West Point Grey

West Point Grey is a neighbourhood in the northwest of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is on Point Grey and bordered by 16th Avenue to the south, Alma Street to the east, English Bay to the north, and Blanca Street to the west. Notable beaches within West Point Grey include Spanish Banks, Locarno and Jericho. Immediately to the south is Pacific Spirit Regional Park and to the east is Kitsilano.

West Point Grey
Neighbourhood
Street banners along 10th Avenue, near Sasamat Street
Location of West Point Grey (in red) in Vancouver
West Point Grey Location of West Point Grey in Metro Vancouver
Coordinates: 49°15′52.48″N 123°11′59.08″W
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Regional District	Metro Vancouver
City	Vancouver
Government
• Mayor	Ken Sim
• City Council	Vancouver City Council
Area
• Land	4.45 km2 (1.72 sq mi)
Population  (2016)[1]
• Total	13,065
• Density	2,935.9/km2 (7,604/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Postal code	V6R
Area code(s)	604, 778, 236, 672
Website	City of Vancouver neighbourhood profile

The main commercial area with shops and restaurants is along West 10th Avenue between Tolmie Street and Discovery Street. North of West 4th Avenue, the area slopes steeply downhill where it meets English Bay at Locarno Beach and the Spanish Banks.

Demographics

In 2016, West Point Grey had an estimated population of 13,065 of the total 631,485 residents in the City of Vancouver.^[1] Its population has remained relatively stable from 2011, when it was 12,795. The 2016 Canadian Census reported a median household income of $84,951 in the neighbourhood, nearly $20,000 higher than the City of Vancouver median income of $65,423.^[1] The most common first language in 2016 was English at 63.6 percent, with Chinese second at 18.9 percent. In 2001, English was at 75.1 percent and Chinese second at 9.3 percent.

Panethnic groups in West Point Grey (2001−2016)

Panethnic group	2016[2]		2006[3]		2001[4]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
European[a]	8,090	62.59%	9,865	75.94%	10,340	81.55%
East Asian[b]	3,535	27.35%	2,330	17.94%	1,830	14.43%
South Asian	435	3.37%	280	2.16%	135	1.06%
Middle Eastern[c]	205	1.59%	155	1.19%	20	0.16%
Southeast Asian[d]	185	1.43%	90	0.69%	130	1.03%
Indigenous	170	1.32%	100	0.77%	70	0.55%
Latin American	130	1.01%	40	0.31%	30	0.24%
African	50	0.39%	15	0.12%	40	0.32%
Other/multiracial[e]	120	0.93%	105	0.81%	85	0.67%
Total responses	12,925	98.93%	12,990	99.96%	12,680	100%
Total population	13,065	100%	12,995	100%	12,680	100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Education

Schools within the West Point Grey Boundary include Lord Byng Secondary School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Queen Elizabeth Elementary School, Queen Mary Elementary School, École Jules Quesnel and the private pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 school West Point Grey Academy.^[5]

Jericho Lands

West Point Grey is home to the Jericho Lands, composed of two parcels of land with a total area of 36 hectares (90 acres). In a historic agreement in 2014, the larger eastern parcel was acquired by a joint ownership group composed of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (50%) and Canada Lands Company (50%).^[6] In 2016, the same partners acquired the smaller western parcel from the provincial government, in the same proportions. In both acquisitions, the nations acquired almost half of their stake at no charge from the federal and provincial governments.^[7] The entire area is slated for redevelopment and initial public engagement began in March 2019 in conjunction with the City of Vancouver.^[8]

To the west, the Jericho Hill Grounds is a 15-hectare (38-acre) property formerly owned by the provincial government and houses the West Point Grey Academy private school. The eastern 21-hectare (52-acre) parcel is termed the "Jericho Garrison property" and was previously owned by the Department of Defence. It housed various military branches throughout the 20th century. The 39 Canadian Brigade Group, headquarters for all the Canadian Forces' Army Primary Reserve units in British Columbia, previously had its headquarters in the northeastern section of the neighbourhood, which is home to Vancouver's largest youth hostel.^{[citation needed]}

According to ancient First Nations legend, Point Grey is the "Battleground of the West Wind". The rock representing the god of the West Wind, which is sitting off the point, is called Homolsom. As the rock is sitting between their two territories, Homolsom is half a Squamish word and half a Fraser River language word.^[9]

Festivals

Fiesta Days, a family oriented carnival, is held along 10th Avenue and at Trimble Park in June, with rides, games, performances and a parade.^[10]

Notes

1. Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
2. Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
3. Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
4. Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
5. Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References

1. "West Point Grey" (PDF). vancouver.ca. City of Vancouver. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
2. Open Data Portal, City Of Vancouver (April 10, 2018). "Census local area profiles 2016". opendata.vancouver.ca. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
3. Open Data Portal, City Of Vancouver (March 25, 2013). "Census local area profiles 2006". opendata.vancouver.ca. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
4. Open Data Portal, City Of Vancouver (March 25, 2013). "Census local area profiles 2001". opendata.vancouver.ca. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
5. "West Point Grey Academy, a private JK-12 coed day school in Vancouver, BC". www.wpga.ca. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
6. "Canada Lands Company- Jericho Lands". Canada Lands Company. 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
7. Heather Whiteside (March 2019). "The state's estate: Devaluing and revaluing 'surplus' public land in Canada". Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space. 51 (2). Sage Publishing: 521. doi:10.1177/0308518X17723631. ISSN 1472-3409. Retrieved March 14, 2024. land deal was worth C$237 million. CLC paid for half and owns half, the federal government provided the First Nations groups with 28 percent as per the accommodation agreement, and the three First Nations groups negotiated an additional 22 percent equity stake. In 2016, another 38.8 acres were obtained from the provincial government, worth C$480 million, consolidating the 90 acres now known as Jericho Lands. Also structured as an accommodation agreement, the province gave the First Nations groups C$96 million toward their half of the joint venture land purchase
8. "Jericho Lands Planning Program". The City of Vancouver. 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
9. Legends of Vancouver E. Pauline Johnson [aka Tekahionwake] (1862-1913). Vancouver & Victoria, B.C.: David Spencer, Limited, 1911, p. 83
10. "Home". Point Grey Fiesta. Retrieved August 19, 2020.

External links

• City of Vancouver Neighbourhood Profile
• UBC-Point Grey travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Media related to West Point Grey at Wikimedia Commons

49°15′52.48″N 123°11′59.08″W