Alkaid

The zenith star for Vancouver lies at the end of the handle of the Big Dipper, Alkaid (or Alcaid).    It is actually brighter than its handle-lighting compatriot at the end of the Little Dipper, Polaris.   Mirphak (α Per is a bit too far north) and Capella (α Aur is a bit too far south) come close, but Alkaid works best. Alkaid, also known as Benetnash, is just a smidgen over 100 light years from Earth. It is a star about six times the mass of the Sun, not massive enough to produce a supernova but still very short lived. It is still along the main sequence consuming hydrogen in its core and shining blue-white. It is otherwise relatively unremarkable.