West End

The West End of Vancouver extends west from Burrard Street, east of Denman Street, and south of West Georgia Street. Historically the term referred to everything from Burrard Street to Stanley Park, and many residents still view is thusly, even though Coal Harbour and areas west of Denman having a slightly different, more affluent population.

The West End is a popular neighbourhood for young people, new immigrants, travelers and retirees, and so the area, which is very densely populated, boasts a diverse mix of peoples. With its proximity to the downtown core, Stanley Park, and the beach, the neighbourhood is always bustling with visitors and tourists, but still maintains a residential feel, thanks to traffic calming initiatives and a multitude of small parks in the area. The West End is also home to the Davie Street village, Vancouver's most visible gay neighborhood

Residents of the West End are just minutes from the beach, the park, nightlife and shopping, yet still enjoy a relatively quiet neighbourhood. This can change seasonally, as Vancouverites flock to English Bay for a dip in the Pacific Ocean.

The West End plays host to a number of popular events annually, including four nights of the HSBC Celebration of Light  in late July and early August, and the Vancouver Gay Pride parade in early August. While the events themselves are a blast, the resulting crowds that descend on the neighbourhood can be troubling for some residents. Also, while the West End has a residential feel, its proximity to the city means accompanying urban problems – panhandlers, drugs, dumpster diving and squatting are prevalent in the area. Most residents find these problems to be fairly mild, however, and an active residents association ensures that any recurrent issues in the area are brought to the attention of authorities.

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