosure: I spent just under 24 hours in Vancouver recently, which was not enough to form a comprehensive opinion. Still? Awesome.
First, the city is small (600,000 to Chicago’s 2,700,000) and manageable on foot. However, there are still neighborhoods with distinct personalities. We stayed downtown and ate once in Gastown, but walked through a couple other ‘hoods.
Second, it’s beautiful. I don’t even ski but the mountains provide an awesome natural hug around the city. The mid-​June weather was mild and when it rained, it stopped after a short shower. Kind of like a kid whose tantrum only lasts long enough to get the stress out.
Third, Vancouverites know what’s up. That is, their values are aligned with mine. They have many «ethnic» food options (we are all ethnic, so why do we use that term?) including a ton of Asian and Indian, a walk-​up crêpe shop, and a variety of food trucks. And if the bike lanes are to be believed, they are active. I also got this impression from the lack of morbidly obese people toddling around town, which made me homesick, but not really.
Finally though, they have more dog parks than I would know what to do with (I mean, look at this:
!!). We visited one just for fun, and it was like a modern-​day Norman Rockwell scene, if Norman Rockwell were Canadian and had a thing for dogs. The dogs frolicked off-​leash (while their owners didn’t stress out), in the green grass, with the harbor, city skyline and mountains in the background. If I am reincarnated, can I be a dog born in Vancouver?
I want to return to you, Vancouver. Until then, we will have to maintain a long-​distance relationship. Write me.

I love Vancouver BC!!!
I have been going to Vancity since 1999! Used to party at Gastown, hit the street races over in Richmond… damn. I loved Vancouver. I have been going a couple days at a time, but recently stayed there for more than week… it was really nice to just enjoy and explore Vancouver.
Love this place!!!

Its difficult to give Vancouver any kind of a star rating. Its a city with a million categories and growing. Lets start with the «gettin’ around» part. Traffic in Vancouver, especially as you approach and enter the downtown area is just stupid. Left hand turn? You have to be kidding! It’s intense, compact and all interspersed with traffic lights every 50 feet. If you visit this city and take refuge in a hotel in the downtown area, plan on using the local transit system or cab it. Leave the auto in a garage. The public transit includes the Skytrain as well as buses. Its one of the best around. It goes nearly everywhere and seems easy for one to self navigate.
The main roads into, around and through the city are mostly two lane type freeways (except they dont call them freeways) that takes a bit of skill to hold your car in place. An off ramp does not necessarily mean an adjacent on ramp to get you back on the highway if you have to do so. If you have a GPS (recommended) set it for «shortest distance» when trying to get you to your destination. If you have it set for fastest, it will get you on and off and on and off these highways until you get royally turned around and lost.
What’s to eat? Name it. A million hole in the wall places to go throughout the city. One exception: Mexican Food. Forget it. It’s not around. In fact, you really don’t notice any people from Mexico around at all. Anywhere. Asian food? Hell yeah. What would you expect? Fully represented and then some. And its the real deal, not the stuff out of a 5 gallon bucket. Ethnic choices abound along side the usual steak houses, fast foods and many many pubs. Canadians like their beer. Especially on hockey night.
Shopping is unlimited. If that’s your target interest, get a room at a core downtown area hotel. You will be smack dab in the middle of what Visa and MasterCard refer to as «Heaven». High end stuff too, and a lot of it. Vancouver is all about small business. Thousands of businesses each with 1500 square feet for you to walk through. Big box stores seem oddly out of place.
One bit of warning: Stay away from East Hastings Street. Several blocks of the most drug infested landscape in B.C. I’m not just talking about the occasional person walking down the street sucking on a doobie. This is heroin land baby… Big Time. The bottom feeders of the down and out’s. It’s actually worth a trip just to look at what top shelf drug addiaction will do to you. Bring those pre-​teen kids along for some street level education and lock the doors. No walking tour. This is the true underbelly of ‘couver.
The people and general population here are friendly and generally very polite. Not too many attitudes. They don’t have time for that. They have a job to do. These people are damn busy, preoccupied and on their way to someplace to get something done. Out of the way please. Thankyou very much and have a grand day, eh? IF you’re from a west coast U.S. city dont expect similarities to your home turf. As an example, Seattle and Vancouver have nothing in common except that they ARE on the west coast. Vancouver is cosmopolitan and seemingly proud of it, but not in a snobbish way.

I love Vancouver! Living here IS as good as it gets.
Every town has it’s share of ‘wobbly bits’ and I’ve learned to embrace hers.
What really gets me is that really, I’ve never been to another place that has people that are so willing to be polite to others (I like to think I speak of Canada as a whole here).
I recently had a visitor from France and we were eating burgers on Granville after a hard shop, and the waitress and I were talking about the current sales and swooning over the brilliant cost of my new jeans. Anyways, my girlfriend asked; so how long have you known her for and I replied I don’t we were just being friendly. She was pretty shocked we weren’t more close. Personally I have no problem with people seeing me as surprisingly-​polite.
The relaxed, welcoming mentality that you’ll find in the people living here is wonderful.
Not to mention the Scenery!!!

I went here a couple months ago to get my City Dog License. Initially I had gone to the wrong building, but was directed to the right place by a very friendly, knowledgable information-​desk-​lady… I then went to the correct building, took a number, waited a short while, and dealt with another friendly, knowledgable lady in order to sort of the licence. All in all it was of painless a bureaucratic experience as I could have hoped for. Well done, City Hall!

If you’re going to City Hall for Development Services (including building and zoning applications), the «East Wing» you are looking for is the regular rectangular building, not the cool tall one with the clock and the flags by 12^th Avenue.
Also, Tuesday morning is a bad idea, since the staff are in a meeting 8:30 to 10:00. I wish I had known that, but oh well. (I mean, they have a reasonably informative website; would it have hurt to write it there?)
Many applications are available online, and regular business license renewals can just be mailed in. Yay. Less people who need to queue, the better.
Enquiry Centre (north end of second floor) has free strong Wi-​Fi.

What is it about Vancouver?
Maybe it’s the rain, maybe it’s the trees, maybe it’s that smell when you’re so far deep into the woods that you swear you’re just breathing in pure oxygen.
Maybe it’s the fantasy of living in a high-​rise apartment downtown and falling asleep the the most beautiful sunset every single evening. Or turning off iTunes and listening to the music of the rain.
Maybe it’s being able to see the mountains without any smog in the way.
Maybe it’s the people.
Maybe it’s the plethoras upon plethoras of pigeons willing to steal a fry out of your hand if given the chance.
Maybe it’s Whistler.
Maybe it’s the beauty of the people.
Maybe it’s the little hole in the wall pubs, maybe it’s the feeling before Christmas when you’d kill for a hot chocolate.
Maybe it’s the kindness of the people.
Maybe it’s the beautiful campus at UBC, or maybe it’s the environmental consciousness that is apparent on every corner.
Maybe it’s the crepes.
Maybe it’s the big city surrounded by nature’s beauty.
Maybe it’s the weather, but maybe it’s the people.

*On my two hundredth review*
Dedicated to 20 things that make me go weak in the knees about this beautiful place that I love calling home! (I know there are a tonne more, but these are off the top of my head!)
20. Being able to keep chickens in backyards.
19. Simon Fraser University — the view on a summer day and for having a downtown campus to escape the autumn/​winter of the Burnaby Campus. (I guess I can thank them for my education as well ;p)
18. Getting to one of first farmer’s market of the season… in the rain but loving the smell of summertime on the horizon.
17. Riding my bike down the streets of Dunbar and Kits and fantasizing about owning a house there one day…
16. Watching as neighbourhoods and the city change and transform, restoring characteristic aspects from yesterday or modernizing for the future. (Yeah! Davie runs through to Pacific again!)
15. Obviously: the mountains, the ocean, the parks, the recreation all at our fingertips!
14. Getting excited for an upcoming event: the fireworks, Jazz festival, Theatre Under the Stars, Folk Festival, Parade of Lost Souls, Water fights, Lantern Festival, I could go on…(and some people think there’s nothing to do here)
13. Granville Island on A Sunny Weekday morning: quiet and bustling at the same time!
12. Having a farm with Vancouver in the address — way to go UBC! Stay strong and stay open!
11.The wafting smell of weed that drifts through beaches and even through my open window… reminding me of younger days.
10.The Seawall in a misty rain, no umbrella, after a huge snowfall, or in the sun.
9. Walking or biking over the Burrard Street Bridge and stopping for birds eye peeks of Granville Island and English Bay.
8. Barbecues at Spanish Banks that last until full darkness sets in, complete with concealed booze.
7. The Roller Coaster at Playland’s rickety ride up to the first drop.
6. The food: the plethora of hole-​in-​the-​walls still waiting to be discovered and the good old faithfuls that bring comfort food to a whole new level. Like the Naam at 2 am on any given weekend…
5. Being able to get lost on a trail in Stanley Park and forgetting that you’re surrounded by city.
4. The West End. My neighbourhood: incredible views, a truckload of awesome people, shops and services. Makes me smile every time I walk outside!
3. Freaking out out-​of-​town visitors on an East Van drive by tour.
2. Watching the Sun Set over the South Gulf islands. It never gets old.
1. After being gone for a long time, flying in to YVR from the East and naming the streets/​neighbourhoods/​cities on the approach, the North Shore Mountains in the backdrop and butterflies in my tummy — home…

Constructed in 1937, the Vancouver City Hall is a beautiful building on 12^th and Cambie that rises high and provides a spectacular view of downtown Vancouver. Like any good city hall, it has a statue of the city’s founding father George Vancouver around the outdoor walkway, which is a nice place to sit and eat lunch if you work at the mall across the street.
Many melodramatic things have happened in this building since its erection, several within the past ten years. Because of Vancouver’s unique problem with drug addiction, there have been several scandals surrounding at least two of the previous mayors. This includes Philip Owen’s forced resignation as Mayor after studying the drug problem and betraying his party lines by agreeing to support harm reduction initiatives like safe injection sites. And then there was Sam Sullivan, who before he was elected as mayor invited two crack addicts into the back of his van to watch them get high.
But neither of this compares to the celebrity status of Larry Campbell, whose history as the city’s mortician was the blueprint for the popular protagonist in TV’s Divinci’s Inquest. After being elected, he divided the party lines of his own party and split the group into two separate entities. And then the main character of Divinci’s Inquest became Mayor.
The people who work here, including the engineers and clerks, are very friendly and clearly enjoy their jobs. People are allowed to roam around a little and feel the tremors of the city’s most powerful decisions being compromised by developers. The people at the front desk are helpful and you can call ahead about guided tours.