Nestled in the shadow of Grouse Mountain to the north and bordered by the mighty Capilano River to the west lies the quaint neighbourhood of Edgemont, a place where change and the bustle of city life both seem suspended in time.
Quiet meandering streets wind throughout the area, sporting an eclectic mishmash of new and modern mid-century homes that stand together in harmony. The area’s many cul-de-sacs and crescents provide play space for the many children that live in this still family-dominated neighbourhood where it is not uncommon to see games of street hockey and the occasional lemonade stand on a sunny afternoon.
The nucleus of this northwestern District of North Vancouver neighbourhood is Edgemont Village, a collection of more than 100 businesses centered around the wide pedestrian-friendly Edgemont Boulevard.
A comparison of a photo of the area taken 50 years ago and a recent one shows just how little “the village” has changed over the course of time compared to other areas. The half-kilometre stretch feels far more akin to a small country town than a suburb 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver.
Angled parking stalls edge the boulevard, providing shoppers access to the myriad of businesses that, among others, include a chocolate store, a butcher shop, a seafood market, a toy store, a barber and coffee shops.
To Marlene Tate, owner of décor company Trims, which has operated in Edgemont Village for 26 years, the best things about the village are both its simplicity and its unrivaled authenticity.
“It’s not on a main street that people drive by, it is actually nestled in a neighbourhood so it has complete authenticity,” Tate explains. “It’s such a huge independent owner business area, it’s almost like a little mini farmer’s market. It’s sort of the type of thing that’s trying to be reproduced everywhere, it exists authentically in Edgemont Village.”
Development in the area didn’t begin until the post-war boom in the late 1940s and early 1950s according to the North Vancouver Museum and Archives. The first businesses in the village appeared in 1947, which included a restaurant, a pharmacy, and a dry goods store, according to The Edgemont Village Business Association.
Another major characteristic of this particular neighbourhood is the array of natural amenities situated in and around the area. A short jaunt from the business centre of the village lie many natural and recreational attractions visited frequently by both locals and tourists alike. A short distance to the northwest (about a 15-minute walk from the village) is the Capilano Salmon Hatchery situated in the Capilano River Regional Park.
More than 400,000 visitors flock to the site annually, according to the hatchery’s website, to catch sight of the Coho, Chinook and steelhead salmon that make their way in and out of the facility each year.
Glassed-in walls inside the hatchery’s concrete structure allow spectators to get up close views of the thousands of fish jumping up a fish ladder and inside the various tanks. Also impressive is the fact that a visit to the hatchery, situated in the park’s stunning rainforest setting, is free.
Following the park’s trails north leads to the massive Cleveland Dam and the Capilano Reservoir, which provides drinking water for a good portion of Metro Vancouver. Trails lead off in many directions through the beautifully preserved forest, which offers ample room to trek.
Edgemont is a neighbourhood that stands out both for its authentic small town ambiance and abundant supply of raw nature that hugs its surrounding flanks.
