Vancouver offers a respectable international and Canadian school market for relocating families. The BC public school system is high quality. The independent school sector covers the IB, Canadian and traditional independent options.
The school landscape
Public schools follow the British Columbia curriculum leading to the Dogwood diploma. International school fees at private schools sit at CAD 25,000 to 35,000 per year. The IB Diploma is delivered at Mulgrave and Stratford Hall. Public schools are tuition-free for permanent residents.
Neighbourhoods
West Vancouver hosts Mulgrave and Collingwood. The City of Vancouver (Kerrisdale, Point Grey, Shaughnessy) hosts Crofton House, St George's and West Point Grey Academy. North Vancouver and Burnaby have growing expat populations.
Housing
Vancouver housing is expensive. School-catchment housing in the established west-side neighbourhoods is at the top of the Canadian market. Most relocating families rent rather than buy initially.
What to know
Canadian work permits and PR pathways are well-defined. For families intending to stay long-term, the path to PR is structured. For families on shorter postings, the international schools handle work-permit-tied students routinely.