Why ECU | Creative Excellence

Vancouver Advantage

A panoramic view of downtown Vancouver’s False Creek waterfront, featuring the iconic geodesic dome of Science World in the foreground. The calm waters reflect the surrounding high-rise buildings and the BC Place Stadium, with distant mountains framing the skyline under a clear blue sky. This vibrant urban landscape highlights the neighborhood adjacent to Emily Carr University of Art + Design, showcasing its dynamic blend of culture, architecture, and natural beauty.
Why ECU | Creative Excellence

Vancouver Advantage

Vancouver Advantage

Vancouver is both our backdrop and a constant source of inspiration. Here, coastal forests meet city streets, Indigenous art abounds and film crews share sidewalks with fashion designers. As one of the world’s most livable cities, Vancouver offers you both a degree but a vibrant life experience of discovery, possibility and creative energy.

Why Vancouver is a Creative Magnet

Vancouver’s creative heartbeat runs deep. Nearly half the city’s residents were born abroad, creating a culturally rich mosaic of voices, traditions and perspectives.

The city has been named by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the best cities in the world for its blend of nature, art and food. It is regularly identified by ArtNews as an “Art City to Watch” for its artist-run culture and experimental energy.

Everything feels interconnected: arts festivals, galleries, public sculpture, Indigenous and immigrant-led practices all have a presence. Creativity lives both inside and outside the studio.

Nature, Place + Life Outside the Studio

Mountains, ocean, and forests — in Vancouver, nature is part of your daily life.

  • The North Shore Mountains (Grouse, Seymour, Cypress) are 20–30 minutes away for hiking, skiing, and trail days. Whistler is 2 hours away.
  • The 10 km Seawall around Stanley Park offers ocean, forest, and skyline views (Destination Vancouver).
  • False Creek, rivers, and nearby islands are ready for kayaking and exploration.
  • All of this is paired with the pulse of city life: cafés, galleries, markets, music, and festivals are never far away.
A behind-the-scenes view of a virtual production shoot inside Emily Carr University’s Integrated Motion Studio. Three performers in futuristic space suits stand before a massive, curved LED volume displaying a vibrant, swirling cosmic tunnel in blues, pinks, and yellows. A film crew operates a camera rig nearby, capturing the scene against the immersive digital backdrop — showcasing how physical sets are replaced by computer-generated environments.

Industry, Film, Media + Global Reach

Vancouver is known as “Hollywood North” for a reason. It is one of the top film and television production hubs in North America, supporting thousands of jobs and major projects every year (Wikipedia). The city is also home to global leaders in creative tech, gaming, fashion, animation, and media. Brands like Arc’teryx, Aritzia, EA, and Ubisoft thrive here, and many ECU alumni work in these industries.

As a Pacific Rim city, Vancouver connects you to Asia, the Americas, and global creative networks. Your work can live locally and travel globally.

Recognition + More Facts

  • Vancouver ranked in the top 10 most livable cities worldwide in 2025 by the Economist Intelligence Unit. ImmigCanada
  • Nearly 50% of residents were born abroad, making it one of Canada’s most diverse cities. Wikipedia
  • Voted one of “best cities in the world” by Conde Nast Traveler for nature + arts + culinary life. Destination Vancouver

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