One of the best ways to learn about a new area or neighbourhood is on foot. Get up close to the city’s heritage buildings and distinctive neighbourhoods with one of our popular walking tours!
Get your walking shoes ready – our summer walking tours are back! From May to September, join us on a stroll around Vancouver’s historic neighborhoods with our beloved walking tour guides on select Saturday mornings at 10 am and afternoons at 1 pm. Historian John Atkin will explore various neighborhoods, speaking about lost streams throughout the city and Rob Howatson will focus on South Vancouver with points of interest along Fraser Street, Fraserview and the River District.
Tours require 10 participants to run and have a maximum capacity of 20. Tickets will be available for purchase until 5pm the day before each tour.
For the most up-to-date news on our upcoming walking tours, sign-up for our e-newsletter or follow us on social media!
Saturday, February 22nd, 10am-12pm
The West End, Starting at Barclay and Denman
$30+tax
Join us for Heritage Week Walking Tours and explore the vibrant athletic history of Vancouver's West End. Delve into how pastimes such as tennis, water sports, horse shows, and hockey helped shape the community and foster a strong sense of connection and contribute to the West End’s unique cultural fabric. Please note the morning and afternoon tours will have different starting locations but cover approximately the same route. The morning tour will begin in front of King George High School and finish at Denman and West Georgia. The afternoon tour will start at Denman and West Georgia and follow the route of the mornings tour but in reverse, concluding at King George High School. Both walking tours follow a one-way route.
Details:
- There are 2 Heritage Week walking tours – one at 10AM and 1PM. Each tour will have different starting locations but will cover approximately the same route. The afternoon tour will follow the reverse order of the morning tour.
- Our walking tours take take place rain or shine, are two (2) +/- hours long and may take a one-way or circular route.
- There is a maximum capacity of 20 people per tour and a minimum of 10. Registration is required in advance for all walking tours and ID must match the ticket. Unregistered people will not be permitted to join on the tour date. Do not seek out the group on the tour day in hopes of joining as this will disrupt the tour; if you are not able to attend your tour, due to liability reasons an unregistered replacement showing up in your place will not be accepted.
- Tours take place in public spaces through Vancouver, BC. Participants will encounter a variety of terrain including uncontrolled road crossings, gravel, stairs, slopes, etc. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at mail@vancouverheritagefoundation.org.
- Further details, including start and finish points, will be provided to registered participants.
- Tickets will be available for purchase until 5pm the day before the tour, or until sold out.
Pastimes and Play: Looking at Athletic Heritage in Vancouver’s West End (1pm)
Saturday, February 22nd, 1pm-3pm
The West End, Starting at Denman and West Georgia
$30+tax
Join us for Heritage Week Walking Tours and explore the vibrant athletic history of Vancouver's West End. Delve into how pastimes such as tennis, water sports, horse shows, and hockey helped shape the community and foster a strong sense of connection and contribute to = the West End’s unique cultural fabric. *Please note the morning and afternoon tours will have different starting locations but cover approximately the same route. The morning tour will begin in front of King George High School and finish at Denman and West Georgia. The afternoon tour will start at Denman and West Georgia and follow the route of the mornings tour but in reverse, concluding at King George High School. Both walking tours follow a one-way route.
Photo Credit: A woman playing tennis. City of Vancouver Archives 371-609.
Details:
- There are 2 Heritage Week walking tours – at 10AM and 1PM. Each tour will have different starting locations but will cover approximately the same route. The afternoon tour will follow the reverse order of the morning tour.
- Our walking tours take place rain or shine, are two (2) +/- hours long and may take a one-way or circular route.
- There is a maximum capacity of 20 people per tour and a minimum of 10. Registration is required in advance for all walking tours and ID must match the ticket. Unregistered people will not be permitted to join on the tour date. Do not seek out the group on the tour day in hopes of joining as this will disrupt the tour; if you are not able to attend your tour, due to liability reasons an unregistered replacement showing up in your place will not be accepted.
- Tours take place in public spaces through Vancouver, BC. Participants will encounter a variety of terrain including uncontrolled road crossings, gravel, stairs, slopes, etc. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at mail@vancouverheritagefoundation.org.
- Further details, including start and finish points, will be provided to registered participants.
- Tickets will be available for purchase until 5pm the day before the tour, or until sold out.
Can’t join us in person?
Join local historian, author and seasoned walking tour guide, John Atkin as he explores local history and heritage on a pre-recorded virtual walking tour. Experience the streets of Vancouver’s neighbourhoods and discover some of city’s diverse heritage places from the comfort of your home.
2022 Walking Tour below 45th Avenue with John Atkin. Credit: S. Carlson
Rob Howatson taking participants back in time by Vivian Creek during a walking tour of Fraserview's War Veteran's housing in 2022. Credit: S Carlson
Learning about the Japanese Canadian community in Lower Mount Pleasant during a 2022 walking tour with Christine Hagemoen. Credit: S Carlson
Participants reading the Heritage Building plaque on the Ceperley Rounsefell Building at 848 W Hastings Street.
Exploring the Glen Park neighbourhood during a 2022 walking tour with John Atkin Credit: S Carlson
Participant takes a photo of a building during a Architectural Photography walk in 2017.
Christine Hagemoen leading a group on a 2022 walking tour through Mount Pleasant, Credit: S Carlson
One of the stops on the 'In the Footsteps of the Past: Retracing South Asian History in Kitsilano' tour in 2015.
Guide Michael Schwartz explores the pioneers of Vancouver’s Jewish Community at Mountain View Cemetery in 2019.
Guide Maurice Guibord outside of St. Andrews Wesley Church (1022 Nelson) on a tour through the West End in 2013.
Guide Michael Schwartz leads participants on a tour through Oakridge in 2019.
Guide Rob Howatson at the start of 'Fraserview: The Real Story of the War Vets' Pleasantville' walking tour. Credit: S Carlson
Christine Hagemoen leading a group on a 2022 walking tour through Mount Pleasant, Credit: S Carlson
Guide John Atkin leading a walking tour along W Hastings in 2017.
Participants chat with guide Maurice Guibord and look at archival photos during a 2012 tour in Gastown.
Guide John Atkin leading a group through Gastown in 2018.
Guide Samuel Mickelson leads a summer walking tour along W Hastings in 2015.
Participants on a tour of historic Powell Street in 2018.
Guide John Atkin leading a 2017 tour in Kerrisdale.
Guide John Atkin and participants outside the Mah Society Building on E Pender Street during a 2015 Asian Heritage Walk.
Guide John Belshaw leading a tour on Gore Ave in 2018.
2019 walking tour participants of The Narrows with John Belshaw, on the corner of Southern and Station St.
Guide John Atkin stops in front of a modified Storybook house in Kerrisdale in 2014.
Landscape architect Adrienne Brown leads a walk identifying 100 year old trees in The Crescent (Shaughnessy Park) in May 2016.
Guides Paneet Singh and Naveen Girn lead the 'In the Footsteps of the Past: Retracing South Asian History in Kitsilano' tour in 2015.
Guide Maurice Guibord and participants outside of the Commodore Ballroom at 868 Granville St during a 2012 Art Deco tour.
Participants on a walking tour in 2006 with guide John Atkin.
2016 False Creek Flats walking tour with guide Maurice Guibord in front of Pacific Central Station (1150 Station St).
2017 Francophone Village walking tour with Maurice Guibord outside of Heritage Hall (3102 Main Street).
A stop inside Nat Bailey Stadium (4601 Ontario St) during a 2014 walking tour with John Atkin.
2022 Walking Tour below 45th Avenue with John Atkin. Credit: S. Carlson
Rob Howatson taking participants back in time by Vivian Creek during a walking tour of Fraserview's War Veteran's housing in 2022. Credit: S Carlson
Learning about the Japanese Canadian community in Lower Mount Pleasant during a 2022 walking tour with Christine Hagemoen. Credit: S Carlson
Participants reading the Heritage Building plaque on the Ceperley Rounsefell Building at 848 W Hastings Street.
Exploring the Glen Park neighbourhood during a 2022 walking tour with John Atkin Credit: S Carlson
Participant takes a photo of a building during a Architectural Photography walk in 2017.
Christine Hagemoen leading a group on a 2022 walking tour through Mount Pleasant, Credit: S Carlson
One of the stops on the 'In the Footsteps of the Past: Retracing South Asian History in Kitsilano' tour in 2015.
Guide Michael Schwartz explores the pioneers of Vancouver’s Jewish Community at Mountain View Cemetery in 2019.
Guide Maurice Guibord outside of St. Andrews Wesley Church (1022 Nelson) on a tour through the West End in 2013.
Guide Michael Schwartz leads participants on a tour through Oakridge in 2019.
Guide Rob Howatson at the start of 'Fraserview: The Real Story of the War Vets' Pleasantville' walking tour. Credit: S Carlson
Christine Hagemoen leading a group on a 2022 walking tour through Mount Pleasant, Credit: S Carlson
Guide John Atkin leading a walking tour along W Hastings in 2017.
Participants chat with guide Maurice Guibord and look at archival photos during a 2012 tour in Gastown.
Guide John Atkin leading a group through Gastown in 2018.
Guide Samuel Mickelson leads a summer walking tour along W Hastings in 2015.
Participants on a tour of historic Powell Street in 2018.
Guide John Atkin leading a 2017 tour in Kerrisdale.
Guide John Atkin and participants outside the Mah Society Building on E Pender Street during a 2015 Asian Heritage Walk.
Guide John Belshaw leading a tour on Gore Ave in 2018.
2019 walking tour participants of The Narrows with John Belshaw, on the corner of Southern and Station St.
Guide John Atkin stops in front of a modified Storybook house in Kerrisdale in 2014.
Landscape architect Adrienne Brown leads a walk identifying 100 year old trees in The Crescent (Shaughnessy Park) in May 2016.
Guides Paneet Singh and Naveen Girn lead the 'In the Footsteps of the Past: Retracing South Asian History in Kitsilano' tour in 2015.
Guide Maurice Guibord and participants outside of the Commodore Ballroom at 868 Granville St during a 2012 Art Deco tour.
Participants on a walking tour in 2006 with guide John Atkin.
2016 False Creek Flats walking tour with guide Maurice Guibord in front of Pacific Central Station (1150 Station St).
2017 Francophone Village walking tour with Maurice Guibord outside of Heritage Hall (3102 Main Street).
A stop inside Nat Bailey Stadium (4601 Ontario St) during a 2014 walking tour with John Atkin.
Past Walking Tours
with John Atkin
February 24: Water, Muck and Trains: The Shrinking Shoreline of False Creek
May 25: Walking on Water: Riley Park (17th Ave and St George St)
June 29: Walking on Water: Riley Park (King Edward Avenue and Columbia Street)
July 6: Walking on Water: Arbutus Ridge (20th Avenue & Vine Street)
July 13: Walking on Water: Riley Park (26th Avenue and Heather Street)
July 27: Walking on Water: Killarney (46th Avenue and Killarney)
August 10: Walking on Water: Sunrise (43rd Avenue and Elgin Street)
August 24: Walking on Water: Charles and Kaslo (Charles Street and Kaslo Street)
September 25: The West End and the Lightheart Legacy
October 2: It All Started in 1974: Early Heritage Designations in Vancouver
October 9: Coal Harbour: As It Once Was
with Rob Howatson
June 22: Champlain Heights: Where the Groovy Went Off Grid
July 20: River District: From Carbolineum to Condominium
August 17th: Fraser Street: South Van’s Original Heartline
Walk the Plan with John Atkin
May 20: Glen Dr & 10th Ave
June 17: Manitoba St at 13th Ave
July 8: Hemlock St at 13th Ave
July 29: Maple St at 14th Ave
August 19: Yew St at 6th Ave
September 2: Hemlock St at 6th Ave
September 16: Columbia St at 4th Ave
October 7th: Scotia St at 6th Ave
with Rob Howatson
June 24: The River District: From Carbolineum to Condominum
July 22: Fraser Street: South Van’s Original Heartline
August 12: Fraserview: The Real Story of the War Vets’ Pleasantville
Where Have I Been Walking with John Atkin
June 25: Glen Park
July 16: Knight and 49th Avenue
August 13: Below 45th Avenue
August 20: Above the Grandview Cut
August 27: Revival Styles, Bogs and Post Modernism
with Christine Hagemoen
June 18: Lower Mount Pleasant: Industry, Immigrants and Institutions
July 9: Secrets of Mount Pleasant
with Rob Howatson
July 23: Fraserview: The Real Story of the War Vets’ Pleasantville
August 6: Life’s a Ditch: Grappling with the Fraser’s North Arm
September 10: Fraserview’s Shifting Shores
‘An Industrial City’ with John Atkin
May 4: The Waterfront
May 25: Railtown
June 8: Vernon Street
July 6: From Creeks to Trains
July 20: Shipyards, Salt and the Olympics
August 10: Beer, Boxes and Tents
August 31: Vegetables, Furniture and Flowers
September 7: Lumber and Telephones
October 5: Foundries, Lumber and Baseball
October 19: Take Me to the River
with Michael Schwartz
July 14: Foundations of the Jewish Community in Gastown & Strathcona
August 25: Pioneers of Vancouver’s Jewish Community at Mountain View Cemetery
September 22: Oakridge Community History
with John Belshaw
April 27: Gore: The Avenue That Slashes the East End
June 22: From Cedar Cove To Port Town
September 21: The Narrows
with Rob Howatson
June 23 & September 15: Fraserview’s Shifting Shores
with Christine Hagemoen
July 28: Lower Mount Pleasant: industry, immigrants and institutions
‘Following the Creeks’ with John Atkin
March 18: Gastown Revisited
April 7: China Creek Basin (NE Mount Pleasant)
April 21: China Creek Ravine (SE Mount Pleasant)
June 16: Davey Creek (SE Mount Pleasant)
June 24: A Brewery and A Stump (Kensington-Cedar Cottage)
July 21: The Lake Bottom (Renfrew Heights)
August 11: Bogs, Farms and a Dairy (Killarney)
September 8: Memorial Park (S Kensington)
October 27: Skunk Cabbage and Tudors (W Point Grey)
November 3: A Country Lane and the Mid-Century (Southlands)
with John Belshaw
May 5 & July 7: Gore – The Avenue That Slashes the East End
June 9: From Cedar Cove To Port Town
June 23: The Narrows
with Adrienne Brown
May 12 & August 25: Vancouver’s Waterfront – History Found Near the Seawall
July 28 & September 22: Open Spaces of Vancouver’s Downtown
2018 Special Event Walking Tours
May 13: Revitalizing UBC – Cultural Landscape and Twentieth Century Design Legacies
October 27: Historic Powell Street Walking Tour
‘Here and There: A Few Bits of the City’ with John Atkin
April 15: The Southern Sunny Slope (Kerrisdale)
May 13: Royal Nurseries (South Kerrisdale)
June 10: Pleasant View (Fraserview)
June 17: Bon Accord Park (Renfrew-Collingwood)
July 15: Welton Heights (Riley Park)
August 12: Strathcona Place (West Side)
August 19: Selkirk Heights (South Shaughnessy)
September 9: Strathcona Hill (South Cambie)
October 14: On the Edge of Shaughnessy (North Shaughnessy)
October 28: Tatlow Park (Kitsilano)
November 19: Chinatown Walk & Dim Sum Lunch
with Maurice Guibord
April 28 & July 29: The Viaducts Quandary
May 6 & June 23: East Fraser Lands
May 20 & August 18: Vancouver’s Art Deco
June 9 & September 30: Vancouver’s “Francophone Village”
June 24 & October 20: False Creek South
with John Atkin
April 30: Carrall Street – Between Forest & Mill (Gastown)
May 7: The Other Shore (Olympic Village/False Creek)
May 21: The Suburbs (Mount Pleasant)
June 18: Edge of the City (Mount Pleasant/Little Mountain)
July 2: Where’s 24th Avenue? (Little Mountain/Riley Park)
July 16: Next to the Mountain (Queen Elizabeth Park)
July 30: Church and School (Sunset/Oakridge)
August 6: Sunset and Golf (Sunset)
October 1: Specials and More (South Vancouver)
October 15: Industry and River (Fraser River)
with Maurice Guibord
April 23 & August 19: Grandview – Places of Worship
May 14 & 27: Vancouver’s Art Deco
May 20 & June 25: Hastings Park & The PNE Fairgrounds
June 10 & August 13: Mountainview Cemetery
July 8 & September 10: The False Creek Flats
with John Atkin
May 2: At the Edge of the City (Renfrew-Collingwood)
May 16: A Stream and a Ravine (Kensington-Cedar Cottage)
May 23: Former Farms and the Interurban (Kensington-Cedar Cottage)
June 14: The Wonky Grid (Kensington-Cedar Cottage)
June 20: Markets and Market Gardens (Little Mountain)
July 4: Hobbit and Other Houses (South Cambie)
July 18: The Edge of Shaughnessy
August 8: Asthma Flats (Arbutus Ridge)
October 3: On the Ridge (Dunbar-Southlands)
October 10: The City Ends (Dunbar-Southlands near Pacific Spirit Park)
with Maurice Guibord
May 8 & July 25: Post-War Architecture (Burrard St)
May 22 & August 29: East Hastings
June 12 & August 15: Sunrise – At the Water’s Edge
June 27 & July 10: Commercial Drive – Little Italy
October 9 & 17: Vancouver’s Art Deco
2015 Special Event Walking Tours
May 19-24: Asian Heritage Walks
September 20: In the Footsteps of the Past – Retracing South Asian History in Kitsilano
‘Off Broadway’ with John Atkin
May 3: On the Edge of the City
May 24: A Garden Oasis
June 7: A Little Bit of Mount Pleasant
June 14: The Lost Neighbourhood
July 12: An Eclectic Apartment District
August 2: Interurbans and Garden Plots
August 16: A Brewery and Cricket
September 6: A Little Bit of Everything
October 4: A Craftsman Neighbourhood
October 18: The End of the Road
with Maurice Guibord
March 29 & April 20: Grandview – Commercial to Clark
April 5 & June 20: Japantown
May 2 & 17: Granville Island
July 4 & August 9: Art Deco Downtown
August 8 & 30: International Style
2014 Special Event Walking Tours
October 14-17: Early Immigrant History Walks
‘Architects and Their Neighbourhoods’ with John Atkin
April 27: The West End
May 18: 1890s Mount Pleasant
June 1: Kitsilano
June 15: Old Roads #1 – Alexander St.
July 6: Kerrisdale
July 13: Triangle West
August 3: Arthur Erickson
August 17: Old Roads #2 – Chinatown
September 7: The Lighthearts
October 5: Old Roads #3 – False Creek
with Maurice Guibord
April 12, June 7 & August 23: West Hastings
April 26, June 21 & September 6: Railtown
July 12, August 9 & September 20: Yaletown
May 24, July 26 & October 11: West End
2013 Special Event Walking Tours
June 15, July 20 & August 17: Stanley Park Bike Tours with Maurice Guibord
May 25: Places that Matter Bike Tour with John Atkin
with John Atkin
May 5: Clark & E 6th Avenue
May 19: Pender & Victoria
June 16: Commercial & Franklin – The Other Chinatown
July 7: Nanaimo & Oxford, Beacon Hill
August 4: 54th & Vivian – Diaperville
August 11: Park Dr & Fremlin – Timber Lease & Old Estates South
August 25: Killarney & 45th – Farmland to Suburbia
October 13: Nelson & Thurlow – West End Apartments
October 27: Nelson & Thurlow – West End Houses
with Maurice Guibord
April 13, May 11 & June 8: Gastown
April 27, May 27 & June 22: Chinatown
July 13, August 10 & September 14: Art Deco
July 27, August 31 & September 28: Burrard St
2012 Special Event Walking Tours
September 8: Public Art Walking Tour (Downtown)
with John Atkin
July 16: Market Alley – Opium, Laundry and Pawnshops
July 23: Blood Alley, the Early City – A Real History
August 13: Laneway Housing: Been There, Done That
August 20: Trails, Creeks and Lanes – A Westside Ramble
August 28: Eveleigh Street – An architect, the CPR and nothing
with Maurice Guibord
October 14 & November 25: Historic Hastings Street West
October 28 & November 25: Historic Hastings Street East
2011 Special Event Walking Tours
August 20: Mole Hill Art & Heritage Walk
with John Atkin
July 10: Marpole
July 17: Italian Strathcona
July 24: Jewish Strathcona
August 14: Sunset
August 21: Oakridge
with John Atkin
July 11: Chinatown
July 25: Carrall St
August 8: Japantown
August 22: Mid-Century Modern
August 29: Strathcona
East End with John Atkin
July 5: Strathcona – Part 1
July 12: Strathcona – Part 2
August 2: Japantown
August 23: Downtown Eastside
August 30: Chinatown