Section E
Location Profiles
University of British Columbia
2075 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z1
Tel: (604) 822-2211
The University
The University of British Columbia is situated in one of the most spectacular natural settings in North America on the western-most tip of Vancouver. UBC has a new downtown campus located at Robson Square and is a member of the Great Northern Way consortium, a new downtown site for high-tech research and development. Its strong academic and research programs, high-quality faculty, diverse student body, and proximity to the Pacific Rim combine to make UBC one of Canada's finest universities. UBC is a broadly-based comprehensive university.
Teaching and research are conducted in 12 faculties and all disciplines, with a wide range of professional programs including a highly-regarded medical school. The university's outstanding faculty is recognized with many national and international research and teaching awards and prizes, including the 1993 Nobel Prize for Chemistry awarded to the late Michael Smith. More than 150 UBC faculty are fellows of the Royal Society of Canada. UBC researchers are members of 18 of the 19 networks in the federal government's Networks of Centres of Excellence program, and one network is headquartered at UBC. The university library has 21 branches and service divisions, including three that serve off-campus, affiliated teaching hospitals and one at Robson Square. UBC's athletics and recreation department offers a wide range of recreational sport and fitness opportunities to more than 37,000 students annually and also administers one of Canada's most successful interuniversity athletic programs.
About Vancouver: Facts and Figures
Vancouver is the largest metropolitan area in Western Canada and the third largest in the country. It lies sandwiched between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Vancouver is Canada's gateway to the Pacific Rim and its harbour, the busiest on the west coast of North America which handles nearly all of Canada's trade with Asia. The beautiful slopes of Whistler are within driving distance. The economy has exhibited strong growth as the region undertakes several major construction projects (including a new RAV line) and preparation for the Olympics in 2010.
Employment
Vancouver unemployment rate (2006): 4.8%; national average: 6.4%
Main language spoken in homes
English: 78%, French: 0.4%, Other: 21.6%
Largest minority language groups (in decreasing order as of 2001) Chinese, South Asian, Filipino, Korean, Southeast Asian, Japanese, Latin American, Black, Multiple visible minorities, Arab
Aboriginal population
36,855 (1.8% of the urban population as of 2001)
Family and housing
Avg monthly rent for a two-bedroom (2006) $1,273
Avg residential house price (2006) $518,176 Climate
Avg January temperature (ºC) 5
Avg July temperature (ºC) 23
Avg annual "snow" (cm) 51
Avg annual "rain" (mm) 1117/yr
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