I agree it took us about a half an hour if that to get some through everything

Every Airport has its own three letter code. Canada is special, because every three letter code in canada starts with a Y .. then they adopted their telegraph system which had 2 letters.. VR Vancouver , OW Ottawa, YZ Malton Station near Toronto and so on..

Help/ assistance can be selected at the time of booking check with the airlines you are flying.

He is probably detained and in a holding cell inside the CBSA offices in the Arrivals Hall

Yes and it is easy to sign in

You cannot get your items back if you've surrendered them.

Yes there are luggage storage bins all over the airport

If you mean by taxi, there are set rates for different areas in Vancouver http://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/transportation/taxis but North and West Vancouver aren't included. This site estimates $57 from YVR to Park Royal https://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Vancouver&from=Vancouver+International+Airport%2C+3211+Grant+McConachie+Way%2C+Richmond%2C+British+Columbia+V7B+1W2%2C+Canada&to=Park+Royal+North%2C+West+Vancouver%2C+British+Columbia+V7T+2W4%2C+Canada&fromCoord=49.195564,-123.17835&toCoord=49.327286,-123.13795

The last train departs from YVR at 01:05

I agree with Lyle 2 hours. It took me about an hour and 40 minutes to get through for an international flight.