The glistening waters of False Creek lap against the shores of Fairview, an upmarket neighbourhood on Vancouver’s West Side. Bordering Mount Pleasant to the east and Kitsilano to the west, the coastal neighbourhood has many parks and markets. Revitalised and redeveloped for the 2010 Winter Olympics, this is now one of Vancouver’s most affluent districts, showcased by the number of yachts and sailboats that roam around the harbour.
It’s the waterfront that provides the main attraction in Fairview. Charleson Park and Sutcliffe Park line the water, and both have serene walking trails. It’s relatively easy to keep walking onto Granville Island, where the large public market continues to be a hive of activity. To the east of the neighbourhood is the Olympic Village, which is free to visit and mostly unchanged since the 2010 games. Inland Fairview is mostly a residential area although the Broadway thoroughfare has a wide selection of shops.
Public ferries cross the water from Yaletown, dropping people at Stamp’s Landing Ferry Dock, in the north-east of Fairview. Olympic Village SkyTrain station is close by and provides the quickest way to reach the neighbourhood from the airport or eastern suburbs. An extensive bus network connects Fairview with its neighbours, including the beach at Kitsilano, however, most prefer to travel around on the distinctive streetcars.
This whole area was formerly a forest. Large timber mills opened in the 1860s and the industry soon replaced the forest.