West Vancouver
See also our page on West Vancouver Real Estate.
West Vancouver is one of the most expensive areas for housing in the whole of Canada. The area attracts families who want to live in quiet, family-oriented area close to Vancouver and the north shore mountains. In West Vancouver it is possible to ski on Cypress Mountain in the morning and sail in the afternoon.
Transport
West Vancouver has two main roads, both going east-west: the Upper Levels Highway and Marine Drive. The Upper Levels Highway connects Horseshoe Bay in the west to the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in North Vancouver. This highway, mostly has two lanes in each direction. It can be busy when ferry traffic joins from the BC Ferries terminal at Horseshoe Bay.
The other main road is Marine Drive. This is at sea level and passes from Capilano, in North Vancouver, west past Park Royal shopping mall, through the retail areas of Ambleside and Dundarave, and on all the way out to Horseshoe Bay. It is a scenic drive that attracts many visitors in the summer.
Commuters heading for downtown Vancouver have to negotiate the Lions Gate Bridge. This attractive bridge has only three lanes and priority is switched from time to time to ease traffic flow. This often causes a bottleneck in busy times.
The alternative crossing is the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge.
West Vancouver has a fleet of blue buses which run services along Marine Drive and to other communities. These buses can be used to commute downtown. The Translink web site has information on buses.
Local Attractions
This north shore mountain has two sides: downhill and cross-country. The downhill, scheduled to be a venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics, offers a variety of runs and a terrain park. The cross-country area also has snowshoeing trails, tobogganing and snow tubing areas. There is a shuttle bus from Lonsdale Quay.
Lighthouse Park (Beacon Lane, off Marine Drive)
This park, named after the lighthouse that stands on Point Atkinson, is a spectacular area of old growth forest. It has huge Douglas fir, western hemlock and western red cedar trees and a network of more or less challenging trails on which to hike. There are a number of picnic benches and you can get down to a number of beaches.
Located at the end of Marine Drive this marine park has picnic facilities, playground, tennis courts and trails to explore and, of course, the beach. You can get a snack or ice cream from the kiosk. The park attracts scuba divers who enjoy the marine life in this marine protected area. The beach is a great place, with its driftwood logs, is a great place to sunbathe or swim. You can often see seals basking on the nearby rocks.
Sports facilities
Scattered around the area are small parks, often with tennis courts attached. These facilities are free. In addition you can find sports facilities at:
- Gleneagles Community Centre (6262 Marine Drive)
Weight room, gym and meeting rooms
- West Vancouver Aquatic Centre (2121 Marine Drive)
This swimming pool re-opened in 2004 after a spectacular renovation. It is set in a beautiful building and features a 3750 sq. ft. pool and a 60 foot long waterslide.
- West Vancouver Community Centre (780 22nd Street)
Facilities include gymnasium, pottery studio and meeting rooms.
- West Vancouver Ice Arena (786 22nd Street)
This skating arena offers lessons as well as general skating
- West Vancouver Yacht Club (5854 Marine Drive)
This club offers sailing lessons, racing and general sailing.
- Eagle Harbour Yacht Club (5750 Eagle Harbour Rd)
This Yacht club, like its close neighbour West Vancouver Yacht Club, offers sailing lessons and summer camps.
- Hollyburn Country Club (950 Crosscreek Road)
This exclusive, private club has fantastic facilities, which explains its membership fees. You can swim, skate, exercise, play tennis, squash and much more.
Shopping
Park Royal (Taylor Way and Marine Drive)
West Vancouver is home to Park Royal. This was Canadas first shopping centre when it opened in 1950. Since then it has been extended, with a whole new area, Park Royal Village, open in 2004.
It has a host of large and small shops. The Bay, one of the original shops, is still there, but since 2004 it also has a Home Depot.
Ambleside
This community is the first one you come across as you travel west from Park Royal along Marine Drive. It is a relatively high density area, for West Vancouver, with some high rises and mixed use buildings. There are a variety of shops, large and small, including Safeway, a number of restaurants, coffee shops (of course) and banks.
Dundarave
This community prides itself on its village feel and the floral displays along the central median. Currently (January 2005) the Marketplace IGA site is being redeveloped. Dundarave has a number of gift shops, coffee shops, restaurants and a pub. There is also a Capers, wholefood shop.
You can walk down to the beach and sea walk. In the summer you can get ice creams, burgers and other snacks to help you enjoy the views of Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge.
Caulfeild Village
This small, local shopping mall has a Safeway as its major store. There is a medical centre, dentist, bank and liquor store. Students from the local public school, Rockridge, can often be found in Starbucks or getting their sandwiches from Subway.
Horseshoe Bay
This has a seaside feel to it. There is the ferry terminal where you can take ferries to Nanaimo, the Sunshine Coast and Bowen Island. There are a number of restaurants ready to cater for hungry travelers and locals.
There are also a few interesting gift shops, featuring local and native artists.
Arts
West Vancouver has been recognized as a 2006 Cultural Capital of Canada. The title is awarded to communities that show an ongoing commitment to the arts and culture.
This art gallery in Ambleside is located by the sea walk. It features artists from the North Shore and its free exhibits and artists talks are well worth a visit.
This gallery, home of the West Vancouver Community Arts Council, hosts concerts, art exhibits and literary events. It also runs workshops and childrens programs.
West Vancouvers Museum & Archives
housed in Gertrude Lawson HouseThe Museum runs exhibitions, education programmes, public programmes, an archives and a gift shop.
Employment
West Vancouver does not have any industry, and its exclusive outlook is likely to keep it that way. There are opportunities in retail, restaurants and the like.
People living in West Vancouver can easily commute to work in downtown Vancouver via car or bus, though delays on crossing the Lions Gate Bridge are often cited as a problem, those from bigger cities will not likely find this a problem.
The Upper Levels Highway gives ready access to North Vancouver and beyond.
Statistics
Population Estimates |
|
Year |
Estimate |
% change
prev. year |
| 2000 |
43,027 |
- |
| 2001 |
43,229 |
0.5 |
| 2002 |
43,190 |
-0.1 |
| 2003 |
43,347 |
0.4 |
| 2004 |
43,867 |
1.2 |
Source: B.C. Stats
Age Distribution |
| Age |
Male |
Female |
| All ages |
19,265 |
22,155 |
| 0 - 14 |
3,185 |
3,100 |
| 15 - 24 |
2,585 |
2,545 |
| 25 - 44 |
3,380 |
4,495 |
| 45 - 64 |
6,245 |
6,780 |
| 65+ |
3,870 |
5,235 |
Source: Statistics Canada
Local Media
These are the two local papers. These are delivered weekly to locals and are a useful source of information on local events. The North Shore News has a searchable archive and you can search the classifieds.
Other Links
Email