If you live on the North Shore, chances are that you spend at least some of your summer at West Vancouver’s Ambleside Beach. Did you know that you are sitting on reclaimed land? Prior to 1965, much of this land was a swamp.
In 1914, Ambleside was subdivided into lots and filled with makeshift homes and a few businesses. Because much of the area was often under water, many of the structures, including Overington’s barber shop, were raised on stilts, and most comprised little more than a floor, some wooden sides and a canvas top.
In those days, a large slough cut through Ambleside and ran between Capilano River and 14th Street, and boats moored on the north side of Marine Drive. In the winter, residents skated on the frozen slough, in the summer they fished for cod, and shot pigeons and ducks on the surrounding marsh.
World War 2:
During the Second World War, 18 huts were built by the Department of National Defence. They were fitted out with four-gun emplacements and anti-aircraft guns to defend the harbour entrance below the Lions Gate Bridge. After the war, the huts were converted into housing for war vets and their families. Officially, the housing development was named the Ambleside Park Village; unofficially locals called it “Diaper Lane.” The huts were built on low land that flooded several times a year, and at those times, food and supplies were brought in by rowboat.
By 1961, only one hut was left. It was turned into a home for the West Vancouver Rod and Gun Club. Later it became the Ambleside Youth Centre, and in 2019, it was demolished.
The playing fields and pitch-and-putt are built on sawdust, bark and wood waste from a North Vancouver sawmill. The duck lagoon was created by dredging part of the slough, while Ambleside beach is a product of 85,000 cubic metres of sand and gravel hauled from the sandbanks west of Navvy Jack Point.
The Ferry Building at the foot of 14th Street is now a quaint little art gallery, but between 1913 and 1947 it was the headquarters of West Vancouver’s ferries. On a good day, the ferry trip to Vancouver took 25 minutes. Too bad we don’t still have that service.
Summer Cottages:
The Silk Purse is one of the last examples of the summer cottages that used to dot the area before the Lions Gate Bridge opened in 1938. Built in 1925, former Vancouver Mayor Tom Campbell inherited the cottage from his father, and in 1969, sold it to John Rowland. Rowland’s son him he was trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. The name stuck and he rented out the Silk Purse as a ‘honeymoon cottage’ for $12 a night, including breakfast and champagne. The District of West Vancouver has owned the Silk Purse since 1991. It’s operated by the West Vancouver Community Arts Council.
When the north side of the Park Royal Shopping Centre opened in 1950 it was the first covered mall in Canada.
The Ambleside Swimming Pool opened on July 9, 1954. After several money losing years, the heated pool was closed in 1976 and filled in the following year.
The Welcome Figure that faces Stanley Park, was a gift from Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (the Squamish Nation) to the people of West Vancouver in 2001. The figure was carved from an old growth cedar log from Hollyburn Mountain, and restoration work was finished in 2023, overseen by original master carver and elder Sequiliem (Stan Joseph).
Land Trade:
In June 2023, the District of West Vancouver did a land trade with Jimmy Pattison for his former waterfront property at Ambleside Beach assessed at $5.4 million and announced it would turn the lot into a park and public walkway. The owners of the 1963 house next door at 1444 Argyle – the last holdout from the 32 residential lots that once dotted the waterfront – sold to the District of West Vancouver in April for $7.3 million – it’s now Brissenden Waterfront Park.
Related:
© All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all blog content copyright Eve Lazarus.
I remember when Burrard Amusements would have an annual carnival at Ambleside Park in the late 60s early 70s.
Nice research and story.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it
I spent many a joyful summer day there during the 60s. Peter’s ice cream was a favourite ending to a perfect day there.
Thank you for the history lesson!!
Thank you!
Loved the history. Great story.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for posting, yet again, a great local story!! I used to go for swimming lessons in the 60’s at the Ambleside pool. My husband has lived his entire life in this area and has told me many stories of life around Ambleside and other neighbourhoods back then. Some of which you mentioned here. As a little boy he remembers being on a bus with his Mom and just before they got to the small bridge crossing Capilano River, it was washed out due to flooding!
Thanks so much, glad you liked the story!
Hi Eve,
When I was a child in the late 40s and early 50s, we lived on Argyle Avenue in a cottage on the eastern part of what is now John Lawson Park. I was present when an ageing John Lawson opened the park. Swimming took place adjacent to 17th St. pier. Vim’s, a small store and boat rental wth floats and a ramp for winching up the boats on was on the east side of the 17th street pier. Although we were not supposed to do so we sometimes played in the slough on rafts. We also played in the three story concrete military edifice on the west side of the Capilano River which may have been a gun emplacement. As children we swam in the ocean from May Day until Labour Day although the ocean temperature did not change appreciably before or after those dates. The creation of Ambleside pool was a welcome addition.
Great memories! Thanks for adding to the story
Thanks Eve. Very informative. I have not been there since the late 60s so need to come west and see it again. Loved the place then.
I was just down there this morning and it’s still lovely, if not a little worn. I would love to time travel back to the 60s and see the difference
It was a lovely time growing up around here in the 60’s! It’s still great here but not quite the same! Thank you again Eve for all the memories!