One of Canada’s largest convention centres, Vancouver Convention Centre is located close to the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia. The centre, with 43,340 square metres of state of the art meeting space, is home to over 500 events each year. These include trade and consumer shows, conventions and private functions.
The centre is divided into two parts, East and West Buildings. East Building, located at Canada Place, shares its space with a cruise ship terminal and luxury accommodations. Here, visitors will find 8,500 square metres of open, dividable exhibition space, a ballroom and 20 meeting rooms. The larger, contemporary West Building houses 20,490 square metres of convention space plus large areas of retail and outdoor public space. The retail space runs along the waterfront where bikeways and plazas offer seating, shopping, dining and spectacular views across the water. The convention centres “living roof” is the largest in the country. The rooftop landscape incorporates over 400,000 plants and several colonies of bees which provide honey for local restaurants. Nearby, visitors can take a boat cruise to explore Vancouver and the Canadian coastline. The passenger-friendly Port of Vancouver is also the main home port for cruise liners heading for Alaska. Alternatively, those who don’t wish to leave the city can enjoy virtual flight ride, Flyover Canada. The ride takes visitors on a breathtaking flight across Canada, showcasing its most famous landmarks and beautiful scenery.
Reaching the Vancouver Convention Centre is easy, several modes of transport are available. The efficient transit system operates buses, sea buses and Skytrains. The centre is also accessible by foot from central Vancouver in 10-15 minutes. The city has an extensive network of cycling routes, some of which lead to Vancouver Convention Centre. Taxis and Uber are also readily available. Visitors arriving by car will find underground parking facilities at the centre.
Vancouver Convention Centre opened in 1986, with the newer West Building following in 2009. The expansion was put in place prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The state of the art convention centre was home to many international broadcasting entities during the Olympics. Both East and West Buildings have achieved award status for their facilities and sustainability. Today, the convention centre remains a popular trade, event and conference centre. Its contemporary architecture, facilities and events attract visitors from all over the world.