A Better Vancouver
About Vancouver
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Location
Vancouver is a large coastline city located in the far southwest of Canada. The city center or downtown rests on a peninsula jutting out from the main land. The outskirts revolve around the cities center and are defined by the unique water way of the region.
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Economy
Vancouver is home to roughly 3 million people. While the city center is fairly dense, there are numerous suburbs and neighborhoods around the area. Overall, Vancouver has a very successful economy with its main export being natural resources. However, over the past few decades the city has faced some issues with the cost of living.
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Social
Vancouver is a highly diverse city. The majority of people here are either Asian or Canadian. There is also a wide variety of age groups throughout the area. Overall, the people of Vancouver highly value their ethnic diversity and culture which is shown throughout the city. Additionally, the city prioritizes innovation, social health, and sustainability.
Ocean and Coastline Relations
One of the most significant aspects of Vancouver’s urban ecology is the Ocean, Shoreline, and Waterways that surround and define this great city. The city has developed a massive seafood culture that relies on the on the surrounding environment. Additionally, the shoreline and complex waterways around the city play a big role in the cities economic success. They promote socially healthy places for locals and increase desire for businesses with key locations. The abundance of water also allows for green space to continue to grow throughout the city as some areas become impossible to build on or are liked by the public.
On the other hand, the wetlands and shoreline are almost entirely saltwater. So, even with an abundance of water, the city still has issues with providing clean drinking water to the people. Additionally, the city has seen drastic levels of pollution in the waterways and ocean due to the industrial revolution.
Land use and Biodiversity
Vancouver is known for having a large amount of green space for being such a dense city. There are numerous parks scattered throughout the area. This is highly beneficial to preserving wildlife and biodiversity within the city. Additionally, these spaces are loved among the people for their recreation and healthy living standards. The most significant land ecologies are not found in the city however. Just outside of Vancouver are beautiful mountain ranges and dense forests. While Vancouver has made great steps in making the city itself more green, they must also figure out how to preserve the surrounding environments for native species and biodiversity.
Vancouver’s Urban Ecology
John Hendry Park
Queen Elizabeth Park
Charleson Park
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Vanier Park
Capilano Park
Nitobe Memorial garden
Guelph Park
Stanley Park
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese garden