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West Vancouver Community West Vancouver has been an independent municipality since 1912 when it broke away from the District of North Vancouver. The new West Vancouver citizens wanted to maintain a residential community without any industrial base. They built a network of small communities such as Ambleside, Dundarave, and Horseshoe Bay. West Vancouver continues to be primarily residential in nature with several neighbourhood business areas to serve the needs of the residents. The Municipality has grown steadily since that time. Today the population approaches 40,000. Despite this growth and the proximity of West Vancouver to the City of Vancouver, the area still manages to retain a small town atmosphere. This community feeling shows through in such widely attended events as Community Day, the Coho Festival, the Dundarave Hoe-Down, Harmony Arts Festival and Horseshoe Bay Days.  GOVERNMENT West Vancouver is governed by an elected council of a mayor and six aldermen who meet weekly at the Municipal Hall at 750 - 17th Street, 922-121 I. Under the manager-council system, Council delegates the details of administration to the Municipal Manager who is responsible to the elected Council. Council is also helped by several boards and commissions whose members serve voluntarily in an advisory capacity. West Vancouver is fortunate to have such a high calibre of citizens willing to donate their time and expertise to support the community.  The other part of West Vancouver's local government is the School Board. The Board, with five elected trustees, is responsible to the provincial government's Ministry of Education. From offices at 1075 - 21st Street, 922-9151, the School Board administers the elementary, middle and secondary schools in West Vancouver, Lions Bay and Bowen Island. |
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Municipal Services LIBRARY
The West Vancouver Memorial Library was founded in 1950 by a group of West Vancouver citizens as a memorial to the Municipality's fallen soldiers. It is governed by an independent nine-member Board appointed by Council under the Library Act of B.C. The Library contributes to the small-town feeling of West Vancouver by providing a meeting place for community exhibits and displays and by arranging discussion groups, lectures and other programs and events. It also offers an outstanding collection of books as well as records, compact discs, magazines, newspapers and videos. With all of these services, it is no wonder that West Vancouver's library has the highest per capita circulation rate of any urban public library in Canada.
POLICE
Unlike many municipalities which are served by the R.C.M.P., West Vancouver has always had its own police force. The Police Department is governed by the five-member Police Board under the authority of the B.C. Police Act. They also oversee the Bylaw Enforcement Officers who are also located at the Public Safety Building. The Police Department puts a special emphasis on com-munity-based policing and stresses the importance of crime prevention. The high level of service provided to West Vancouver residents and businesses has resulted in the Municipality having one of the lowest crime rates in British Columbia.
FIRE
The Fire Department's primary responsibility is to provide fire suppression, fire prevention and first-response to all medical emergency calls within the Municipality. There are four fire halls situated in Ambleside, the British Properties, Caulfeild and Horseshoe Bay. The Fire Department is involved in a wide variety of programs to increase public awareness of fire issues and also to protect West Vancouver from threats other than fires such as chemical spills, tidal waves and earthquakes. Concepts of fire safety are brought to school children with the Cap Holly Show and Bernie the Fire Dog.
TRANSIT
The "Blue Buses", which are unique to West Vancouver, evolved from a feeder line to the ferry system which was the only link between the small community and downtown Vancouver. The Blue Bus system is the oldest municipal transit system in British Columbia. The headquarters for the Transit Department were only recently moved from the old ferry building at the foot of 14th Street to the new building in North Vancouver. While the Blue Buses have been part of B.C. Transit since 1979, they continue to be managed and operated by the Municipality of West Vancouver. The bus routes shown in blue on the map are subject to change. |
To view Community Info click here Municipal Services Clubs & Associations Recreational Facilities Golf Hiking Walks | |||||||||||||||||||||
There are a wide variety of recreational clubs and associations throughout the Municipality. For information on joining a club or for a list of leisure organizations in the community, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 922-1211. For Chamber of Commerce, Ratepayer, Homeowner, or Business Association information, please contact the Clerk's Department at 922-1211.
Each facility has a character of its own, offering a variety of programs, events and social opportunities and an atmosphere that attracts people of all ages and interests. Amenities include fine art studios, art galleries, dance studios, multi-use gymnasiums, pools, a sauna, weight rooms, an ice arena and tennis courts. Call or drop by for more information on how to get involved!
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To view Community Info click here Municipal Services Clubs & Associations Recreational Facilities Golf Hiking Walks Back to Top | |||||||||||||||||||||
MEMORIAL PARK This small park, across from the Memorial Library, is a peaceful sanctuary next to the bustle of the Ambleside Business District. Take a delightful short walk alongside the east bank of MacDonald Creek through a special plantation of rare and colour-ful rhododendron and azalea species. The park is also home to a formal memorial garden and a lawn bowling facility. AMBLESIDE PARK Ambleside Park is West Vancouver's best known park. It offers twenty-four hectares (59 acres) of seaside park with 600 m. (.37 mi.) of wide sandy beach and 1.2 kin. (.75 mi.) of shoreline seawalk. The park includes playfields, a fitness circuit, tennis courts and a children's playscape. There is also a Par Three golf course and a pond where water fowl can always be found. While enjoying the park, take advantage of the trackside view of the only full sized steam-engined train in Canada - B.C. Railway's Royal Hudson - which passes the park twice daily from May to October. The eastern portion of the park, including the Par 3 golf course, is within the Capilano Indian Reserve. The Native name for this area is Ch'tl'am which means place where Deer graze. THE GLENEAGLES GOLF COURSE The Gleneagles Golf Course is open from dawn to dusk all year round, unless there is snow on the ground! Course time is on a first come, first serve basis and it is advisable to call in advance for an estimate of waiting time. The Par 70 C.P.C.A. Professional welcomes players to the course and offers group and private lessons by appointment. The course has nine challenging holes which, widen played twice around, measure 5,209 yards. The golf shop is fully stocked to serve the golfer's needs including rental of golf clubs, pull carts and power carts. The coffee shop and clubhouse are open to the public. The clubhouse can be booked by calling 921-771 I. THE AMBLESIDE PAR THREE GOLF COURSE The Ambleside Par Three Golf Course is a lovely eighteen hole pitch and putt golf facility on the Ambleside Waterfront. It is an excellent course for all players and is open everyday from March I st to October 31st, 9:00 A.M. to dusk. DOGS Please help to keep our parks comfortable and healthy environments for all park users by cleaning up after your dog. Special disposal bags are available in some park areas. Dogs are not allowed at the following park facilities: playgrounds, play-fields, beaches, fitness circuits, running tracks, golf courses, bowling greens, tennis courts and some parks. A listing of parks in which dogs are prohibited, permitted on leash or off a leash in full control of the owner is available at the Municipal Hall.
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Hiking Safety & Conduct The North Shore mountains are largely wilderness areas. Safety on hiking trails is the responsibility of the hiker. Dress appropriately and be prepared by becoming knowledgeable about hiking equipment and safety precautions and by obtaining up-to-date trail and weather condition information. Make sure you let someone know where you are hiking and when you expect to return. And please help to preserve the wilderness by packing out what you pack in, staying on the trails and using extreme caution with cigarettes and matches. Remember, campfires are forbidden in park areas. CYPRESS PROVINCIAL PARK
The park includes an alpine ski area, cross-country ski section, snow play and toboggan area, and support and service facilities. It is now under lease to private operators with a fee scale for use of facilities. For downhill ski information, contact Cypress Bowl at 926-5612. Cross country ski, luge, snowshoe and toboggan information is available at 922-0825. The snowphone number 926-6007 provides pre-recorded ski condition updates. There is also a broad range of hiking trails in the park including those at the Howe Sound Crest (The Lions), Black Mountain, Mount Strachan and Hollyburn Mountain. Information on these trails and their conditions is available from B.C. Parks at either the Vancouver District Offlce: 1-463-3513 or the North Shore Offlce: 929-1291. |
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WHYTECLIFF PARK
A beautiful corner of Howe Sound with a rugged coastline and spectacular views. Visitors to the park can enjoy views of the colourful mountains and passing boats. Eagles and seals can often be seen in this area. Five hectares (I 2.3 acres) of this park contain play areas, picnic spots, a swimming beach, tennis courts and an observation pavilion from which to admire the stunning views.
SEAVIEW WALK
Seaview Walk is a picturesque trail for those who find the mountain trails too steep and uneven. Benches and rest areas occur conveniently along the route. Enjoy views over the ocean framed by windswept conifers and arbutus. This walk is wheelchair accessible. KLOOTCHMAN PARK This small but scenic park is situated just west of Lighthouse Park and is accessed from Howe Sound Lane. The sign to the park is located south of The Byway. Parking is limited. Klootchman Park is characterized by steeply sloping terrain. Narrow paths and rustic stairways lead to ocean side cliffs which are approximately 45-60 m. (150-200 ft.) below the road. The park is covered in typical coastal vegetation and is an attractive location for picnics. LIGHTHOUSE PARK
The park derives its name from Point Atkinson, one of Canada's first manned lightstations. Though originally built in 1874, the present version of the lighthouse dates from 1912 - the year West Vancouver became a separate municipality. The lighthouse has become a municipal landmark and can be seen from several viewpoints in the park. Visitors to the park enjoy the rich variety of vegetation which flourish in this undeveloped area. A network of trails meander through an emerald tangle of moss laden deciduous trees, dense tracts of salal and salmonberry, spikey ferns, delicate trail flowers and decaying tree stumps. Giant conifers up to 500 years old soak up the copious annual rainfall before it rushes seaward through the deep valley draws. From the forest's edge, trails marked by blue triangles lead to the park's dramatic shoreline. Follow the I 0.0 km. (6.2 mi.) of woodland and shoreline trails past many natural phenomena identified by discreet signs. CAULFEILD PARK An exciting oceanside trail of 1.3 km. (.81 mi.) which takes roughly 35 minutes to walk. From the broad sandy beach at Cypress Creek westward along the Caulfeild foreshore to the government wharf at Caulfeild Cove, this park offers excellent canoeing, kayaking, fishing and picnicking. Swimming is a popular activity at Cypress and Caulfeild Beaches. The scenic trail winds through mature woods close to the water, and past the historic site where Captain Kettle's Pilot House once stood. CYPRESS FALLS PARK This little known park features spectacular waterfalls in a rainforest setting. The park offers 2.0 kin. (I.25 mi.) of mountain trails rising from an elevation of 167 m. (548 ft.) to 290 m. (951 ft.) with a hiking time of one hour. The southwest corner of the park, off Woodgreen Place, contains tennis courts, a children's play area and a playField. The wilderness trail starts from the east end of the playfield, with an easy 5 minute hike to the lower falls. A full-trail circuit, taking about one hour, can be made by crossing the bridge above the falls and climbing the steep trail to the logging road by the Hydro sub-station outside Park boundaries. Cross over Cypress Creek approximately 400 m. (I,310 ft.) along the road, and view a small upper falls from just below McCrady bridge. Another 100 m. (328 ft.) along the fire road, follow the trail to the left, and after about 5 minutes, the wilderness trail branches off to the left again. This will lead you to the middle falls and back to the starting point, through a valley of 250 - 300 year old forest giants. |
"We operate as a Team. To view Community Info click here Municipal Services Clubs & Associations Recreational Facilities Golf Hiking Walks Back to Top |
Visit one of the seven parks and recreation facilities listed below and get a sense of a community in action. The Parks and Recreation Department's fine reputation for excellence in programming is a product of the community, volunteers and staff working together.
Cypress Provincial Park is mostly within West Vancouver's boundaries, containing a ski complex in Cypress Bowl formed by Black, Strachan and Hollyburn Mountains To reach the park, exit the Upper Levels Highway at Cypress Bowl Road (interchange #8) and follow the road up the mountain.
This is a 2.0 km. (I .2 mi.) level walk based on an old railway roadbed. It offers impressive views of Fisherman's Cove and Burrard Inlet. There are two entrances: one across from Gleneagles Golf Course just west of Orchill Road and the other from a steep access trail off Cranley Drive at Nelson Creek.