Did you know that the North Shore almost had its own airport? The proposed airfield appears on a 1947 map of North Vancouver.
After the Second World War in 1945, a flat undeveloped area near Lions Gate Bridge was designated as an airport for private use, to be called the Capilano Air Park. The new airfield, slated for completion August 1947, was to cater to tourists flying their own planes from the United States and other parts of Canada. Besides two runways, there were plans to eventually build “a luxury hostel to accommodate flying tourists.”
When a lack of funds caused the cancellation of this project, the area was developed as the Norgate housing community.
Visit the MONOVA website for more information about the history of the North Shore and to plan your visit to MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver, now open at 115 West Esplanade in The Shipyards.
Currently, MONOVA: Archives of North Vancouver ,at 3203 Institute Road in Lynn Valley, is open by appointment only. Contact: archives@monova.ca
Navigate culture on the North Shore by using the North Shore Culture Compass.
