Below you'll find insider tips on getting the best from Vancouver, from hints on finding a home to reviews of the hottest restaurants in town.
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Utilities & Services
Vancouver is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, especially when it comes to water. Rivers, lakes, creeks and high annual rainfall provide a plentiful water supply, and... read more
Electricity
When it comes to electricity, the government holds a virtual monopoly through its Crown corporation, BC Hydro (604 224 9376, www.bchydro.com), which is the largest electric utility in BC.... read more
Water
Vancouver is a very environmentally conscious city. The government has numerous conservation schemes in place to help reduce the use of water and prevent shortages. These are entirely... read more
Gas
Nearly all residential gas is supplied through Terasen Gas (250 979 4900, www.terasengas.com), a private company that took over the provincial gas utility several decades ago and is... read more
Sewerage
Vancouver’s sewerage system is extremely reliable and is continuously being upgraded. Separate sewers for stormwater and sanitary drainage are now the norm, with a few combined-purpose... read more
Rubbish Disposal and Recycling
Vancouver has weekly rubbish removal services that are operated by the city. For detached homes, the city provides homeowners with separate containers for garbage, grass and hedge... read more
Telephone
As with most utilities, Vancouver’s landline phone service operates under an almost complete monopoly. Telus (604 310 2255, www.telus.com) is a private company that is the major provider... read more
Internet
Almost every home in BC has access to internet service, and most are high-speed broadband or DSL connections, with download speeds of three to six mbps (megabytes per second), rather than... read more
