‘Vancouver’ is a fairly young city, at almost 150 years old. Compared to other Canadian cities, like Toronto (229 years) and Montreal (379 years)

The first nations people have had a continuous settlement for much longer. Their life in North America can be dated back to after the last ice age, about 16,000 to 17,000 years ago.

Vancouver is growing in size and population by the minute. The city is not that the same as it once was. For better or for worse, it’s astonishing to see the development and change of our coastal city.

By the 1960s the city had made its name for being a lush green city, where you can ski in the morning, and be sailing in the afternoon.

In the footage above, the narrator mentions the combination of American and British values. It’s interesting to point out how that has shaped what we know today as “Canadian culture.”

Although I believe Canadian culture should center around the Indigenous people as they were here before the British or Americans, I can see where the American and British cultures play a role in the Canadian lifestyle.

The supermarket concept was adopted from the Americans and symbolizes their capitalist influence. While still being a British colony, that values the traditions of parliament and “sophistication” compared to the ostentatious American way of life.

Now compare the 1960s Vancouver travel guide, to a more up-to-date guide from 2016.

“The world’s most livable city” is now a bike path and brewery-filled urban landscape, still known for its jaw-dropping mountains and sandy beaches.

Over the last few decades, Vancouver has seen environmental changes, cultural shifts, and huge population growth. There’s no predicting how our city will look in another 60 years!

Should Vancouver continue to urbanize and develop, or should it prioritize its famous greenery?

What direction do you see our city going?