Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Useful Information
Media
The two largest
newspapers in BC are
produced in Vancouver,
the
Vancouver Sun
and the
Vancouver Province
. The
two national newspapers,
the
Globe and Mail
and
the
National Post
, are also
available. Popular radio
stations include CBC
Radio Two (FM 105.7)
for classical music,
NEWS 1130 (AM 1130)
for news, The FOX (FM
99.3) for rock music, and
QMFM (FM103.5) for
easy-listening music. The
most popular Canadian
TV stations are CBC,
CTV, Global, Bravo,
CityTV, and, in BC, the
Knowledge Network.
arrive with at least $100
in local currency and get
change on arrival for tip-
ping and transit.
prefix 1 and then the area
code. To dial abroad, dial
011 + country code + city
code (dropping the first 0).
Ta x e s
In Canada, taxes are
not included in the listed
price unless specified, so
when making a purchase
add a further 7 percent
for PST (provincial sales
tax) and 7 percent for
GST (goods and services
tax), except on alcohol,
spirits and wines, which
are taxed at 10 percent
GST. An additional hotel
room tax of between 8
and 10 percent is charged
in BC. Some taxes are
refundable when you
leave Canada
(see p112)
.
Public Holidays
New Year's Day (Jan
1), Good Friday and East-
er Monday (Mar or Apr),
Victoria Day (usually 3rd
Mon in May), Canada
Day (Jul 1), BC Day (1st
Mon in Aug), Labour Day
(1st Mon in Sep), Thanks-
giving (2nd Mon in Oct),
Christmas Day (Dec 25),
Boxing Day (Dec 26).
Remembrance Day (Nov
11) is a holiday for banks
and government offices.
Accessibility
Vancouver and Victo-
ria work hard to make
their attractions and serv-
ices accessible but it is
best to check ahead. In
Vancouver, SeaBus and
SkyTrain are accessible,
and all SkyTrain stations
have elevators. Lift and
“kneeling” public transit
buses for people with
mobility aids operate on
many routes in both
cities
(see p107)
.
Entertainment
Listings
Georgia Straight
, a weekly
Vancouver tabloid, is avail-
able free at cafés, bars,
bookshops, libraries, and
street boxes. It is the best
source to check the local
music and art scene. For
same-day savings on tick-
ets to many events and
performances, try Tickets
Tonight at the Burrard St
Tourist Infocentre
(see
p108)
. d
www.straight.com
Websites
Helpful infomation
for planning your trip to
Vancouver,Victoria, and
Whistler is available
online.
d
www.
city.vancouver.bc.ca • www.
tourismvancouver.bc.com
• www.tourismvictoria.com
• www.tourismwhistler.com
Telephones
Public telephones are
often both coin- and card-
operated. Local calls cost
$0.25; directory assis-
tance (411) is free. Most
convenience stores sell
phone cards. Within
Greater Vancouver, you
must prefix the local tele-
phone number with area
code 604. Long-distance
calls in BC require either
a 604 or 250 prefix. For a
long-distance number in
North America, dial the
Consulates
In emergencies, your
consulate may be of assis-
tance. d
UK: 800-1111
Melville St, 604 683 4421
•
USA: 1095 W Pender St,
604 685 4311
Currency
The Canadian unit of
currency is the dollar,
which is divided into 100
cents. Coins come in
denominations of 1, 5,
10, and 25 cents, and 1
and 2 dollars. Bank notes
(bills) come in denomina-
tions of $5, $10, $20, $50,
$100, and $500. Plan to
Drinking
The legal drinking
age in BC is 19. Con-
suming alcoholic bever-
ages in public spaces is
not allowed.
For more information about tax refunds for visitors to Canada,
visit the website www.ccradrc.gc.ca/visitors
110
