English Bay — Attraction in Vancouver

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, English Bay Beach was home to Vancouver's first official lifeguard, the legendary Joe Fortes, who taught hundreds of the city's early residents how to swim, and patrolled the beach from his cabin on its shore. Today, the waters of the bay are often dotted with hundreds of small pleasure boats, as well as huge freighters waiting at anchor to load cargoes at Vancouver's port. The beach was the site of an oil spill in Vancouver on April 8, 2015. The official cause of the spill has not been confirmed, but at least 2700 litres of "bunker fuel" are known to have escaped from a cargo ship into the bay. The highly toxic oil later washed up on nearby beaches, creating a slick 15–20 cm thick. At least twenty seabirds were injured or affected by the spill, but the full extent of any environmental and economic damage is unknown at this early stage. The federal government was criticized for its response to the spill, including the delay in notifying the public of the health hazard, by the mayor and premier, environmental scientists, and an international shipping expert. Coast Guard officials defended the response, with regional director Assistant Commissioner Roger Girouard saying, "it was exceptional". The beaches were tested and most were reopened following a ten-day closure. While the water and soil at most of the beaches tested was found not to have harmful levels of oil present, the government cautioned that "small amounts" of oil may remain, and urged people to be aware of the possible hazard and avoid contact with any oil. The reopened beaches will continue to be tested and the need for further cleanup...

English Bay Beach is a beautiful and relaxing place to visit in Vancouver. Whether you want to sunbathe, swim, or watch the sunset, this beach has something for everyone. You can enjoy the views of the ocean and the mountains, or stroll along the Stanley Park Seawall, a popular running and biking route. You can also find various activities and events at the beach, such as the Polar Bear Swim, the Celebration of Light, and volleyball. There are plenty of amenities nearby, such as restaurants, cafes, and public washrooms. English Bay Beach is a great destination for a day out with family, friends, or yourself. You will feel refreshed and rejuvenated after spending some time at this...

The hotel is old and my room was a little rundown, though clean. The armchair looked like it had been rescued from a skip but the other furniture was fine. I had a view of the beach but the windows were very dirty. There was also an awful smell of disinfectant when I arrived. The room was large with a queen and a single bed, TV, table and chairs and a small kitchen. There was a good sized, clean fridge but the age of the bench and other appliances and the mishmash of utensils didn’t encourage me to use them. There was reasonable sized bathroom. The street outside was a bit noisy at night till about 11pm but the area was relatively quiet in...