Neighbourhoods matter a lot. And not just for resale value, either. In their own way, they are alive. They live, breathe, grow and develop. And there’s a sense of each of these places, something that’s impossible to engineer; a certain feeling that comes from knowing the people in your community, and feeling like you’re a part of it.
If you’ve never had your butcher offer you a free bag of bones for your dog, or had your barista warmly welcome you by your first name, you’re missing out on that neighbourhood that everyone should be searching for. We’re here to help you find it.
Be sure to read our previous guides on beloved local businesses in White Rock, Mount Pleasant, and Burnaby Heights. For now, let’s head to greener pastures.
Welcome to Pitt Meadows.
Before we introduce you to this thriving community, let’s do A 60-second rundown of how Pitt Meadows came to be. Hold onto your hats and glasses.
Pitt Meadows has a rich history dating back to the early 1800s when the area was primarily inhabited by the Katzie First Nation. In the late 19th century, European settlers began to arrive and establish farms, which soon became the foundation of the local economy. The government sold land in the area for roughly $1 per acre, a little Loonie if you ask us.
The city's name comes from a former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, William Pitt, and a network of dikes constructed by settlers to control the flooding of the Fraser River. The dikes allowed for the expansion of farming and the development of the local community. Today, they allow for awesome places to take the family for a bike ride, or the dog for an off-leash adventure.
During World War II, the Canadian government established an air force training base, which later became the Pitt Meadows Regional Airport - in case you’ve ever wondered why you can spot so many small planes overhead, now you know. In the 1960s, the construction of the Pitt River Bridge and the opening of the Golden Ears Bridge in 2009 improved access to the city, leading to significant growth and development. Residents are a hop, skip and a jump away from Langley now, and maybe equally as important, they have access to the highway. Huge for trips downtown.
Today, Pitt Meadows is a thriving community with a population of over 19,000 and is known for its agricultural heritage, outdoor recreational opportunities, and vibrant local businesses.
But before we get to that, we thought a bit of insight from one of the area’s top agents might be worth a look.
Here are three reasons why “The Real Estate Wizard” Daniel Card thinks Pitt Meadows is a community worth exploring.
The sense of community.
Pitt Meadows doesn’t cover a huge area, and most of the homes are centred around the downtown of the city. There’s a very small-town feel. Everything is close, neighbours know each other and look out for one another.
The local events.
Pitt Meadows puts on some amazing community events every year, which really helps build a sense of community. From the annual Pitt Meadows Day parade in June to Easter at Harris Road Park, to Canada Day and more, Pitt Meadows puts on some of the best community events in the lower mainland that are wonderful for all ages.
The scenic beauty.
Surrounded by mountains and boasting several world-class golf courses (see below), Pitt Meadows is an absolutely stunning place to live. Pitt Lake offers a serene location for kayaking, hiking, boating and more. The beautiful shoreline park in southern Pitt Meadows offers a great location on the Fraser River (as well and is a great place for a photo op).
Our thanks to Dan for the insight. And now, without further ado, let’s go to work.
Down to business.
It wouldn’t be a suburb of Vancouver without a thriving brewery, now would it? Pitt Meadows is no exception to that rule, and Foamers’ Folly has stepped up to fill the vacuum (and Growlers).
If you’re into trying new beers, you’ve found your watering hole. The 20+ taps at Foamers are always rotating, so you’re never going to get bored. The FF crew says their goal is to make a wide variety of unique and delicious beer, and they deliver on that promise. In spades.
Take a flight to the Pitt Meadows Regional Airport and then grab a flight at Foamers’ Folly. Both adventures are worth the journey.
The sweet life.
Gelato, sorbetto, frozen yogurt or ice cream, it’s all on offer at Sweet Tooth Creamery in Osprey Village. Locally owned and operated, Katerina and Erik Steffen opened the shop to promote the South Bonson community and bring happiness to their neighbours. And that they are doing. When you visit, Erik recommends trying a scoop of Espresso Flakes, and Kat’s go-to is the Sea Salt Caramel in a waffle cone. We’ll take one of each.
They close for the winter months, but open to the public every April. You can try 16 flavours of premium ice cream, six flavours of gelato, 54 combinations of frozen yogurt made with real fruit, custom-made milkshakes and decorated ice cream cakes - maybe not all at once, but are summers are getting longer. Dream big.
Or, if you want to dream even bigger, consider making a move down the road from Sweet Tooth. Put your discipline to the test.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To check out Coastal Collective + Co, of course. Right across the street from Sweet Tooth is one of the coolest collaborative stores in the Lower Mainland. The shop brings the best artisans from around BC together in one store, which makes treating yourself a breeze.
Or, if you prefer to give than receive, let’s be clear. Coastal Collective + Co is about to become your favourite store. You could blindly fill your basket here and leave with a dozen gifts that will make anyone’s day. Visit them in Osprey Village to see for yourself.
Round we go.
Golfers in Pitt Meadows are lucky to have Swaneset Bay Resort & Country Club in their backyard. The course is well-maintained and kept in excellent condition, featuring two 18-hole championship courses designed by renowned golf course architect Lee Trevino.
The club offers a driving range, putting greens and a short game area at its practice facilities, great for golfers who want to get all of their bad shots out of the way before teeing off. As is tradition.
It’s a great place to host an event, too, should you be looking to get hitched anytime soon. The mountain views from Swaneset are breathtaking.
Buy the farm.
There are plenty of great places to buy your food in Pitt Meadows (and there are Meridan Farm Markets in surrounding Port Coquitlam, Langley and Maple Ridge), but Hopcott Farms is where we park our tractor when it’s time for groceries.
Hopcott is a third-generation family-run butcher shop, where you can also buy farm-fresh produce. And if you’re wondering where your supper is coming from, just look in any direction behind their storefront, and there you have your answer.
Whether it’s their non-GMO, no added hormones or steroids beef, non-GMO peaches and cream corn, or a tour of the cranberry harvest (seriously), Hopcott Farms is here to serve Pitt Meadows and beyond.
A beautiful day in the neighbourhood.
It’s hard to put a finger on what makes a neighbourhood a great neighbourhood. There’s a spirit to these places, a meshing of the lives and loves and laughter and losses of all of those who took root there at one time or another. It’s places to eat that would never succeed anywhere else. It’s local grocers whose produce is only outweighed by their personalities. It’s the lives of the people who truly bring the bricks and mortar to life. And that’s worth buying into.
