Final answer:
Vancouver is known as "Canada's Gateway to the Pacific" because it is a major port city that facilitates trade between Asia and North America and is the busiest port in Canada. The city's diverse population and economic growth in various industries, including film and technology, underscore its pivotal role as a gateway.
Step-by-step explanation:
The city that has been called "Canada's Gateway to the Pacific" is Vancouver. Vancouver started as a logging town and evolved into a critical hub due to its port, which is the busiest in Canada. This city became the Asian gateway to Canada because it provides a direct connection between Asia and the Canadian market, leveraging its coastal position and port infrastructure. As a result, Vancouver has a very diverse population, with nearly one-third of its residents of Chinese origin, and it plays a significant role in trade between Asia and North America.
In addition to being a trade gateway, Vancouver is also renowned for its film industry, sometimes referred to as "Hollywood North" due to its popularity as a filming location. The city is growing in other sectors as well, including biotechnology and software industries. The development of Vancouver into a Pacific hub was significantly aided by the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1885, which was constructed largely with the aid of European and Chinese immigrants and solidified the nation's transcontinental connections.