For nearly the first seventeen years of its existence South Vancouver included all of the land south of 16th Avenue west to Point Grey. But in the early 1900's wealthier taxpayers living in the western part of the municipality demanded more services, which the poorer residents in the east were unwilling to pay for - so in 1908 the western part of the city broke off to form the municipality of Point Grey. The map below shows the division that would last until both South Vancouver and Poin Grey joined Vancouver in 1929. Breakaway Point Grey appears in blue, and the rump of South Vancouver in green.
View South Vancouver and Point Grey in a larger map
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
A city of Immigrants
South Vancouver competes with Richmond to have the highest proportion of immigrants in all of BC. South Vancouver barely out does Richmond with 100,335 immigrants, who make up 59.1% of all people in the city. 58.2% of Richmond's population are immigrants who were not born in Canada.
But while the two cities have a similar proportion of immigrants, South Vancouver is more ethnically diverse. 73.9% of poeple who live in South Vancouver are visible minorities, compared to "only" 65.1% in Richmond. This makes South Vancouver the most diverse city in all of Canada - more than places like Brampton (57%), and Mississauga (49%).
Civic Election in South Vancouver
The 2011 Vancouver Civic election was held 10 days ago. But what would the results have been in South Vancouver? Well, of course if South Vancouver really were a seperate city, it would have its own elected officials and perhaps its own civic political parties. But let's transpose, more or less, the most recent municipal results onto South Vancouver's boundaries.
In Vancouver as a whole in 2011 Vision Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson won with 53% of the vote and a clear lead over the NPA candidate, Suzanne Anton. Robertson's party took a clear lead on council with seven councillors elected to two for the NPA and one for the Greens.
But in South Vancouver what we get is a much more competitive environment. Robertson wins, but only by 16,426 votes to Anton's 14,678. Or 49.9% to 44.6%. Council would be more evenly divided with six Vision councillors (Louie, Jang, Tang, Deal, Reimer and Stevenson) and four for the NPA (Yuen, Ball, Wong and Affleck in that order). The NPA would gain an extra seat on both the Park and School boards as well.
In Vancouver as a whole in 2011 Vision Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson won with 53% of the vote and a clear lead over the NPA candidate, Suzanne Anton. Robertson's party took a clear lead on council with seven councillors elected to two for the NPA and one for the Greens.
But in South Vancouver what we get is a much more competitive environment. Robertson wins, but only by 16,426 votes to Anton's 14,678. Or 49.9% to 44.6%. Council would be more evenly divided with six Vision councillors (Louie, Jang, Tang, Deal, Reimer and Stevenson) and four for the NPA (Yuen, Ball, Wong and Affleck in that order). The NPA would gain an extra seat on both the Park and School boards as well.
Population of South Vancouver
According to the 2006 Census South Vancouver would have had a population of 174,607. This makes it the fourth largest city in the province after the rest of Vancouver (still the largest even with South Vancouver removed), Surrey, and Burnaby. South Vancouver has 146 more people than Richmond.
South Vancouver grew 5.6% from 165,404 in 2001. It was also the fourth largest city in 2001, but is unlikely to retain that title in 2011 - as Richmond is growing considerably faster will likely have overtaken South Vancouver. More on the people of South Vancouver later.
In 1911 the census record the South Vancouver was the third largest city in BC with 16,126 residents.
South Vancouver grew 5.6% from 165,404 in 2001. It was also the fourth largest city in 2001, but is unlikely to retain that title in 2011 - as Richmond is growing considerably faster will likely have overtaken South Vancouver. More on the people of South Vancouver later.
In 1911 the census record the South Vancouver was the third largest city in BC with 16,126 residents.
The outline of South Vancouver
Below is a map of the boundaries of South Vancouver. In places you can still see the old boundaries in the street alingment: like how 15th Avenue is on a slight angle to the rest of the grid west of Trout Lake. The outline below is the shape of South Vancouver after the munipality of Point Grey broke away on January 1, 1908. This would be the shape of the municipality for 21 years until it was annexed by the City of Vancouver.
All statistics and calculations are based on this smaller shape that existed after Point Grey left.
View South Vancouver in a larger map
All statistics and calculations are based on this smaller shape that existed after Point Grey left.
View South Vancouver in a larger map
South Vancouver reborn
The municipality of South Vancouver was an independent city located east of Cambie Street and generally south of 25th and 29th Avenues. South Vancouver existed for a generation from existed from April 13th, 1891 to January 1st, 1929. The purpose of this blog is to catalogue and imagine what South Vancouver would be like if it was still a seperate municipality.
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