Community Information: West Van
Are you thinking of buying a home in West Van? Here is community information to help you.
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Bounded on two sides by water, the district of West Vancouver stretches along 28 kilometres of shoreline and up the lower slopes of Hollyburn Mountain, between Capilano River valley and Horseshoe Bay. This area of outstanding natural beauty has the highest income in Canada and a low crime rate. Its residents are strongly committed to maintaining the high quality of life and the charm of the municipality. For the structure of population and other community statistics visit the BC Stats Web site . Housing and ZoningWest Vancouver is a residential area with no industrial zoning. Most of the housing stock consists of single family homes a choice of old summer cottages, modest homes and multimillion-dollar waterfront estates. If you are looking for a house of outstanding architectural quality with breathtaking views, West Vancouver is a perfect place to start. Multifamily developments are relatively scarce but there is an intention to provide a wide range of housing types and sizes. High rise apartment buildings are located along the eastern beachfront. The municipality is taking care that new development continues to enhance the park-like environment with a well-balanced housing density and limited tree cutting. All land above the 1,200-foot elevation is preserved for recreational purposes. House prices are the highest in the region. For current house prices see our Market Tracker . Shopping, Dining and EntertainmentPark Royal is one of the largest shopping malls in the region with one million square feet of retail and office space. Ambleside and nearby Dundarave are the liveliest retail sections of West Vancouver. Connected with a 15-block long seawall only a block from the waterfront, these two centres feature hundreds of shops, galleries, excellent restaurants, and all kinds of services. Caulfield Centre, servicing affluent new developments in the area, features one of a kind stores and services. Horseshoe Bay's commercial centre abounds with restaurants and other tourist and traveler related amenities. Parks and RecreationWest Vancouver has over 2,500 hectares of parkland. The area is noted for excellent salmon fishing and contains many popular spots for boating, swimming, and scuba diving. There are excellent marina facilities and numerous waterfront parks attracting visitors from the entire region. Cypress Provincial Park offers day and night downhill skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, hiking and cross-country skiing along with fabulous views of Vancouver. TransportationThe picturesque Lion's Gate Bridge connects West Vancouver to Downtown Vancouver. The district has its own beloved "Blue Bus", the first public transit system in Canada to be totally wheelchair-accessible. It connects various parts of the district with Vancouver and with buses driving to other cities. The Upper Levels Highway, part of the Trans Canada Highway, traverses the area from east to west providing fast road access to other parts of the region. Horseshoe Bay at the northwest edge of the district is a major terminus for the provincial ferry system. It services Nanaimo (on Vancouver Island), Bowen Island, and the nearby Sunshine Coast. EducationWest Vancouver public and private schools have an excellent reputation.
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