Living in Vancouver

• Licensed Childcare Centres – Regulated by the Province of British Columbia, these centres offer full-day and part-day care for children from infants to school age. Wait lists can be long, so it is recommended to begin your search well in advance of your arrival.
• Family Childcare – Licensed home-based childcare operated by registered providers in a residential setting. These tend to have smaller group sizes.
• Before and After School Care – Available at many elementary schools and community centres for school-aged children.
• Occasional or Drop-in Care – Some community centres and organizations offer flexible, short-term childcare options.

• BC Child Care Map – Use the Province of British Columbia’s online Child Care Map to search for licensed childcare near your home or our campus: https://maps.gov.bc.ca/ess/hm/ccf/
• Vancouver Child Care Resource & Referral – Provides free assistance to families searching for childcare in the Vancouver area: https://www.westcoastfamily.org/child-care-resource-and-referral
• Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) – Some eligible facilities offer reduced fees under the federal $10-a-day childcare program. Check with individual providers for availability.

Childcare fees in Vancouver vary depending on the type of care and the age of the child. Monthly costs can range from approximately $900 to $1,500 or more. Subsidies may be available for eligible families through the BC Child Care Subsidy program: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/child-care-funding/child-care-subsidy

 Our student services team is happy to help you with general guidance on finding childcare. Please contact us at esl@lcieducation.com for assistance.

Canada has several major mobile carriers as well as budget-friendly options. As an international student, you can purchase a prepaid or postpaid SIM card upon arrival. Popular providers include:

• Telus – https://www.telus.com
• Bell – https://www.bell.ca
• Rogers – https://www.rogers.com
• Fido (owned by Rogers, budget-friendly) – https://www.fido.ca
• Koodo (owned by Telus, budget-friendly) – https://www.koodomobile.com
• Public Mobile (prepaid, no-contract) – https://www.publicmobile.ca
• Lucky Mobile (prepaid, no-contract) – https://www.luckymobile.ca

You will need your passport and a Canadian address to set up a plan. Prepaid SIM cards are available at convenience stores, carrier retail locations, and shopping centres throughout Vancouver.

Expect to pay approximately $25–$60 per month for a basic plan with data, depending on the carrier and plan type.

• On Campus – Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the LCI Language School campus for all registered students.
• Homestay– Wi-Fi is included in all homestays.
• Home Internet – If you are renting your own apartment, major internet providers include Telus, Shaw (now Rogers), and smaller providers such as TekSavvy (https://www.teksavvy.com) and Novus (https://www.novusnow.ca).
• Public Wi-Fi – Free Wi-Fi is available at all Vancouver Public Library branches, many coffee shops, and select public spaces throughout the city.

• Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) – https://www.rbc.com (ofrece un paquete bancario para recién llegados)
• TD Canada Trust – https://www.td.com (ofrece un paquete Nuevo en Canadá)
• Bank of Montreal (BMO) – https://www.bmo.com (ofrece una cuenta corriente para recién llegados)
• Scotiabank – https://www.scotiabank.com (ofrece el Programa StartRight para recién llegados)
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) – https://www.cibc.com

You will need your passport and a Canadian address to set up a plan. Prepaid SIM cards are available at convenience stores, carrier retail locations, and shopping centres throughout Vancouver.

• Most banks will provide a debit card for everyday purchases.
• Interac e-Transfer is a popular and convenient way to send and receive money in Canada.
• Many student accounts have no monthly fees or reduced fees for the first year.
• ATMs are widely available throughout Vancouver; using your own bank’s ATM avoids service fees.