Highbrow and ethnically diverse, West Vancouver has long enjoyed a privileged status in local real estate circles. An exclusive destination for the rich and upwardly mobile, it is a world unto itself separated from downtown Vancouver by the forest of Stanley Park and the waters of Burrard Inlet. Waterfront mansions are as desirable here as West Coast Modernist homes on the slopes of Cypress Mountain, where British Pacific Properties has been building since the 1930s.
However, don't let the term "British Properties" fool you current residents in the district's many neighbourhoods reflect the cultures who drive business and investment in the Lower Mainland from upper-crust English to cultured Persian and tight-knit Ismaili residents, as well as a growing Chinese population.
The laid-back lifestyle and taste for fine living is reflected in the shops, restaurants and recreational amenities offered in West Vancouver. Park Royal, the district's original shopping centre, complements village-style clusters of shops along Marine Drive and waterfront neighbourhoods such as Caulfeild, Eagle Harbour and Horseshoe Bay. Award-winning architecture characterizes the local community centres, often nestled beside verdant playing fields with ocean views. And above, Cypress Mountain with its ski slopes beckons.
West Vancouver average benchmark prices for detached homes are approximately $1.8 million, while average condo prices are $637,000. View West Vancouver MLS® listings and upcoming open houses
West Vancouver Amenities
West Vancouver Shopping
Park Royal is West Vancouver's original shopping centre, with a fashion-dominant north mall and a food- and service-oriented south mall. Retail villages at Ambleside, Dundarave and Horseshoe Bay, as well as Caulfeild Village Shopping Centre, offer local alternatives serving local neighbourhoods.
Schools and Education in West Vancouver
Primary schools
- Caulfeild Elementary School
- Cedardale Elementary School
- Chartwell Elementary School
- Cypress Park Primary School
- Eagle Harbour Primary School
- Gleneagles Elementary School
- Hollyburn Elementary School
- Irwin Park Elementary School
- Lions Bay Community School
- Pauline Johnson Elementary School
- Ridgeview Elementary School
- West Bay Elementary School
- Westcot Elementary School
Secondary schools
- Rockridge Secondary School
- Sentinel Secondary School
- West Vancouver Secondary School
Private Schools
- Mulgrave K-12 School
- Collingwood K-12 School
West Vancouver Cafés and Restaurants
West Vancouver abounds in coffee shops and restaurants, from Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Park Royal to Bean Around the World in Ambleside and Salmon House on the Hill in British Properties. Casual fine dining prevails at Beach House at Dundarave Pier and The Boathouse at Horseshoe Bay.
West Vancouver Sports and Recreation
West Vancouver's community centres and marinas bring together indoor and outdoor enthusiasts in a variety of settings, while cycling clubs and golf courses, such as Capilano Golf & Country Club and the precincts of Hollyburn Country Club, offer plenty of diversions for the discerning resident. The slopes of Cypress Mountain offer world-class skiing, while the Baden-Powell trail is enjoyed by joggers and hikers alike.
West Vancouver Transportation
West Vancouver's "Blue Buses" serve neighbourhoods west of the Capilano River, and offer service to downtown Vancouver and North Vancouver. Upper Levels Highway connects the district with ferries from Horseshoe Bay to Howe Sound and Vancouver Island, and the highway becomes the Sea-to-Sky route that leads to Whistler.
West Vancouver Property Statistics
Home prices* Houses $1,850,600 Townhouses N/A Apartments $636,700
*Source: Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, benchmark for September 2013
West Vancouver Demographics
Population* 44,058 (2010) *Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
Age* 60+ 29.7% 40 to 59 32.1% 20 to 39 16.1% 5 to 19 19% 0 to 4 3.1%
*Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
Occupancy* Owned 72.3% Rented 26.7%
*Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
Dwellings* Detached 57.4% Attached 4.4% Apartments 37.6%
*Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
