Below you will find two routes to the conference. Most taxis should know the way, but you may want to print the directions or maps in case they are unfamiliar with the university campus. (Helpful hint: The University Centre is the old Faculty Club, and is located adjacent to the Rose Garden and flagpole, across from the Museum of Anthropology.)
Vancouver, including Airport and UBC
Airport to University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia (large file: approx. 670 Kb)
Direct route from Vancouver International Airport:
Leave the airport on the main access road (Grant McConachie Way), and follow the signs to Vancouver. This will take you over Arthur Laing Bridge. At the far end of the bridge, the road forks, with the left lane heading to "Marine Drive East", and the right lane heading to "Vancouver via Granville St" and "Granville St - City Centre". That's you - you want to be in the right lane.
As you come off the bridge, you will officially be on SW Marine Drive (heading west), but the bulk of the road swings around to the right and becomes Granville Street. Go with the flow here, staying to the left on Granville as you cross 71st Street. Then get into the left-turn lane and take a left on 70th. In one block, 70th becomes SW Marine Drive.
SW Marine Drive runs all the way to UBC. After around 10 km (6.2 miles) you will reach Pacific Spirit Regional Park. After another 1.9 kms (1.2 miles) or so, you will come to a large fork. To the right is "UBC Campus and 16th Ave/TRIUMF" and to the left is "UBC Campus". You want to stay left. Continue all the way around the edge of campus (see map) past the Rose Garden Parkade to Gate 3 on the right.
Take a right at Gate 3 onto East Mall, go to the STOP sign, and take a right on Crescent Road. Drive to the circle around the flagpole, go approximately 2*Pi/3 radians around the circle, and take a right, and then a quick right into the parking lot in front of the University Centre. This is a 2-hour pay lot, so you won't want to leave your car here. But it's a good place to unload (if you're staying at the University Centre) or to check-in with the organizers if you're staying just down the hill at Green College.
Total distance from the airport to UBC via SW Marine Drive: 17.1 km (10.6 miles).
There's a more interesting route you can take if you would like to see a bit more of the city on the way to UBC. If you don't mind a bit of traffic, stay on Granville instead of taking a left on 70th. Then go all the way to 12th and take a left (see map). (You will probably want to stay in the middle lane most of the time on Granville. There are many left-turners and few left-turn lanes on Vancouver streets. The right lane is fine during rush hour, but otherwise is a legal parking area.) Take 12th to Arbutus (6 blocks), and take a right on Arbutus. Take Arbutus over to 4th, and take a left on 4th. You're now in the "Kitsilano" neighborhood.
From here (4th & Arbutus), take 4th all the way out to the university. At one point, a bit after the light at Alma, you will want to stay left, rather than forking right onto NW Marine Drive. Otherwise, it's quite straightforward. Note, however, that once you enter "Pacific Spirit Park", 4th becoms Chancellor Boulevard: same road, different name. Do not drive over the speed limit (60 km/hr) through here, as you may get a very expensive ticket! After you pass through Pacific Spirit Park, you will pass a school and then a residential neighborhood, and then you will come to the university. Go past the sign for Wesbrook Mall on the left, and keep going until you see Gate 3.
Take a left at Gate 3 onto East Mall, go to the STOP sign, and take a right on Crescent Road. Drive to the circle around the flagpole, go approximately 2*Pi/3 radians around the circle, and take a right, and then a quick right into the parking lot in front of the University Centre. This is a 2-hour pay lot, so you won't want to leave your car here. But it's a good place to unload (if you're staying at the University Centre) or to check-in with the organizers if you're staying just down the hill at Green College.
Total distance from the airport to UBC via Granville/12th/Arbutus/4th: Approx. 17.1 km (10.6 miles).