Vancouver

Vancouver is a modern city on the shores of the Pacific Ocean with spectacular scenery - a natural harbor, majestic mountains, sandy beaches and a sparkling ocean that set the mood for a relaxed lifestyle. Vancouver has been acclaimed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and it is easy to see why! Majestic snowcapped mountains and ancient evergreen forests stretch into the sparkling blue Pacific; ocean side parks lead the way to sandy beaches. In the heart of it all there is a safe, clean city basking in a mild climate year-round. Friendly, outgoing people are ready to greet you with a warm, west coast welcome.

The city lies between the mountains to the North and the Delta of the mighty Fraser River to the South. There is a distinct cosmopolitan flavor to the city. Western and Eastern cultures, together with the intriguing west coast native culture have found a home in Vancouver. Shop for exquisite native carvings, masks and prints! View its unique parks with haunting totem poles, plazas and beautiful buildings that graciously remind us of the city's heritage.

Enjoy world-class dining from rich French cuisine to sumptuous Chinese cooking. Try the spicy surprises from Indonesia, the smoky morsels of Native Indian cooking and the delicate elegance of Japanese sushi. Seafood is the local delicacy, fresh from the ocean and cooked for you in many imaginative ways.

Downtown Vancouver is exciting for visitors. The Gastown area, a restored area where the city began, is a great area to soak up the city’s historic atmosphere and have lunch at one of the many quaint restaurants. Chinatown in Vancouver is the second largest one in North America. Robson Street, a delightful shopping section with a rich European flavor, offers everything from small boutiques to larger, hi-end fashion stores. Granville Island, with its large market and specialty restaurants, is the place to spend some leisure time. Part farmers’ market, part artists’ district, it's one of the busiest spots in Vancouver. Other sites to visit are the Vancouver Museum, Art Gallery, The Orpheum, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, and the impressive new city library. Visit the University of British Columbia with its unique Museum of Anthropology and Nitobe Gardens and the Simon Fraser University, designed by Arthur Erickson, Canada's most prestigious architect.

One can stroll through Vancouver's beautiful Stanley Park, the largest city park in Canada. There are hundreds of acres of lush green forest, pristine lakes and grassy meadows, surrounded by the sea with its world famous Aquarium. Described by one local writer as a "thousand-acre therapeutic couch", it began as a military reserve established in the mid-1800s to guard the entrance to Vancouver harbor.

From the Park can be seen the beautiful Lions Gate Bridge, Burrard Inlet and the North Shore mountains. The bridge was built and paid for by the Guinness Brewing Company in order to give people access to the North Shore. High above the Lion's Gate Bridge, to the north, are two distinct mountain peaks, overlooking Vancouver's harbour, known as The Lions.

When time permits exploration outside of the city, a great place to start is Vancouver’s North Shore, featuring attractions such as the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Capilano Canyon and a little further on, Grouse Mountain, offering a scenic, 6 minute tram ride high over the forests and lakes among the mountain peaks. The views are breathtaking; ships in the harbor, the glittering Strait of Georgia and far off Vancouver Island.
 

Situated in Vancouver's Coal Harbour, the Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina is the city's only downtown resort and conference centre. Panoramic views of the coastline, mountains, and Stanley Park add to the beauty and mystique of this unique resort.

Connected to the historic 1,000 acre Stanley Park via its picturesque seawall, visitors are able to enjoy ocean-side jogging, cycling and Rollerblading. There are numerous resort amenities, including a full-service health and fitness centre with steam rooms, saunas, elliptical trainers, treadmills, massage therapists, hair salon, and both indoor and outdoor pools.

The hotel’s 510 spacious guest rooms offer sophisticated furnishings with soothing earth tones, incredible views and the Westin Heavenly Bed®. The brand new conference facilities feature the largest hotel ballroom in western Canada, plus 22 other meeting rooms, totaling 48,000 square feet.
 

The hotel with the Stanley Park

Marina view from the hotel

All-day passes allowing unlimited travel may be purchased. Tickets and transfers are dispensed by drivers on buses (correct change only), by machines at SkyTrain stations and SeaBus terminals, and at corner store ticket outlets located throughout the city. Daily transit passes may be purchased. Additional transit information will be available at the meeting registration and information desk.