Travelling LHR-(with BA)-YVR-(with CX)-HKG

Arrive YVR at 6:15 pm. Leave YVR 1:45 am next day.

From searching and reading related but not exactly the same info I get the impression I have to:

1) Pass through immigration at YVR and collect luggage
2) Hang around in the airport until the CX flight opens
2) Check-in for CX flight

Is there any way of easing the process? Can I really not check my luggage through from LHR and collect my YVR-HKG boarding pass at LHR?

I'm hoping that I've got it completely wrong and YVR will just be a 'normal' transit!

Thanks.