Dunbar–Southlands is a neighbourhood on the western side of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, that stretches north from the Fraser River and covers most between the mouth of the Fraser and English Bay. This neighbourhood consists of many commercial and residential areas that mostly consists of single-family dwellings. It also contains parts of the Mackenzie Heights enclave, and is the home territory of the Musqueam Indian Band.
Archaeological findings shows that native First Nations have inhabited the area was early as 400 B.C. The Fraser provided large amounts of hunting and fishing areas for Salish Indians who settled at three locations. As recently as 15000 years ago, it was buried under a sheet of glacial ice. In 1908, the land in the Dunbar area was owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway and was part of the now defunct, Municipality of Point Grey. At that time, the land was unstable for development. The first non-native settlers purchased a lot on the 22nd avenue and built there. By 1927, the area was served by three streetcar routes. Dunbar–Southlands became part of Vancouver in 1929 when the Municipality of Point Grey merged with the City of Vancouver. The first major land development in Dunbar–Southlands taken place in the mid-1920s and some of the homes built during this period still stand today. Due to West Point Grey’s 1922 zoning by-laws ordered that these early homes be situated on the back of their lots, those that remain, stands out as neighbourhood landmarks.[3]
Trafalgar Elementary School
4170 Trafalgar St, Vancouver, BC V6L 2M5
Trafalgar School offers Kindergarten to Grade 7 instruction to approximately 440 students, almost two-thirds of whom are in the French Immersion track and just over one-third in the English stream. While the French Immersion population is very stable with most students having English as a home/first language, approximately 70% of those in the English stream have learned or are learning English as a second/additional language. These students are primarily Mandarin speaking with some Cantonese and a sampling of various other languages. Many students in the English stream only have one parent living with them in Vancouver. Often the mothers are here on their own with very little English and support and a limited understanding of the education system in Canada. Trafalgar has a very strong parent community who works closely with staff, to enhance students’ experiences.
Crofton House School
3200 W 41st Ave, Vancouver, BC V6N 3E1
Crofton House School is a warm and supportive community that prepares girls to be courageous, creative and engaged citizens, ready for a world of possibility. Crofton House School is a leading independent day school for girls from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, where students are inspired to discover and pursue their personal excellence.
St. George’s School
4175 W 29th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6S 1V1
Through a broad and inclusive program, students will be educated and prepared for life. They will possess a solid knowledge base in a wide range of disciplines, as well as core academic skills combined with 21st-century global skills. During their time at Saints, they will also develop key virtues such as empathy, humility, integrity, resilience, respect, and responsibility. They will be inspired to become good men!
Lord Byng Secondary School
3939 W 16th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6R 2C9
Lord Byng is located on a nine acre site at the western end of the Vancouver peninsula in an area called West Point Grey, approximately two kilometers from the campus of the University of British Columbia. The school serves all of West Point Grey, as well as parts of the Kitsilano and Dunbar neighbourhoods. The catchment area of the school includes the provincial electoral district of Vancouver-Point Grey and Vancouver-Quilchena. Census data tells us that the top three occupations in these areas include: teacher, professor, and professionals in science
Queen Elizabeth Elementary school
4102 16 AVE W, Vancouver, BC V6R 3E3
Queen Elizabeth Elementary is a Kindergarten to Grade 7 school, located next to Pacific Spirit Park near the University of British Columbia Endowment Lands. Built in 1940, the school boasts a unique architecture, with three buildings on one level situated around an interior courtyard, and lots of green space adjacent. The very large field area and track that is used by the school and Lord Byng, the neighbourhood secondary school.
Memorial West Park
4701 Dunbar St, Vancouver, BC V6S 2G8
The park attracts many in the surrounding neighbourhood with its lively playing fields and courts as well as a neighbouring community centre – Dunbar Community Centre.
Balaclava Park
4594 Balaclava St, Vancouver, BC V6L 2T2
Located in a quiet neighbourhood, this park offers grassy fields that are frequented by sports teams, neighbours, and children alike, as well as a wading pool and dogs off-leash areas.
Chaldecott Park
4175 Wallace St, Vancouver, BC V6S 2J3
The park is a great space for everyone as it features playing fields, such as baseball diamonds and soccer fields, and play areas like playgrounds and a waterpark.
Valdez Park
3210 W 22nd Ave, Vancouver, BC V6L 1N2
A small open park frequented by residents in the surrounding neighbourhood to enjoy the sunshine in the field or for a nice stroll.
Carnarvon Park
2995 W 19th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6L 3C3
The park offers many recreational opportunities, from a multitude of sports fields to a fitness circuit and a children’s playground.
Camosun Park
4102 W 16th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6R 3E3
The park features a large grass field as it is adjacent to Queen Elizabeth Elementary School and is connected to the trail network of Pacific Spirit Park.
Vancouver Heritage Housing
In April 1983, City Council initiated a Heritage Conservation Program. Both Council and the Vancouver Heritage Commission (then known as the Heritage Advisory Committee) realized that a comprehensive management program was necessary to identify the city’s heritage resources, to develop incentives to assist in the conservation of those resources, and to create a greater awareness and understanding of our built heritage. There are three main components to the Heritage Program.
Vancouver Heritage Register
By the end of 1986, Vancouver’s centennial year, City Council adopted the Vancouver Heritage Register (then known as the Heritage Inventory) which included buildings, landscapes, monuments and archaeological sites that have heritage significance. A site does not have to be designated to be included on the Register. There are approximately 2,400 resources listed on the Register ranging from workers cottages and utilitarian warehouses to elaborately decorated mansions and commercial buildings. The Vancouver Heritage Register [pdf] is a valuable record of the development and change that has occurred in Vancouver’s history. Approximately 21% (about 500) sites are municipally designated [see the Heritage Bylaw].
Heritage Management Plan
The Heritage Management Plan includes a program of incentives and protective measures that are aimed at promoting the conservation of our heritage resources. Incentives such as zoning by-law, subdivision by-law and parking by-law relaxations, density bonuses and transfers, and permit fast tracking encourage the restoration and continued use of heritage buildings. Protective measures include designation, heritage revitalization agreements, heritage alteration permits, heritage inspections, impact assessments, temporary protection, the withholding of approvals and permits, heritage control periods and heritage site maintenance standards.
Public Education and Information Program
This aspect of the Heritage Conservation Program provides information to the public on heritage issues and appropriate conservation techniques. Initiatives such as the annual Heritage Awards which recognize efforts that further the goal of heritage conservation are also an important part of the Heritage Program. The Heritage Plaque Program identifies municipally designated heritage sites with a distinctive bronze plaque and serves to acknowledge conservation efforts of building owners. It also increases public awareness of our built heritage and of our history.
What is the Vancouver Heritage Register?
The Vancouver Heritage Register [PDF] is the cornerstone of the City’s Heritage program. Adopted in 1986 (then known as the Heritage Inventory), it is a policy and guideline document which includes approximately 2,150 buildings, and 131 landscapes, monuments and archaeological sites. To be included on the Register, sites must be identified as having heritage value and/or heritage character and be at least 20 years old. The Register is a planning tool which provides a valuable record of Vancouver’s heritage.
How Was the Heritage Register Completed and How Are Buildings Evaluated?
A comprehensive architectural survey of the city was completed by a study team that looked at every street in the City to identify notable buildings. This work, together with additional historical research on the buildings, was used to evaluate each building according to the following criteria: (1) architectural significance; (2) historical significance; (3) the extent to which the original context of the building and its surroundings remain; and (4) the degree of alteration to the exterior of the building.
To be included on the Heritage Register, a site is evaluated as outlined above, and in so doing it must be identified as having heritage value and/or heritage character. Heritage value means historical, cultural, aesthetic, scientific or educational worth. Heritage character means the overall effect produced by traits or features which give a property or an area its distinctive quality. There can be different degrees and kinds of value and character. A rare example of a once-common building type may be of considerable value in one neighbourhood over a similar building in another area where that building type is more prevalent.
What do the “A”, “B” and “C” Evaluation Categories Mean?
These categories are general classifications and are based on any combination of historic, architectural, cultural, spiritual, scientific or social values.
A – Primary Significance
Represents the best examples of a style or type of building; may be associated with a person or event of significance.
B – Significant
Represents good examples of a particular style or type, either individually or collectively; may have some documented historical or cultural significance in a neighbourhood.
C – Contextual or Character
Represents those buildings that contribute to the historic character of an area or streetscape, usually found in groupings of more than one building but may also be of individual importance.
While the category is a useful reference, the key is that whichever category a building is placed under, it has heritage value.
Can Registered Buildings be Altered or Demolished?
Does a Building’s “A”, “B” or “C” Category Affect How It Is Treated?
A building which is listed on the Heritage Register can be altered on the exterior. However, when considering alterations, the way in which the exterior is treated should not depend on whether it is an “A”, “B” or “C”. In other words, the heritage value of each building on the Heritage Register is formally recognized and the elements that define its character should be afforded the same level of respect. If a permit is required for the alteration, it will be referred to heritage staff for comments as part of the permit process.
Council’s “Heritage Polices and Guidelines” describe Council’s intent with respect to heritage properties listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register (VHR). Before a permit can be issued to demolish a building on the VHR, development and building permits for the new development must first be obtained. In this period staff would explore retention options with the applicant. Often applicants do not know all the options and incentives/bonuses which are applicable if a heritage building is retained. These can include floor area bonuses and relaxations in height, setbacks, parking, etc. Heritage incentives are meant to be used to successfully find alternatives to the demolition of heritage buildings to the satisfaction of both the property owner and the city.
In addition to the process described above, Council policy specifies that if a building is listed in the “A” category on the VHR and demolition is sought by the owner, then:
“Council has instructed that, prior to consideration of a proposal for the demolition of an “A” building, a formal independent consultant’s report on the physical condition and economic viability of retaining the building should be reviewed by the Director of Planning. The consultant’s report is to be carried out at the expense of the applicant.”
The Planning Department’s practice in this regard has been to advise Council of the demolition request for an “A” listed building and seek their advice. For all other buildings on the Vancouver Heritage Register, if the development application is “outright” with respect to use and regulation, and there is no voluntary interest in keeping the building by the owner (or prospective owner) then the heritage hold would be removed and the demolition application process would proceed. The process typically takes one to three weeks.
For applications that seek a “conditional” development with respect to use or regulation, (e.g. a single family dwelling containing a secondary suite) the City is under no obligation to approve an application that seeks the demolition of a building on the VHR. Instead, Council’s policy instructs staff to give special consideration through applying zoning incentives to applications that seek the retention of a resource on the Heritage Register. It can take one to six months to complete the permitting process to retain the heritage building, depending on the complexity of the site, development requested and the level of negotiation.
In addition to the procedures described above, the Vancouver Charter (sections 583 and 589) permits Council to delay the demolition approval of a building either on the Heritage Register or a building that “may be heritage property”, through temporary protection for a period of 120 days. During this time, a heritage inspection may be ordered (at the owners expense) to assess the heritage value of the site.
How are Sites Added to the Vancouver Heritage Register?
When the original Heritage Register was adopted in 1986, Council supported a public nomination program whereby sites would be nominated for addition to the Register. Public nominations are reviewed by heritage staff who prepare an evaluation form for the site. The evaluation is then reviewed by the Vancouver Heritage Commission. If the person nominating the building is not the owner, then consultation with the owner must occur to determine whether or not the owner is supportive of the nomination. Sites with sufficient heritage value or character are forwarded to Council for consideration in amending the Register. If approved, the site is added to the Register.