The property is not technically a hostel in my opinion. It is a university dorm (UBC). The main difference that I felt with a hostel was that this was individual single bed rooms with share washrooms/kitchens. I didn't see much of travellers vibe hanging together, altbough there was places for it either in the main lobby or in individual buildings.
However, having said this, the property was reasonably priced in the over-priced city of Vancouver. So, if you are on a budget and don't mind an hour commute to get to downtown, this is a nice place to try.
Very close to the beach, and also within 15 minutes walk to several eateries.