Vancouver Convention Centre

The Vancouver Convention Centre sits on the downtown Vancouver waterfront at Canada Place, with views across Burrard Inlet to the North Shore mountains. It is best known as a venue for conferences and trade shows, but it is also one of the easiest places in the city to enjoy a public waterfront, large-scale public art and a six-acre living roof. Several public shows and winter events also take place here each year, including the Circle Craft Holiday Market in November.

What is the Vancouver Convention Centre?

The Vancouver Convention Centre is a waterfront facility made up of two buildings. The East Building is part of Canada Place, which opened in 1986 as the Canada Pavilion at Expo 86. The West Building sits next door and opened to the public in 2009. Together they host conventions, trade shows, conferences and public exhibitions throughout the year, and the centre is home to the TED Conference.

The two buildings are linked by the waterfront walkway, so you can stroll between them along the harbour. The West Building is at 1055 Canada Place, and the East Building is at 999 Canada Place. Canada Place also has a cruise ship terminal, a hotel and the Canada Place sails you will see in most photos of the harbour.

The living roof and green design

The West Building has a six-acre living roof, the largest in Canada and the largest non-industrial living roof in North America. It is planted with more than 400,000 native plants and grasses, supports bee colonies, and is irrigated with the building's own treated wastewater. The building is also certified LEED Platinum, and it uses seawater for heating and cooling. At the waterfront, the foundation includes a marine habitat that supports fish and other sea life.

The roof is best admired from the surrounding plazas and the waterfront, since access inside the building depends on what is on. The centre has held an annual Canada Day open house in the West Building, so check the official site for any public tours or open days.

Public art, Jack Poole Plaza and the waterfront

You can see most of the area's best sights without a ticket. Sixteen art installations are found on and around the grounds. The best known is Douglas Coupland's Digital Orca, a pixelated orca that appears to leap from the harbour and is one of the most photographed sights in Vancouver. Another is The Drop by Inges Idee. More than 60 interpretive panels created by artist John Gray line the seawall and the building's indoor walls, telling stories from British Columbia's history.

Jack Poole Plaza, outside the West Building, is home to the Olympic Cauldron from the 2010 Winter Games. It is also where the Vancouver Christmas Market is set up each winter. Walk west from here and you join the seawall toward Coal Harbour and Stanley Park.

Events at the Vancouver Convention Centre

Most events here are trade shows or conferences, but many consumer shows and festivals welcome the public. Past and upcoming examples include the Circle Craft Holiday Market, Fan Expo Vancouver and The Wellness Show. The Circle Craft Holiday Market usually takes over the West Building each November with hundreds of Canadian artisans, and the Vancouver Christmas Market runs next door at Jack Poole Plaza. For more winter plans, see our Christmas markets in Vancouver guide and our festivals and events hub.

Always check the official Vancouver Convention Centre site before you go. Some events are trade-only, some need tickets, and public access to the buildings can change with each event.

How to get to the Vancouver Convention Centre

• By transit: take SkyTrain on the Expo Line or Canada Line to Waterfront Station, which also has SeaBus and West Coast Express service. The centre is a short walk from the station along Canada Place.
• On foot or by bike: the waterfront walkway and seawall run right past the centre, and the path is flat.
• By car: parking is available at the West Building. Check the official site for rates and availability, and allow extra time on cruise ship days and event days when downtown is busy.
• By rideshare or taxi: ask to be dropped at 1055 Canada Place for the West Building or 999 Canada Place for the East Building.

For a wider look at getting around, see our Vancouver guide.

Things to do near the Vancouver Convention Centre

• Canada Place: harbour views and the sails, right next door.
• The seawall to Stanley Park: a flat waterfront walk or bike ride along the harbour.
• Chinatown: a short trip from downtown for food and shops.
• Gastown and the Vancouver Art Gallery: both are an easy trip from the waterfront.
• Best sunset spots in Vancouver: the harbour is a good place to watch the evening light.
• Rainy day activities in Vancouver: options for wet weather.

Tips for visiting

• Check the events calendar before you visit, since the building can be closed to the public.
• Visit on a weekday morning for a quieter waterfront.
• Bring a rain jacket in fall and winter. The plazas are open to the sky.
• Go near sunset for the best light on the harbour and the mountains.
• See our best time to visit Vancouver guide for seasonal planning.

Frequently asked questions