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No. 3 (Tie)
Vancouver, Canada
(2006 Ranking: 3)
A bustling and increasingly ethnically diverse city, Vancouver boasts stunning natural beauty and has a vibrant Chinese community. Its economy long ago diversified away from natural-resource trade in British Columbia, and the Port of Vancouver is the business seaport in Canada. The city has been dubbed Hollywood North, since it has emerged as the third largest film-production center after Los Angeles and New York. In 2010, the Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver and nearby Whistler.