Sue and Frank Gerryts

Profile of North Vancouver

See also our guide to North Vancouver's Real Estate

The City of North Vancouver is nestled under Grouse Mountain, and is a popular place with those who want to ski the north shore mountains or enjoy the spectacular scenery. There are major development projects on the waterfront in Lower Lonsdale that suggest that North Vancouver will continue to grow beyond it’s humble beginnings as a logging town.

The population now is approximately 45,000 people, with over a third of these being 25-44 years old. The area attracts families and younger people.

Transport

North Vancouver has easy access to the Trans Canada Highway, commonly known as the Upper Levels Highway. This will take you eastwards to the Fraser Valley and west and northwards to West Vancouver and up to Whistler.

Commuting downtown is possible by vehicle, across either the Lions Gate Bridge or the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge (the second Narrows bridge). Alternatively the Seabus from Lonsdale Quay runs a service to Vancouver’s Waterfront station every 15 minutes, taking about 12 minutes for the journey. There you can connect to the Sky Train or buses.

The north shore’s bus service is available too. For details of transport, see the Translink web site.

Local Attractions

For many people one of the main attractions of living on Vancouver's north shore is the easy access to the local ski mountains: Grouse, Seymour and Cypress. There are also many other destinations that are worthy of mention:

Grouse Mountain (6400 Nancy Greene Way)

This is a year round attraction and is one of the major tourist attractions of Vancouver. In the winter there is skiing, snowboarding and ice skating, as well as the whole Santa's workshop thing. In the summer there are shows, paragliding and trail walking. For those wanting a challenge, there is the Grouse Grind - this 2.9 km (1.8 mile) hike goes straight up the face of Grouse Mountain. Your climb takes you up 853 metres (2,800 feet) - one and a half times the height of Toronto's CN Tower. Make sure you are fit and properly prepared for this grueling climb. But once you get to the top at least there are restaurants, shops and spectacular views to take in! You can take public transport to Grouse: either Bus 232 from Phibbs Exchange or Bus 236 from Lonsdale Quay. Of course, unless you are doing the Grouse Grind, you still get to ride up in the cable car.

Mount Seymour (1700 Mount Seymour Road)

This is a family oriented resort, with skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tobogganing and snow tubing. For the more adventurous it has developed three terrain parks and an in-ground halfpipe. A shuttle services run 7 days a week with stops at the Lonsdale Quay, Phibbs Exchange, and Parkgate Mall.

Maplewood Farm (405 Seymour River Place)

A great destination for those with young children who want to go and see domestic animals in this rural 5 acre setting. Self-guided tours are available and there are special events from time to time.

Capilano Suspension Bridge (3735 Capilano Road)

Another major tourist draw, and understandably so. It is not for those who are afraid of heights, but spectacular nevertheless. Easily accessible by public transport, this will be somewhere that you will bring out of province visitors to.

Lynn Canyon Park (Peters Road)

This park in Lynn Valley is well worth a visit. It has a suspension bridge across the canyon, trails to hike and the ecology centre. There is a cafe too.

Shopping

Lonsdale Quay (123 Carrie Cates Court)

This may be a tourist destination, attracted by the trip across on the Seabus, but the quay is more than a scenic spot. It has a food market, a variety of places to eat and a number of specialist shops. With the development of the old shipyards we believe that the whole lower Lonsdale area will increase in popularity.

Capilano Mall (935 Marine Drive)

On Marine Drive, this mall is popular because it offers WalMart and a variety of smaller stores.

Lynn Valley Centre (1199 Lynn Valley Road)

This large shopping centre, with Save on Foods, Zellers and Winners, is the major shopping area for the Lynn Valley community.

Edgemont Village (Edgemont Blvd)

Grouse MountainThe village, located in the Capilano Highlands area, is more like a British shopping street than most of the malls in Vancouver. It has a series of shops spread along the high street - and, with its pretty flower borders and central reserve, it is an attractive sight. The shops, restaurants and garden centre are a great place to shop or while away some time.

Park and Tilford (Brooksbank Avenue)

This shopping centre has a large Save on Foods and a Cineplex Odeon, as well as a number of smaller shops and restaurants.

Arts

Park and Tilford Cineplex (Brooksbank Avenue)

Esplanade at Lonsdale (200 West Esplanade)

Centennial Theatre (2300 Lonsdale Avenue)

This is the north shore's major theatre, seating 700 people. It features a varied programme of events from showcasing local artists and community events to hosting international artists. It's location, at 2300 Lonsdale Avenue, is close to the Upper Levels Highway and easily accessible by bus.

North Vancouver Museum (209 West 4th Street)

If you are interested in North Vancouver's history, then the Museum is the place to visit. It's collections include artifacts, photographs, and textual references that cover North Van's colourful history.

Presentation House Theatre (333 Chesterfield Ave)

This theatre has been presenting shows for 3 decades. With an inviting theatre space in the heart of the Lower Lonsdale area, this is a great location.Right next to the North Vancouver Museum.

Employment

North Vancouver does not have any major industries. There are many shops and small businesses, but it's two main employers are:

• Lions Gate Hospital (231 East 15th Street)
• ICBC - Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (151 West Esplanade)

People living in North Vancouver can easily commute to work in downtown Vancouver via car, bus or the seabus. Easy access to the Upper Levels Highway makes commuting relatively easy to Burnaby and communities further east.

Statistics