Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver

07/30/2026

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Today we highlight one of the foundations of Switzerland's innovation ecosystem: education. Did you know that 6 out of every 10 students in Switzerland are enrolled at a top-200 university?

Two federal institutes of technology, ten cantonal universities, nine cantonal universities of applied sciences, and 19 universities of teacher education offer a comprehensive and complementary range of study programs.

ETH Zürich has been part of Switzerland's federal mission since 1855. It was established to educate the engineers, architects and scientists needed to support a growing country. Today, it is home to nearly 27,000 students from around the world and continues to contribute to advances in fields ranging from climate science and energy to robotics, artificial intelligence and infrastructure.

👉 Discover how ETH Zurich transforms scientific knowledge into expertise, innovation and real-world impact: https://bit.ly/4pcdM2O
👉 Learn more about Swiss universities: https://www.swissuniversities.ch/en/

📷 © Alessandro Della Bella / ETH Zurich

07/28/2026

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If you have ever wondered where the story of Switzerland begins, Rütli Meadow is a good place to start.

According to legend, representatives of the three founding cantons, Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden, met here in 1291 and swore the Rütli Oath, marking the beginning of the Swiss Confederation. More than 500 years later, in 1804, playwright Friedrich Schiller linked this story to the legend of William Tell. Every August 1, Swiss National Day, the Rütli Oath is reenacted on the meadow.

The site has been carefully protected over the years. In 1859, to prevent hotel and other development projects, the meadow was purchased and subsequently donated to the Swiss Confederation as an "inalienable national asset," with one condition: it could never be built on.

Wherever you are, you can also visit Rütli Meadow virtually anytime and even join the August 1 celebrations: https://ruetliwiese.roundshot.com/ #/

📷 Luzern Vierwaldstaettersee

07/27/2026

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After a review of the calendar, we have concluded that one day (August 1) is not enough to celebrate Switzerland. As a result, Swiss National Day has been upgraded to Swiss National Week. Expect a week of Swiss facts, cultural insights, and innovations! To prove our point, let's begin with the world record.

Did you know Switzerland is home to the world's longest staircase?

Not too far from Bern, there is a mountain called Niesen (2,363 m). The staircase runs parallel to the Niesen funicular train that runs up the mountain and counts 11,674 steps.

👉 The Niesen Stairway is only open to the public with prior authorization and outside the operating hours of the funicular railway. Want to know more? See www.niesen.ch/en/stairway-run/

📷 © Rob Lewis for Niesenbahn; Gemeinde Reichenbach

07/24/2026

Which city gets your vote? 🚋🇨🇦🇨🇭

Zurich (5th) and Geneva (6th) have just ranked among the top 10 cities in this year's Global Liveability Index published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Just behind them is Vancouver (9th), among 173 cities assessed across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Vancouver is the only North American city to be in the global top 10. Copenhagen (Denmark) remains the world’s most liveable city.

👉 More information: https://bit.ly/4w2L4nq

What is your favourite city in Switzerland or Canada - and what makes it so liveable for you?

Zürich Tourism | Geneva Tourism | Switzerland | Destination Vancouver

07/22/2026

Swiss National Day 2026 celebrations! 🎉🇨🇭

Across Canada, Swiss communities celebrate their heritage together. Swiss clubs across Western Canada are organizing a variety of National Day events. Where will you be celebrating this year?

British Columbia
📍 Coquitlam | August 1 | Swiss Canadian Mountain Range Association Chalet | scmra.ca
📍 Victoria | August 1 | [email protected]

Alberta
📍 Calgary | July 26 | swissclubscalgary.ca | Swiss Cultural Society Calgary, AB, Canada | Inglewood Community Association
📍 Edmonton | August 8 | Edmonton Swiss Society | Colchester Community Hall, Sherwood Park, AB

Saskatchewan
📍 Saskatoon | August 1 | Swiss Club Saskatoon

Eastern Canada
📍Celebrations take place in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Manitoba, see full list: https://bit.ly/4w9kpoA

07/20/2026

In July, we bid a heartfelt farewell to Ambassador Olaf Kjelsen and his spouse, Carine Kjelsen, as they concluded their assignment at the Embassy of Switzerland in Canada / Ambassade de Suisse au Canada to begin their new posting at the Embassy of Switzerland in Poland.

During Ambassador Kjelsen’s tenure, the relations between Canada and Switzerland continued to strengthen. The connections made will remain an important foundation for future collaboration. His legacy of cooperation and friendship will remain an inspiration to the team at the Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver.

To mark the departure, the Embassy of Switzerland in Canada gifted two Indigenous pawpaw trees to be planted in the garden of the Swiss Residence. The trees will serve as a lasting reminder of Ambassador Kjelsen and Carine Kjelsen’s time in Canada and their contribution to advancing Swiss-Canadian trusted partnership, which will continue to grow and flourish.

🇨🇭🇨🇦 We thank Ambassador Kjelsen and his spouse for their dedication and commitment and wish them all the best in their new chapter!

📷 Let's take a look back at Ambassador's first impressions of Canada: https://bit.ly/457y83V

📷 Embassy of Switzerland in Canada / Ambassade de Suisse au Canada

07/17/2026

At the Verbier Festival, music and nature take center stage. 🇨🇭🎻🍀

The Verbier Festival is taking place on July 16 - August 2 in Val de Bagnes, Switzerland. The Festival brings together artists and audiences from around the world, united by a shared passion for music - and appreciation for the Alpine landscape they help protect through everyday sustainable choices.

With more than 50 events, the Festival offers something for everyone, from classical concerts and open-air performances to busking, masterclasses, and musical walks. This year, 227 young artists from 43 countries, including Canada 🇨🇦, are taking part.

Set in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the Verbier Festival is participating in the program. From cycling around Verbier and serving plant-based breakfasts to promoting local products, reducing waste, and encouraging recycling, the Festival shows how small collective actions can make a lasting impact.

📷 Verbier Festival

07/15/2026

A Swiss innovation for better vision 👀🇨🇭

Researchers at ETH Zürich are developing a soft hydrogel mini-implant that helps stabilise the cornea and improve vision for people with advanced keratoconus, a progressive eye disorder. Made entirely in the lab, the implant is designed to be affordable and compatible with existing laser eye surgery techniques.

After promising results in laboratory and animal studies, the team is preparing for the first human clinical study - an important next step in bringing this technology closer to patients.

This approach to treating severe corneal damage could help address the global shortage of donor tissue.

👉 Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Ru23jE

📷 © Nicole Davidson / ETH Zürich

07/13/2026

From research labs to industry - advancing Swiss-Canadian collaboration 🇨🇭🇨🇦

Earlier this month, Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, led a Swiss delegation of academic, industry, and government leaders on a visit to Vancouver.

Highlights included visits to TRIUMF and the University of British Columbia, where the delegates explored how the Swiss and Canadian research ecosystems can work even more closely together. They also had the chance to learn more about the strong partnership between Harbour Air (Canada) and H55 (Switzerland) as they help shape the future of electric aviation.

Another special moment was an evening with members of the Swiss business and scientific community. It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and celebrate the strong relationships that continue to bring our two countries closer together.

One of the highlights of the visit was the ride up Grouse Mountain aboard the Swiss-built Garaventa Lift gondola - a reminder that Swiss innovation has been part of British Columbia's landscape for decades.

A heartfelt thank you to our partners and the Swiss-Canadian community for the warm welcome and for making this visit so enriching. The engaging discussions, valuable exchanges, and new discoveries made it a truly memorable experience for our guests from Switzerland.

07/12/2026

The journey may be over, but what a journey it has been. 🇨🇭⚽

Switzerland's World Cup participation came to an end after a hard-fought battle against Argentina that went all the way to extra time.

This team made a nation believe, dream and celebrate together. It was fantastic to host the Swiss Nati Men in Vancouver, Canada, for three matches and to see the support from fans throughout the tournament.

Thank you, Swiss Nati Men, for the unforgettable memories and the inspiration. ❤

The journey may be over, but what a journey it has been.

Switzerland's World Cup campaign came to an end after an incredible battle against Argentina that went all the way to extra time.

This team made a nation believe, dream and celebrate together. ❤️

Thank you, Nati, for an unforgettable tournament. We're proud of you. 🇨🇭