Geographically the Northshore consists of land on the north side of English Bay and Burrard Inlet, across the water from the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby, extending from Indian Arm on the east (Deep Cove) to Howe Sound on the west (Horseshoe Bay). The distance between the two ends is approximately 28 kilometers. For half of the distance the inhabited portions extend no more than 2-3 kilometers from the water's edge. In some of the built up areas, residences extend 3 - 5 kilometers up the mountainside. Beyond these are mountain terrains and watersheds consisting of, east to west, Mount Seymour, Lynn Headwaters, Grouse Mountain, Capilano Watershed and Cypress (Black Mountain). These have well documented trail systems for the adventurous and well prepared. Beyond the trails is wilderness (Pacific Ranges, Coast Mountains).
The present day Northshore is made of the Municipality of West Vancouver which consists of land west of the Capilano River and the District of North Vancouver, within which is the City of North Vancouver, to the east of the Capilano River.
The following dates provide a historical and cultural context to the development of this area. These dates are not comprehensive and merely suggest the environment in which the Northshore developed from a lumber mill to what is is today.
| 1775 |
Admiral Quadra sails from Mexico to Alaska and claims the Pacific Coast for Spain |
| 1778 |
Captain Cook sails up the west coast and becomes the first European to set foot on what is now the western shore of Canada |
| July 5, 1791 |
Spanish explorer Narvaez anchors off Isla de Langara now called Point Grey |
| June 12, 1792 |
Captain George Vancouver arrives, charts and names Point Grey, the Strait of Georgia, Point Atkinson, English Bay and Burrard Channel. |
| 1793 |
Alexander Mackenzie becomes the first European to reach the west coast of Canada by land at what is now Bella Coola. |
| July 2, 1808 |
Simon Fraser becomes the first European to reach the area now known as Vancouver by land. |
| 1827 |
Hudson Bay Company trading post Fort Langley on the Fraser River is established. |
| June 15, 1846 |
The 49th parallel as the border with the US is extented west of the Rockies. |
| 1846 |
Vancouver Island is made a Crown Colony with Fort Victoria as its capital. |
| 1858 |
Gold Rush on the Fraser |
| August 2, 1858 |
Crown Colony on the mainland of British Columbia is established. |
| February 14, 1859 |
Qeensborough becomes the capital of the colony. Name is changed to New Westminster on July 20, 1859. |
| 1859 |
Colonel Tom Moody constructs first road in the area, now known as North Road, connecting New Westminster and the Burrard Inlet. |
| July 16, 1860 |
City of New Westminster incorporated. |
| 1862/1863 |
Pioneer Mills (later Burrard Inlet Mills) constructed and opens on the north shore of Burrard Inlet |
| 1865 |
Sewell Prescott Moody purchases Burrard Inlet Mills and established Moodyville, the first European settlement on the inlet. |
| July 1865 |
Captain Edward Stamp establishes Hastings Mill the generally accepted origin of what becomes Vancouver. |
| 1866 |
Colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver Island are united under the name of British Columbia. |
| March 28, 1867 |
The British North America Act (Canada's constitution) becomes law. |
| July 1, 1867 |
Canadian Confederation - Canada is born. |
| September 30, 1867 |
John Deighton "Gassy Jack" arrives at Hastings Mill and opens first public saloon. |
| May 25, 1868 |
Capital of colony is moved from New Westminster to Victoria on Vancouver Island. |
| 1868 |
Regular ferry service begins between Moodyville and Brighton (Hastings Mill) |
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| April 11, 1869 |
First telegraph message is sent from Moody's Mill on the North Shore to Hastings Townsite to New Westminster. |
| 1870 |
First school on Burrard Inlet opens at Moodyville. |
| 1870 |
Vancouver Townsite is named. |
| July 20, 1871 |
British Columbia joins Canada and becomes a province. |
| 1882 |
Electricity is installed at Moodyville, said to be the first electrical system north of San Francisco. |
| December 12, 1883 |
First local telephone call is made between Port Moody and New Westminster. |
| November 7, 1885 |
The last spike is driven at Craigellachie in the Rockies. The transcontinental rail system is complete. |
| April 6, 1886 |
City of Vancouver incorporated, based in area around Gastown, population about 1000. |
| June 13, 1886 |
Fire destroys most of Vancouver. |
| May 23, 1887 |
First transcontinental train arrives in Vancouver - Engine #374. This engine is on display at the False Creek Community Centre. |
| June 13, 1887 |
S.S. Abyssinia arrives in Vancouver from Yokahama loaded with tea and silk. Cargo is placed on transcontinental train and arrives in New York a week later and in London a week after that. This series of events establishes Vancouver as a trade gateway. |
| August 8, 1887 |
First streetlights are turned on in Vancouver. |
| September 27, 1888 |
Official opening of Stanley Park by Mayor David Oppenheimer |
| October 29, 1889 |
Dedication of Stanley Park by Lord Stanley, Governor General of Canada. |
| June 28, 1890 |
The Vancouver Electric Railway and Lighting Company officially begins operations. |
| 1890 |
The landmark now known as The Lions are named. |
| 1891 |
Municipal incorporation of the District of North Vancouver, from Indian Arm to Howe Sound. |
| May 1894 |
Serious flooding in the Fraser Valley. |
| August 15, 1895 |
Mark Twain lectures at the Vancouver Opera House. |
| August 2, 1897 |
A Kinetoscope exhibition at Market Hall shows motion pictures and Edison's wonder speaking phonograph. |
| March 28, 1898 |
The first long-distance telephone in Vancouver goes into operation. |
| October 31, 1902 |
The Pacific Cable opens. |
| May 13, 1907 |
The city of North Vancouver is incorporated, separating from the District of North Vanocuver. |
| 1909 |
Ferry service begins from Vancouver to West Vancouver. |
| 1912 |
Municipal incorporation of West Vancouver, separating all land west of the Capilano River from the district of North Vancouver. |
| 1914 |
First Pacific Great Eastern Railway train departs from North Vancouver for what is now Horseshoe Bay area. |
| January 15, 1917 |
The Ballet Russe opens at the Vancouver Opera House. Amongst the performers is Nijinski. |
| January 1, 1922 |
Traffic in Vancouver is switched to the right-hand system. |
| 1925 |
Second Narrows Bridge opens. |
| 1926 |
Grouse Mountain Chalet opens. |
| August 27, 1929 |
The Graf Zeppelin visits Coal Harbour. |
| November 30, 1933 |
Approval granted by Vancouver for the building of the Lions Gate Bridge. |
| November 11, 1938 |
Lions Gate Bridge opens. |
| November 5, 1939 |
Dial telephone established in Vancouver. |
| September 1, 1950 |
Park Royal in West Vancouver, the first shopping centre in Canada, opens |
| November 19, 1954 |
Cleveland Dam opens, flooding the valley above the Second Canyon of the Capilano. |
| 1960 |
The new Second Narrows Bridge opens. |
| 1977 |
Seabus ferry service begins between downtown Vancouver and the Northshore. |