this is our vancouver: the north shore
At 1,646 and 1,606 metres above sea level, the spectacular pointed peaks of The Lions preside over Vancouver’s North Shore
What’s the North Shore?
The ‘North Shore’ is a catch-all moniker that refers to the cities of West Vancouver and North Vancouver, and the district of North Vancouver. All three lie on the north side of the Burrard Inlet, just a 15-minute ferry or 20-minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
How Times Have Changed
For time immemorial the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation have lived on and fed from the waters of the Burrard Inlet and the mountains of the North Shore. They still proudly and prominently reside in North Vancouver.
In the 1860s, however, a carpenter named Sewell Moody arrived in Western Canada from Maine, and bought a sawmill on the Burrard Inlet. North Vancouver was originally called Moodyville after this man, its founder, and Moodyville became the first non-native settlement on the Burrard Inlet, predating even the city of Vancouver.
As logging was the driving force behind the settlement of North Vancouver’s virgin, old growth rainforest, it makes perfect sense that a sawmill and shipyards—for exporting the lumber, of course—marked the Shore’s early development. The nearby mountains soon proved to be another powerful draw, and ski areas were set up on Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour, two of the Shore’s three mountains. (The third is Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver.)
Today the city and district of North Vancouver continue to evolve rapidly. Their economic offerings have diversified to include chemical production (those huge yellow piles of stuff you can see from downtown Vancouver is sulphur), film production (Dawn Of The Planet of the Apes was recently shot near North Vancouver’s famous Capiliano Suspension Bridge) and, increasingly, world-class outdoor recreation (the North Shore is a mountain biking mecca), for example.
Chic condominiums are rapidly replacing disagreeable-looking apartment buildings from the 1960s and 1970s, and a sophisticated urban population who appreciates the North Shore’s close proximity to the metropolis of Vancouver, the ocean, lakes and the wilderness of the three local mountains continue to move on in.
Meet Alex Mazerolle, possibly the world’s biggest fan of North Vancouver
Who is Alex?
Alex Mazerolle is one of our ambassadors, sure, but spend five minutes with her and you’ll also realize she’s a dedicated cheerleader for North Vancouver. Born and raised in a lush area on the Shore called Lynn Valley, after a few years spent living in Vancouver proper she returned to her roots to co-found Distrikt Movement, a one-stop shop for those who want to sweat, whether through strength training, yoga, or one of the studio’s famous hybrid classes called Ugly Sweaters.
“There’s a really cool community here, and we do not feel alone in running our business in North Vancouver. We really feel the love,” says Alex.
The same playground she grew up in—the forest and headwaters that were literally in her backyard—are still her favourite place to find adventure and get her sweat on. “I can leave the studio, hike up a mountain and be swimming in a lake within an hour. You cannot beat that.”
Best of North Vancouver: Alex’ Picks
Best breakfast: Blu House, 4342 Gallant Ave. “Smoothies, coffees and crepes, all local, organic and delicious. Farhad, who manages it, also manages Maa Yoga Studio and he just has great taste. It’s really simple and quality. It opened a week and a half ago and we’ve been there every day.”
Fail-safe sandwich: S’Wich Café, 644 Queensbury Ave. “I always get the chicken pesto sandwich, but you can’t go wrong with any order at S’Wich. All the girls who work there come and do hip-hop dance class at Distrikt on Wednesday nights, too.”
Sushi central: Sushi Bella, 152 Lonsdale Ave. “If you want sushi? Duh! Sushi Bella. Order the spicy chunky tuna sashimi. It’s so good.”
Best beans: JJ Bean Coffee Roasters and Cafés, 333 Brooksbank Ave. and 125 E. 17th St. “Their baristas really care about their coffee.”
Grab a gift: Room 6, 4389 Gallant Ave. “It’s a store full of things everyone loves. It doesn’t really have to make sense, its just about beautiful things, quality goods. You can buy a really intentionally beautiful necklace and Meghan, the owner, knows some story about it. It’s meaningful. There’s connection and it’s human. And Meghan is the most incredible community builder in Deep Cove.”
Indulge me: Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers, 2270 Dollarton Hwy. “Their Sun Kissed Tea Saison is my favourite. And they did a Coconut Porter was that was so good. Just try their feature beers.”
Hit the trails: Rice Lake or Lynn Loop. “I’m taking it to my roots here. These are great places to run or hike, and to top it off, on side of the road that goes into the trails off Lynn Valley Road there’s a fresh well spring where you can fill up your bottle. It doesn’t get better than that.”
The local: The Little District, 1366 Lonsdale Ave. “Paul, who owns it, is Mr. North Van. Casual dining culture was created here on the North Shore—Earl’s and Cactus Club Café were born here, and Paul’s continuing in that tradition.” (Ed’s note: For you carnivores, the Boneless Demon Wings are not to be missed.)
Read about Vancouver’s reborn warehouse district, the trendy Yaletown neighbourhood, here!
Kate is a writer, editor and fast-talker (literally), who thinks that life is profoundly better when she’s outside—especially when there’s a board beneath her feet. Join her on the ride on Twitter and Instagram.
