With its scenic views, mild climate, and friendly people, Vancouver is known around the world as both a popular tourist attraction and one of the best places to live.Vancouver is also one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada with 52 percent of the population speaking a first language other than English.Vancouver is Canada's 3rd largest city with an area population of just under 3 million. It has the mildest climate (along with Victoria) in Canada. Unlike most Canadian Cities, Vancouver is divided into several self-governing municipalities. (Vancouver city itself only has a population of about 565,000). The generic term for Vancouver and its environs is the "Lower Mainland" or "Greater Vancouver".Vancouver is North America's second largest Port (in tonnage & physical size - after New York) and one of the world’s major cruise ship ports. I believe it is the 4th largest cruise ship terminus in the world. Vancouver has the highest proportion (per capita) of Asians of any North American city. This makes for a great selection of Oriental restaurants. It has one of the largest and oldest Chinatowns in North America. -Related to the above, Vancouverites dine out more than in any other North American city.Vancouver is the second or third largest film production centre in North America. It is second to LA in Television production & third behind LA & NYC in Feature film production.This is due to favourable tax concessions to the industry, the year round mild climate, and Vancouver's wide variety of locales. There are currently 3 film Studios (Lions Gate, Bridge and Paramount) and another large one is in the planning stage.Vancouver has over 1 million automobiles, almost one for every 2 people. Combine this with the fact downtown is essentially an island, and you have one of the worst traffic nightmares in North America. - -Vancouver contains the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Canada. The wealthiest is West Vancouver where the average annual household income is over $60,000. This is an average, the area has tons of millionaires. -The West End of Vancouver is the most densely populated area in North America. Vancouver is probably the only place in the world where it is possible to ski, play golf, and go sailing all in the same day.