AMBLESIDE PIER
When West Vancouver was young, the only way to Vancouver was by boat. For years, there was no ferry service, crossing meant flagging down any vessel passing by. That changed in 1909, when John Lawson established ferry service from the foot of 17th Street to Vancouver.
By 1912, it was clear that the operation was unprofitable, so Lawson sold it to the new District of West Vancouver for $6,000. In 1913, a new terminal and pier were built at the foot of 14th Street, but after the Lions' Gate Bridge was built in 1947, the pier lost its purpose.
On May 5 1990, a new pier, re-built with the assistance of Provincial grants, was unveiled. Today, it is a great place to fish with friends or just take in the view. It still connects people, as it did in the past.
EAGLE ISLAND
In 1888, John Canessa bought Eagle Island for $37.50. He moved his wife and five children from Jericho Beach to their new home, named it Canessa's Place, and by 1890 was operating Canessa Fish Smokehouse on the island.
By the 1930s, there were a dozen cottages but no permanent residents, until after World War II when Fred and Margaret Russell decided to make it their home.
In those days, people could walk to the mainland through the muck at low tide. In the 1960s and 70s, a hand powered cable ferry - the smallest in the world - was used.
In 2008, the island's 65 residents rejected a proposal to build a bridge to the mainland, preferring to keep only boat access. Since the 1800s, Eagle Islanders have always chosen to live where they do because it is cut off. Its appeal is largely in its isolation.
FERRY BUILDING GALLERY
Located in Ambleside Landing, the Ferry Building Gallery displays the best in North Shore art, but it didn't always. In 1912, the building was the terminal building for West Vancouver's ferry service to Vancouver. In 1947, after the Lions' Gate Bridge opened, ferries became obsolete. For years the building was used for Blue Bus offices and storage. Then on May 5, 1990, the Ferry Building became an art gallery.
Designated a heritage building in 1987, the building was typical turn-of-the-century style: gabled roof, return hip eaves, and rafter ends with scroll patterns. The exterior has been restored and the interior redesigned.
As the region develops from a seashore village to a thriving municipality, gallery visitors experience West Vancouver's growing reputation for excellence in the arts.
WEST VANCOUVER MEMORIAL LIBRARY
The West Vancouver Memorial Library is a place of tranquillity to enjoy a cup of coffee while reading. It's a gathering place for members of the community, and a showcase for local artists. That's what WWII veterans envisioned when the Library was created the community's monument to the 72 men who lost their lives fighting for our country.
The stained glass window was donated by the sister of a soldier who died in WWI. Commissioned by the soldier's father, Vancouver Art Gallery founder Henry Stone, in honour of his son, it was created by master craftsman John Henry Dearle.
By 1957, the West Vancouver Memorial Library was the busiest library in North America, with over 20,000 books circulating each year. Today, it attracts nearly 43,000 visitors each month, and circulates over 1 million items annually.
