Love Where You Live: Finding Community in North Vancouver
Article by Arieanna Schweber, who’d helping you love where you live by filling you in on what’s great about North Vancouver.
There’s no place like home, and no place, for me, like North Vancouver. I will always feel sentimental about growing up in Deep Cove and, though we may be raising our family in the Lower Lonsdale area, I can’t help but feeling like giving North Vancouver a big hug for helping make my transition into motherhood as easy as possible.
Location, Location, Location
One of the best things about North Vancouver is its location. While just a SeaBus trip from the city of Vancouver, it’s also home to all the best that Vancouver’s outdoors has to offer: mountains, hiking trails and beaches. It’s easy to love where you live in North Vancouver, where you can still feel a “part of the City” while at the same time feeling like you’re “getting away from it all.”
We hold an annual membership to Capilano Suspension Bridge, exploring nature and the events held on site. We can take our son to Maplewood Farm to learn all about animals. We have our choice of mountains for family-friendly activities and many amazing free places to visit and hike such as Lynn Canyon, Lynn Headwaters and Rice Lake.
You’re also likely to see us at one of our favourite local restaurants or cafes – we hardly ever leave the North Shore! If I didn’t want to favour a local cafe, I could easily walk to four different Starbucks locations from my front door, as well as grocery stores, libraries, parks and more. Who says you need to live in Vancouver to have an urban lifestyle?
Community Events
Since becoming parents, we’ve become more active participants in our community. You’ll see us waving flags on Canada Day as the parade makes its way down Lonsdale, braving the crowds at the Caribbean Days Festival, buying local fare from the Farmers Markets or attending one of the free concerts put on all summer long at the Shipbuilders Plaza and Lonsdale Quay.
Community Resources Help You Love Where You Live
Who knew that babies could be outgoing? Well, my little guy was. Thankfully, I quickly immersed myself in all that North Vancouver had to offer, much of it for free! From library story times to infant drop-in programs to playgroups and StrongStart programs, we’ve tried it all. While not necessarily unique to the area, the sheer number of programs means we have many choices on what to do on any given day – all in a very short distance from our home. I don’t know how I would have coped as a new parent without all this support.
I can’t imagine raising my family in a better place. North Vancouver, you’re the best!
Do you love where you live? Tell us what makes your neighbourhood a great place to raise a family.
Arieanna Schweber is a work-at-home mom trying to juggle an outgoing 2-year-old, his soon-to-be-born brother (ah, pregnancy!) and a business maintaining websites and social media profiles for her clients. She can be found @arieanna or at ActiveMama.
