North Van’s main claim to fame is its scenery and parks. Check out the year-round recreation at Grouse Mountain, Lynn Canyon or Mount Seymour. Capilano Canyon Park has both the 670-acre Capilano Lake Reservoir and the beautiful Capilano Suspension Bridge. Lynn Canyon Park also has a suspension bridge plus the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre. Mount Seymour Provincial Park offers superb hiking and picnic areas with incredible views.
On the North Shore, east of the Lion’s Gate Bridge is the community of North Vancouver. Catch the BC Transit SeaBus from the Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver, and in 15 minutes you’re there! Lonsdale Quay is at the SeaBus terminal on the North Shore and has a pretty market, with boutiques and restaurants. You can head up Lonsdale Avenue, which is North Van’s main north-south artery and shopping district.
North Vancouver Annual Festivals, Events
Lions Parade and North Van Folkfest (end of June), Funky ART CAR Festival (mid-Sept), Edgemont Bavarian Festival (Sept).
North Vancouver History
The lands on the north side of Burrard Inlet, now known as North Vancouver, were inhabited by the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations who lived off the rich resources of the sea and the dense forests.
The first European explorers in the area were Spanish, followed by British explorers including Captain George Vancouver in the late 1700s.
By the mid-1800s, a few European settlers began to establish farms and logging operations along the shores of Burrard Inlet. The natural resources of North Vancouver, especially the dense forests of timber on the rugged shores and mountain slopes, were pivotal in shaping the region’s economy. Several logging camps and sawmills sprang up, around the town of Moodyville (present-day Lower Lonsdale).
The establishment of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (later known as BC Rail) in the early 1900s provided a significant boost to the economy by connecting North Vancouver to the Lower Mainland. The completion of the Second Narrows Bridge in 1925 further facilitated road and rail transportation. After World War II, North Vancouver experienced a period of significant growth and urbanization. The communikty that was earlier just cottages for those living in Vancouver, now became suburbs, with major the construction of housing developments 9including the British Properties, the Lions Gate Bridge (both funded by the Brain-based Guinness Family), and then the construction of the Trans-Canada Highway (which renamed the North Shore’s highway 401 to be the #1).
Economic Diversification included many new industries including technology, post-secondary eduction, film production, and tourism. The establishment of parks like Lynn Canyon Park and Grouse Mountain Regional Park has allowed residents and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The post-war redevelopment of waterfront areas and the establishment of recreational facilities have further enhanced the quality of life.
