The horror stories that I heard and read online about hours for waiting in line around the blocks…read moremust have been a thing of the past during the pandemic. Granted my visit today was an in-person submission of a simplified adult renewal application. There was no line at the entrance to the office. I advised the 2 security guards the purpose of my visit. I was given a slip to complete my credit card information for the application fee. One of them then led me to a very short line for 1 window with only 2 people ahead of me. I had my form fully completed (but not signed yet), my photos and my current passport. When it was my turn, the clerk reviewed my form, had me signed the application form and another form with my picture pasted on, and told me my passport will be mailed in 2 weeks time so I should get it by registered in 2-5 business days from the day it is mailed. I asked about the pick up option. She told me it would not be any faster and there would be an extra charge of $20 so I opted for the mailing option. Including waiting for the 2 people ahead of me to be processed, I was in an out in 30 minutes.

3 hours wait time for simple passport renewal so far and counting ... supervisor makes zero effort…read moreto improve process ... Intead convinces people to leave and not come back ... incompetence.ca

Really cute park near a school. A lot of space for families and they have a really big jungle gym…read more It's pretty quiet and relaxing. Love the trees and environment here.

For a government agency, I've found that customs surprisingly lacks bureaucracy. I immigrated to…read moreCanada, so I had produce a list of items I would import at a later date -- duty-free as a new arrival. I forgot two items, and I thought it would be a mess. No problem. I went to this office, and the officer just added it and stamped my list. If you forget the address, remember to search on Yelp. It's not easy to find this anywhere else. I got it from a customs officer I met in Victoria, BC.

vancouver public library is a wealth of information and resources for the community, housed in a…read morestriking building designed to resemble a modern day coliseum. the library provides accessible services to help ensure everyone can use the space comfortably, along with social services and community support resources. it also regularly features events such as talks, workshops, and activities for different age groups. the architecture is organized across several levels. the lower level is currently under construction. level 2 contains the main entrance, information desk, children's collection, library card services, and borrowing services. level 3 focuses on digital creativity, featuring the inspiration lab. this space provides free access to soundproof recording studios, including three sound booths for small groups and the larger terry mcbride recording studio for video and photography. to use these, you can book a session online up to two weeks in advance with your library card, allowing for a maximum of three hours per day. level 4 has collections related to business, cookbooks, esl, and fashion. level 5 is a quiet floor with newspapers and magazines available. level 6 holds dvds, music cds, and spoken word materials. level 7 includes special collections and human resources. level 8 features meeting rooms, a reading room, an eating area, temporary exhibit space, the family theatre, and several outdoor patios for fresh air while you work. level 9 includes additional meeting rooms and a very nice rooftop garden that serves as a great escape with a panoramic view of the city skyline. this green space is even equipped with solar panels that help power the ninth floor. beyond books, the library hosts a musical instrument lending library. you can borrow a variety of instruments free of charge for up to three weeks, including acoustic and electric guitars, violins, ukuleles, and keyboards. to borrow one, simply check the library catalogue to see if it is available and visit the service desk at the central library. inside the building, there are also several convenient services and businesses, including a td machine, blenz coffee, a convenience store, gift store, dental clinic, bike shop, and onigiri ya. together, these resources make the library a welcoming and useful place to study, learn, and spend time.

If I lived here, I'd go to the library at least twice a week (unlike now, where I only check out…read moreebooks online, and go in once every two years when they make me verify my residency). What an incredible resource for the citizens of Vancouver! We had a long layover so we explored every single floor of this library. There were so many computer stations if you needed to do work online, but also so many little nooks with comfy seating to settle down in with a good book. The rooftop had an incredible view of downtown Vancouver, and the atrium was nice and warm. There was currently an "electronic concert" going on where there were chairs set up so people could listen to recordings played over the speakers in the atrium. I thought it was a really neat way to get the community together to listen, discuss, and engage with one another.

Showed up here due to a CPP issues. I was surprised on the wait. Holy Moly 4 hours. It was crazy…read more After waiting for 30 min, I decided to walk in and ask if I can just drop my document instead of waiting. I went inside and I found a drop box. They should have put a sign about a drop box inside instead of having people waiting in line for no reason. I was in the line for 30 mins and it didn't even move an inch. I looked inside and there were only 2 people working and over 30 parties waiting. I was talking to a lady and apparently, she was at the Service Canada the day before and she showed up at 1pm and they cut the line at 4 pm. People were angry according to her. Also note that no free parking here. This was crazy. I feel that more signage could make it more clear that there is a drop box available. They don't take emails or fax. I called the lady and said the other option is to mail the documents in. Unfortunately, they lost my documents. I am not sure if it arrived and it wasn't processed or it was actually lost by mail or lost by them. It is so disorganized here. I can see lots of unhappy people. There used to be a receptionist but I guess they laid the receptionist off. Having the receptionist would be helpful because they can either make you wait till you turn by giving you a ticket or receiving documents. This was so unproductive.

Really good experience. Came here at 8:50 and was done with my new SIN application after about 25…read moreminutes. The employees were very kind and the procedure was easy. Recommend going there

This is the main (largest) branch of Burnaby Public Library, located next to Metropolis…read more Parking is plentiful in the underground lot. Not sure if it ever gets completely full, but I have never seen it happen. One thing to keep in mind that the gates close around 2000, which leads to the risk of getting one's car trapped overnight. There are also some metered spots on the surface. The place is fairly modern, but is a bit worn down from years of use. There are plenty of computer stations, and a nice atrium area with nice high windows. Lots of books inside too.

Look like the Burnaby Public Libarary was renovated sometime between Covid and now. It looks very…read morespacious and open. The inside was bright. On the weekend the library is super busy. The inside is super clean. The bathrooms are much more modern style and there is a cleaner cleaning it frequently.

Continuing on my mission to review local art installations and sculptures, I realized today that…read morethis massive red metal ring on Pacific Blvd. by Cambie St. needs to be addressed! It's so prominently displayed (on the wide grassy median, on Pacific Blvd) and passed by daily by thousands of drivers, yet rarely is it given a second look. It seems to blend in with the construction of the area, as this part of Yaletown is undergoing a lot of building development right now and there are many cranes and construction sites in the immediate area and this large metal ring appears so industrial in this context, it barely stands out. Yet I have often wondered, what the heck is this thing? It's positioned on its side and it stands about three stories tall. There are spotlights at the base so it's illuminated at night. It piqued my interest, every time I passed it by. Is it a construction item? It appears to have some gears on one side. What is or was its purpose? Or is it an art piece designed to look like an industrial component of sorts? I needed to know! So I recently stopped by to read the inscription plate at its base. And I learned so much about this huge ring and the history of the Cambie Bridge! There have actually been three Cambie Bridges in total and this ring was a part of the second Cambie Bridge that opened in 1911. The ring is actually a gear that was located mid-span and it allowed the truss to rotate or spin open, to allow larger boats through (there was a large working sawmill nearby and other industries that relied on maritime traffic here). I took a photo of the inscription plate, so you can see the illustration of the bridge and the rotating truss, as well as read the brief history of the Bridge. As with the bricks still embedded on the sidewalks of Yaletown and the stark metal railings that abound in the area, I love how this City retains pieces of its past, to remind us all of the rich history here.

One of several Canada Post outlets in the area. Really liking this new business model. This…read morelocation is tucked away at the back corner of Shoppers Drug Mart. Parking is available on the side streets, as well as in the non-free underground lot below the building. Requires a $5 purchase at SDM. I would stick with the side streets. Service was pretty quick. I was in and out in minutes.

Excellent service and amazing hours! Seven days a week! Just had a very good experience with the…read moreclerk who saved me over $20 in postage with her suggestions. Much appreciated!

Although they've moved from their former location next to Kent's Kitchen (which has now expanded to…read moreinclude their former office space), they are still available for people in the community to ask questions about crime, safety, etc. as well as to report any strange happenings in the area.