West Vancouver

Last updated

West Vancouver
District municipality
The Corporation of the District of West Vancouver [1]
2019 West Vancouver.jpg
West Vancouver flag.png
Flag
West Vancouver Coat of Arms.jpg
Coat of Arms
West Vancouver Banner of Arms.jpg
Banner of Arms
Nickname: 
West Van
Motto(s): 
"Consilio et animis" (English: "By wisdom and courage")
West Vancouver in Metro Vancouver.svg
Location of West Vancouver in Metro Vancouver
Coordinates: 49°22′0″N123°10′0″W / 49.36667°N 123.16667°W / 49.36667; -123.16667
CountryCanada
Province British Columbia
Regional district Metro Vancouver
IncorporatedMarch 15, 1912
Government
[2]
 • Type Mayor-council government
 • BodyWest Vancouver Council
 • MayorMark Sager
 • Council
List of councillors
 •  MLA
 •  MP Patrick Weiler (Lib.)
Area
[3]
 • Land87.18 km2 (33.66 sq mi)
Highest elevation
[4] (Mt Strachan)
1,440 m (4,720 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2021) [3]
 • Total44,122
 • Estimate 
(2023) [5]
46,358
 • Density506.1/km2 (1,311/sq mi)
Demonym West Vancouverite
Time zone UTC−08:00 (PST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Forward sortation area
V7S–V7W
Area codes 604, 778, 236, 672
Website westvancouver.ca OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

West Vancouver is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, West Vancouver is situated on the north shore of Burrard Inlet to the northwest of the city of Vancouver. With the District of North Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver, West Vancouver is part of a regional grouping known as the North Shore municipalities. It is among the wealthiest municipalities in Canada by average household net worth. [6]

Contents

West Vancouver is home to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, one of the main transportation hubs connecting the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island, and to much of Cypress Provincial Park. [7]

History

A cabin at 15th St. and Ottawa Ave. in 1942 West Vancouver 1942 15th Ottawa William Mcphee.jpg
A cabin at 15th St. and Ottawa Ave. in 1942
Lighthouse at Point Atkinson Beacon of hope Featured in the October 2007 issue of Digital Photo magazine. (www.kovacsart.com) Daytime long exposure..jpg
Lighthouse at Point Atkinson

The Municipality of West Vancouver was incorporated on March 15, 1912, after separating from the District of North Vancouver. [8] The first municipal election was held on April 6, 1912. In November 1938, the Lions Gate Bridge was opened to traffic, allowing extensive growth of the semi-populated community, previously only accessible by ferry. Some homes in West Vancouver date back to the 1920s and 30s, though most of the currently existing dwellings were built in the 1970s and 80s, and mostly in British Pacific Properties' developments.[ citation needed ]

Timeline

Facilities

West Vancouver Memorial Library West Vancouver Library.jpg
West Vancouver Memorial Library

West Vancouver is mainly a residential district as many residents are retired, work at home,[ citation needed ] or take the short commute to downtown Vancouver.

A 13-block strip of Marine Drive serves as a commercial district, featuring shops, small offices, garages and gas stations, restaurants, banks, and other common amenities. The area between 13th and 19th Streets is commonly known as Ambleside Village, and the area between 24th and 26th Streets is known as the village of Dundarave. This commercial area is served by the Ambleside Dundarave Business Improvement Association.

West Vancouver is also home to Park Royal Shopping Centre, Canada's first mall. Opened in the 1950s, it now consumes 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) of both sides of Marine Drive near North Vancouver. Park Royal is the second largest mall in British Columbia, after Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby. Located nearby is a major bus terminal for Blue Bus and North Vancouver TransLink buses.

The West Vancouver Memorial Library, located in Ambleside, has a circulation rate of 21.32 per capita, the highest circulation rate per capita in Canada. [13]

Demographics

At the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, West Vancouver had a population of 44,122 living in 17,690 of its 18,795 total private dwellings, a change of

West Vancouver has the second highest percentage of persons aged 65 or older in BC with 22% of persons fitting into the category, compared with 13% for the rest of the province. The top five professions in West Vancouver are professional science and technical services; retail trade; health care; finance and insurance; and educational services. A large portion of the population is involved in senior management in comparison with the rest of the province. [14]

Ethnicity

Panethnic groups in West Vancouver (2001−2021)
Panethnic group2021 [15] 2016 [16] 2011 [17] 2006 [18] 2001 [19]
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
European [lower-alpha 1] 24,19526,28529,91031,96032,475
East Asian [lower-alpha 2] 9,9908,9705,8705,0254,755
Middle Eastern [lower-alpha 3] 5,3103,9153,4452,4802,055
South Asian 1,4059751,040950835
Southeast Asian [lower-alpha 4] 770660780490335
Indigenous 425240265155100
Latin American 430240185255135
African 1859018512580
Other [lower-alpha 5] 670310365170100
Total responses43,38541,68042,04541,62540,860
Total population [lower-alpha 6] 44,12242,47342,69442,13141,421

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in West Vancouver included: [15]

Language

2011 Canadian census [20]
Mother languagePopulation% of total population % of non-official language population
English 28,28067.1N/A
Persian 3,4008.125.7
Chinese n.o.s.1,4153.410.7
Mandarin 1,3353.210.1
Total27506.620.8
German 1,0152.47.7
Korean 9152.26.9
French 5451.3N/A

As of the 2006 census, the languages spoken in West Vancouver were:

By mother tongue:

By most commonly used household language:

Affluence

West Vancouver is Canada's wealthiest municipality, with an average household net worth of CA$4,454,424. [6] North Vancouver just next door is the tenth richest. West Vancouver is home to some very large, luxurious and expensive properties and houses. Occasionally, houses have been priced and sold at around $30,000,000. In 2011, West Vancouver's average house sold for over $2,000,000; [21] 95% of the houses or close to 16,000 homes are worth over $1 million. In West Vancouver, average total incomes were $86,253 for males and $48,070 for females, almost double the provincial average. Over 80% of the population has a total family income of at least $100,000. [14]

Transportation

A West Vancouver Municipal Transit bus West Vancouver Blue Bus.jpg
A West Vancouver Municipal Transit bus

West Vancouver is served by West Vancouver Municipal Transit, colloquially known as Blue Bus. West Vancouver Municipal Transit is one of two bus companies in the Greater Vancouver region operating under contract for TransLink. Transfer is free between West Vancouver Municipal Transit buses and other TransLink buses.

The only freeway route within municipal limits is British Columbia Highway 1 (part of the Trans-Canada Highway), which begins in the community of Horseshoe Bay and continues east into the District of North Vancouver. Highway 99 also runs through West Vancouver, sharing the freeway alignment with Highway 1 between Horseshoe Bay and Taylor Way, and connects the municipality with Downtown Vancouver (via the Lions Gate Bridge) and Whistler (via the Sea-to-Sky Corridor).

Additionally, BC Ferries operates routes departing from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, Bowen Island, and the Sunshine Coast.

Parks and recreation

The Lions Gate Bridge viewed from Ambleside Park Lions Gate Bridge West Vancouver.jpg
The Lions Gate Bridge viewed from Ambleside Park
West Vancouver Aquatic Centre West Vancouver pool.jpg
West Vancouver Aquatic Centre
Lions Gate Bridge and West Vancouver Lions Gate Bridge at night.jpg
Lions Gate Bridge and West Vancouver
Apartment and condominium towers lined along the West Vancouver seawall West Vancouver Apt Buildings.jpg
Apartment and condominium towers lined along the West Vancouver seawall

West Vancouver is known for its parks such as Cypress Provincial Park, which offers scenic views of Howe Sound and the Metro Vancouver area. Whytecliff Park and Lighthouse Park, near the community of Horseshoe Bay, at the continental terminus of the Trans-Canada Highway. All of West Vancouver is situated on the side of the Coast Mountains. Because of this position, many homes in West Vancouver have views of Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and/or Howe Sound.

Ambleside Park and the 15-block-long West Vancouver Seawall are popular spots for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Whytecliff Park is regarded as one of the best scuba diving spots in Western Canada. The District also has many other small parks, as well as Lighthouse Park at Point Atkinson, which contains some old-growth forest and has with views of Vancouver from downtown to Point Grey and is the boundary-point between English Bay and the Strait of Georgia. John Lawson Park is also another popular area for families, it features a playground for children, an open grass field for families to picnic, and a view of Lions Gate Bridge and the downtown skyline which are both across the water.

West Vancouver has several public recreation facilities including an 18-hole par 3 golf course, a pool, an ice rink, basketball and tennis courts, skate parks and numerous public parks. The West Vancouver Community Centre (or WVCC) has been rebuilt and opened Spring 2009. Cypress Provincial Park also has mountain biking trails and a large ski and snowboard resort, which served as one of the venues for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

West Vancouver cut.jpg
West Vancouver (left side) as seen from Stanley Park

Politics

As of 2022, the mayor is Mark Sager, who previously served as West Vancouver Mayor from 1991–1996.

West Vancouver ridings typically include Squamish and Whistler, and sometimes the Sunshine Coast.

Provincially, Joan McIntyre and Ralph Sultan of the BC Liberal Party were elected to the West Vancouver-Sea To Sky and West Vancouver-Capilano ridings, respectively, in the 2005 Provincial election (West Vancouver-Sea To Sky Country includes Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton).

Federally, West Vancouver-based ridings historically have voted Conservative since 1974, electing John Reynolds of the Reform Party of Canada (later the Canadian Alliance) from 1997 to 2004. Reynolds declined to run for re-election in 2006, however, and Liberal Blair Wilson defeated Conservative John Weston to replace Reynolds as Member of Parliament from the West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country electoral district. Wilson left the Liberals in 2007 and joined the Green Party in 2008, becoming the first Green Member of Parliament. The re-election in 2008 saw a rematch between Weston and Wilson. This time Weston emerged as the victor, carrying nearly triple the vote of his incumbent opponent to handily return the riding to the Conservatives. Weston won again in 2011. In the 2015 federal election, Weston was unseated by Liberal candidate Pam Goldsmith-Jones, who was previously the mayor of West Vancouver from 2005 to 2011. Pamela Goldsmith-Jones chose not to run for re-election in the 2019 federal election and Patrick Weiler of the Liberal Party of Canada went on to win the election.

Education

There are 17 public schools that make up School District 45 West Vancouver. There are also 4 private schools in the city. Of these 21 schools, 6 are high schools. Over 80 percent of West Vancouver high school graduates go to post-secondary schools. [22] Many residents from Squamish, the Sunshine Coast, and North Vancouver attend West Vancouver schools.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ↑ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ↑ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ↑ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ↑ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
  6. ↑ Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

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References

  1. ↑ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Mayor & Council | District of West Vancouver". westvancouver.ca. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population – West Vancouver, District municipality (DM) [Census subdivision], British Columbia". Statistics Canada. August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Trail Maps and Stats". cypressmountain.com. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  5. ↑ Services, Ministry of Citizens'. "Population Estimates - Province of British Columbia". www2.gov.bc.ca. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Canada's richest communities 2019 – Macleans.ca". www.macleans.ca. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  7. ↑ "West Vancouver", Kerry McPhedran, The Vancouver Book
  8. ↑ "West Vancouver". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Navvy Jack Point". BC Geographical Names .
  10. ↑ "Historic timeline". westvancouverite. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  11. ↑ Joseph P. Harris, "Practical Workings of proportional representation in the U.S. and Canada," National Municipal Review, 19 (5) May 1930 (pages 337–383)
  12. ↑ "Our History". cypressmountain.com.
  13. ↑ "North Vancouver District Library, Capilano Branch Library, Space Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study (2004)" (PDF). Archived from the original on January 10, 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. 1 2 2001 Census Profile of British Columbia's Regions, West Vancouver DM BC Stats (subscription service)
  15. 1 2 Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 26, 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  16. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 27, 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  17. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (November 27, 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  18. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (August 20, 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  19. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (July 2, 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  20. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (February 8, 2012). "Census subdivision of West Vancouver, DM (British Columbia) – Census Subdivisions – Focus on Geography Series – Census 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Search for homes in BC". realtylink.org.
  22. ↑ "10 Reasons to Choose West Vancouver | West Vancouver Schools International". Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
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