THE WEST END

The West End encompasses everything west of Burrard Street to Stanley Park, from Robson Street in the north to the water in the south.

With the establishment of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) terminus in Coal Harbour, the West End became Vancouver's first elite neighbourhood. The families of the CPR executives lived primarily along Georgia Street, which became known as 'Blue Blood Alley'. The growth of the financial district pushed construction of these large homes deeper into the West End. Eventually, more middle-class homes were constructed in the area and the West End became popular for families immigrating from elsewhere in Canada, from the United Kingdom, and eventually from other countries. 

Today, the West End continues to attract residents from all walks of life. While some of the old houses remain, many have been replaced by apartment buildings. Although it  is densely populated, the community associations are renowned for maintaining the area's liveability. The West End is home to Davie Village, a hub for the city's gay community, and to Denman Street, which provides local shopping and restaurants. Other amenities include elementary schools, community centres, parks, the seawall and English Bay Beach (a very popular place to watch the annual Celebration of Lights fireworks display).