Vancouver Named Top City in North America to Live

With over 200 parks, swift public transit, clean air and an ocean and mountain setting, Vancouver is the best North American city in which to live according to Mercer’s 2009 Quality of Living global city ranking. The annual quality of living survey, released in April, also rated Vancouver as the fourth best city in the world for quality of living (after Vienna, Zurich and Geneva). The analysis was based on an evaluation of 215 cities using 39 quality of living criteria including social, economic and environmental factors.

OTHER HONOURS FOR VANCOUVER

Mercer Human Resource Consulting (April 2009)
In its annual quality of living survey, Mercer again rated Vancouver as the top city in North America to live. Vancouver was also ranked the fourth best city in the world for quality of living. The analysis was based on an evaluation of 215 cities using 39 quality of living criteria including social, economic, and environmental factors; personal safety and health; education; transport; and other public services.

Travel Weekly Magazine (December 2008)
Travel Weekly Magazine acknowledged Vancouver as the top Canadian destination for 2008 in their sixth annual awards issue. Vancouver has won all six times.

The Daily Telegraph (December 2007)
Readers of British broadsheet newspaper The Daily Telegraph ranked Vancouver third in the Favourite Foreign City category of the 2007 Telegraph Travel Awards. Vancouver placed just behind Sydney and Cape Town.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (August 2007)
According to a survey conducted by the EIU, Vancouver is the world’s most desirable place to live. Vancouver topped the list of four Canadian cities ranking at the top of the liveability survey, which looked at conditions in 132 cities. The study assessed nearly 40 indicators in five broad categories – stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Vancouver also received this honour the last time the rankings were published in 2005.

CondГ© Nast Traveler (November 2006)
For the third year in a row, CondГ© Nast Traveler voted Vancouver the “Best City in the Americas” at their annual Readers’ Choice Awards in New York. Vancouver won the top spot over Buenos Aires and Mexico’s San Miguel de Allende.

Community Marketing Inc. (November 2006)
Vancouver was recognized as the number one gay leisure travel destination in Canada during an international survey conducted by Community Marketing Inc. (CMI). The annual survey, with over 7,500 gay and lesbian participants, is the largest of its kind and placed Vancouver at the top spot within Canada above both Montreal and Toronto.

The Economist (November 2005)
In “The World in 2006,” its publication containing a round-up of international economic and political topics, The Economist voted Vancouver the top worldwide destination for business travel. The ranking was based on costs, crime, climate, transportation, airport distances and accommodation quality.

Project for Public Spaces (September 2005)
The prestigious New York-based Project for Public Spaces added Stanley Park to its list of the world’s prime public spaces. The report states that “Stanley Park is a great lesson in public-space real estate: its best assets are location, location, location.”

Canadian Travel Courier & Canadian Travel Press (July 2005)
Each of these prominent travel trade publications listed Vancouver as the number one choice for airports after polling travel agents and tour operators from across the country in their Agents’ Choice Awards.

June 9, 2009   Posted in: Canada