About North Vancouver
The District of North Vancouver incorporates all aspects of nature as it is surrounded by mountainous terrain and the ocean. From waterfront neighbourhoods to candy cane neighbourhoods, the district is full of rich culture and makes a great location for new beginnings or to raise a family.
According to the 2021 Census the population of the district is 88,168.
You can do it all in North Vancouver, go swimming, skiing, hiking, kayaking the mountains and the ocean are your playground. The best part, you’ll never get bored of any activities and if you do, there’s always another fun activity an arm’s length away for you to pick up.
History of the city
The District of North Vancouver is home to the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nation Tribe who’ve occupied the land for thousands of years and continue to love the land.
Incorporated in 1891 the North Vancouver District is located on the north shore of the Burrard Inlet the city of North Vancouver is home to the oldest settlement on the Burrard Inlet predating Vancouver. Originally a settlement designated for logging Douglas Fir, North Vancouver began to grow into a village. By 1860 a water-powered sawmill was installed at Moodyville and from there post offices, schools and other essential businesses followed. The municipality of North Vancouver was incorporated in 1891 and included the entire North Shore.
Arthur Heywood-Lonsdale and James Pemberton invested heavily in the developmental growth of North Vancouver in the 1880’s, for this reason many locations are named after the Lonsdale family. In 1903 a municipal hall was built where many meetings were held despite the majority of the landowners residing in Vancouver. By 1905 North Vancouver had the first bank and first newspaper. The following year in 1906 a streetcar line was implemented to ease the commute from the ferry up Lonsdale to 12th Street. By 1911 an extension of the streetcar was added to take commuters to the Capilano River and east of Lynn Valley.
North Vancouver was founded in 1907 and by 1912 a petition passed by residents from the west part of the District of North Vancouver who requested to form the District of West Vancouver. Lonsdale helped the city of North Vancouver grow as many commuters continued to take the ferry to Vancouver. By 1925 the Second Narrows bridge was built however, due to its low design the bridge on too many occasions was hit by ships and was put out of commission. In 1960 a more efficient design was constructed and by 1994 the bridge was renamed to the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing in memory of the ironworkers who passed away in accidents during its construction. The original bridge still stands and in 1968 it was replaced by a CN Rail that includes a much larger, higher lift bridge.
Appeal
The average rent in North Vancouver for a 1-bedroom unit starts at $1,569 and can go over $2,781 for a 3-bedroom unit according to CMHC 2021. The average price for a home is $2,124,600 according to Greater Vancouver REALTORS®.
Young Graduate
The city of North Vancouver is a great option for a young graduate as it offers access to the ocean and mountains. In addition, North Vancouver is an urban city with amazing restaurants, bars and outdoor group activities for young graduates to meet new people.
Families
By the way, North Vancouver is a great choice for new and existing families to call home. Full of fun and adventure for all age groups the city offers 10 recreational and community centres to keep you and your family active and involved in community sports.
Moreover, North Vancouver is home to over 25 parks. Some of the parks include suspension bridges, beautiful natural/landscaped areas and great playgrounds for you and your children to meet the locals.
Top Places to See
Lower Lonsdale
Lower Lonsdale is an exciting urban community that sits on a scenic waterfront. The neighbourhood is home to the Lonsdale Quay. The area is full of culture, fun and entertainment and includes a market that features over 90 shops and brings in 3 million visitors each year. From restaurants to the Waterfront Seabus Terminal, you’ll never have a dull moment. For instance, go for a walk, enjoy the views or go shopping, there’s always something to do in this gorgeous community.
In addition, Lower Lonsdale offers transit access via the Lonsdale Quay into other cities/communities such as Vancouver, Grouse Mountain, Lynn Valley and West Vancouver.
Central Lonsdale
The community of Central Lonsdale is home to many restaurants, cafes, bakeries and local businesses. Moreover, Central Lonsdale is a multicultural close community that enjoys supporting each other. Furthermore, the community makes a great access point to surrounding cities and attractions as it is located in the heart of North Vancouver. In general, Central Lonsdale is more residential which makes it the perfect neighbourhood for new and existing families to call home.
Deep Cove
The community of Deep Cove is located in the far east section of the District of North Vancouver below Mount Seymour. By the way, Deep Cove is full of history as it is home to the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, the area is known for clamming and fishing and during the late 1800’s the area was explored by both the British and Spanish naval explorers.
Moreover, Deep Cove is home to a variety of outdoor recreational activities. For instance, you can rent kayaks and enjoy the water or rent a bike and enjoy the lovely mountainous terrain and if that doesn’t work for you then you can always go hiking.
Things to do in North Vancouver + Local tips
Conquer Your Fear of Heights at The Capilano Suspension Bridge
Are you afraid of heights? Get over your fear by heading over the Capilano Suspension Bridge. The bridge is 460 ft long and suspends 230 ft above the Capilano River. A little history, the bridge was originally built in 1889 and was made from hemp rope, in 1903 the bridge was upgraded to wire cable and finally in 1956 the bridge was completely rebuilt. A cliff walk was added as a new attraction to the park in 2011.
Hit the Slopes at Grouse Mountain Ski Resort
Grouse Mountain Ski Resort has 33 ski and snowboard runs, 4 chairlifts, 4 terrain parks, snowshoe trails of 9 km and other fun activities. By the way, Grouse Mountain Resort provides breath-taking scenic chairlift rides that overlook Metro Vancouver. In addition, the resort offers mountain biking, zip lining and helicopter tours.
Ride the Seabus at Lonsdale Quay or Grab a Bite at the Market
The Lonsdale Quay opened in 1977 and is an essential transit exchange that connects Metro Vancouver’s North Shore municipalities by way of the Seabus ferry and the bus service. With so many places to go to, you may want to stop by the Lonsdale Quay Market for a bite to ponder further. Built in 1986 the Lonsdale Quay Market features over 90 tenants including restaurants, local retail shops, artisans and a boutique hotel called Lonsdale Quay Hotel, only a minute drive away. By the way, the market offers a great selection of seafood dishes.
Shop at Capilano Mall
Capilano Mall was built in 1967 and is the 2nd biggest mall in the north shore after Park Royal. The mall offers 90 stores and services and has 3 anchor tenants with Wal-Mart being among the most popular. Capilano Mall is located off Marine Drive and provides you with all of your everyday shopping needs. Go ahead, take the family shopping and if you get hungry there’s a food with a delicious variety of ethnic foods to select.
Education
The District of North Vancouver has 25 elementary schools, 8 secondary schools, and 2 post-secondary options: Capilano University and BCIT Marine Campus. All schools are accessible by transit via bus.
Capilano University
Capilano University was founded in 1968 and is named after Chief Joe Capilano who was a leader of the Squamish First Nation Tribe. Furthermore, Capilano University offers 100 programs through 5 faculties: The Faculty of Business & Professional Studies, the Faculty of Education, Health & Human Development, the Faculty of Fine & Applied Arts and the Faculty of Global & Community Studies. The university has 4 campuses, the main campus being in North Vancouver, a smaller campus on the Sunshine Coast, the third campus located in Lower Lonsdale and the fourth in Mount Currie (Ts?zil Learning Centre).
BCIT Marine Campus
The British Columbia Institute of Technology is a public polytechnic institute that’s located in Burnaby. BCIT has 5 campuses and designated Lower Lonsdale to be the home of the BCIT Marine Campus. The BCIT Marine campus offers programs such as Nautical Sciences, Marine Engineer training program and a variety of other marine cadet programs.
Leisure and Hobbies
Enjoy the Waterfront at the Lonsdale Quay
Take the family out for a walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the scenic views of the ocean. Grab a coffee from the many cafes and watch the Translink Seabus Ferry travel between Vancouver and North Vancouver. Make sure to take some pictures, and if you get hungry head over to the Lonsdale Quay Market for some delicious seafood dishes.
Explore Grouse Mountain
Go hiking at Grouse Mountain and challenge yourself. The mountain offers 3 km vertical trail. The climb on average can take 1.5 to 2 hours to complete but the scenic view makes it worth the effort. Once you reach the end make sure to take plenty of pictures, after all, you just conquered a mountain.
Go lawn bowling
Lawn bowling is a fun low impact game that can be enjoyed by all ages and regardless of any skill level. This a great way for intergenerational activities.
Get competitive with your family members, it’s all worth the good laughs and memories. The North Vancouver Lawn Bowling Club is located in Central Lonsdale right off of Lonsdale Avenue.
Future of the area
Currently, there are 45 new home developments in North Vancouver. By the way, that’s a blend of low-rise to high-rise buildings with 31 being condo development and 13 townhouse developments.
In addition, North Vancouver is continuously making road work improvements, creating new bus routes to make the commute easier for its residents. Furthermore, the City of North Vancouver is building a new pedestrian and cycling overpass over Highway 1 to help connect the Loutet and Cedar Village neighbourhoods. The project is to commence starting in 2023 and will take approximately 10 months to complete. The overpass will provide a safer commute for students that attend Sutherland Secondary School and other local communities.
