We are working with our partners to renew and revitalize Britannia Community Services Centre and the larger Britannia site.
Grandview-Woodland is an ethnically diverse area full of eclectic charm and character. One of Grandview-Woodland's most popular attractions is Commercial Drive, known as The Drive by locals, which is a mix of old-world charm meets modern hipness, and one of the city's organic-food hubs. Grandview-Woodland is in the northeastern section of the city, east of the historic neighbourhoods, Chinatown and Strathcona, and west of the Pacific National Exhibition fairgrounds, at Hastings Park. The Grandview-Woodland area extends south to Trout Lake, a beautiful urban lake and park.
Neighbourhood history and heritage
Grandview might have remained a wilderness of stumps (it was logged off in the 1880s) if not for the Vancouver-New Westminster interurban railway which opened in September 1891; the same year the area's first house was built. It had hourly runs from Carrall and Hastings Streets along Park Drive (Commercial Drive). Construction of 2nd and 3rd Avenues, between Clark and Woodland, by chain gangs from the Powell Street jail in the late 1890s opened the area for development. Arrival of the city water system along Commercial Drive in 1904 allowed for more expansion.
Initiatives in Grandview-Woodland
Grandview-Woodland community plan
The community plan sets out a thoughtfully-managed framework for future change.
Grandview-Woodland community profile
Learn about the key issues and aspects of Grandview-Woodland that contribute to its unique character.
Local services
- Britannia Community Centre
- Britannia Ice Rink
- Britannia Pool
- Templeton Park Pool
- Parks in Grandview
- John Hendry (Trout Lake) dog off-leash area
- Britannia Branch — Vancouver Public Library External website, opens in new tab
- Firehall No. 9
- Grandview-Woodland Community Policing Centre External website, opens in new tab
Community organizations and events
- Stone Soup Festival External website, opens in new tab
- Italian Day on the Drive External website, opens in new tab
- Commercial Drive Festival External website, opens in new tab
- East Side Pride Festival External website, opens in new tab
- Dyke March External website, opens in new tab
- Parade of Lost Souls External website, opens in new tab
- Eastside Culture Crawl External website, opens in new tab
- Vancouver International Poetry Festival External website, opens in new tab
- Talking Stick Festival External website, opens in new tab
- Car Free Vancouver Day Festival (Commercial Drive) External website, opens in new tab
- Vancouver East Cultural Centre (The Cultch) External website, opens in new tab
We support and fund these community resources
- Commercial Drive Business Improvement Association External website, opens in new tab
- Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House External website, opens in new tab
- Kiwassa Neighbourhood House External website, opens in new tab
- Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House External website, opens in new tab
- Hastings North BIA External website, opens in new tab