Welcome to the Vancouver Lexicon. Its purpose is to pin down the patois of the City of Vancouver by recording its toponyms, nicknames, slang terms, personalities, places, and other Van-centric things. Full A-Z here.

Bear Jam | Phenomenon | When a bear decides to go for a stroll along the side of the highway, traffic quickly (and often dangerously) slows to a gawking crawl. This is known colloquially as a “bear jam”. It is a fact of life for many BC commuters, especially along the Sea-to-Sky highway that connects Vancouver to Squamish and Whistler, and particularly during the peak bear/tourist season of May through October.

Usage: “I’m sorry I was late for my shift but it’s totally not my fault. I got stuck in a bear jam just south of Function Junction.”