One of Vancouver’s oldest neighborhoods is West Point Grey. This beautiful and quintessential part of Vancouver has a great community feel to it, with notable events such as the Point Grey Festival offering families plenty to do.

Pacific Spirit Park is easily accessible from here, and both Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach have spectacular views over to the mountains; a great opportunity to watch some remarkable sunsets.

The school offerings here are also fantastic. For elementary schools, there are Queen Elizabeth Elementary and Queen Mary Elementary. In addition, there is also Ecole Jules Quesel Elementary, with a recognizable French Immersion program for families who wish for their children to be raised with the ability to speak both of Canada’s national languages.

For the high schools, West Point Grey Academy is considered one of the top private schools in the country, whilst Lord Bying Secondary School is an excellent choice for young budding artists.

Another popular neighbourhood with families is Dunbar-Southlands, which is situated adjacent to West Point Grey.

Dunbar-Southlands benefits from falling in many of the school catchment areas to West Point Grey, but also has its own range of great educational opportunities; including the Prince of Wales secondary school and Lord Kitchener Elementary.

The quiet, leaf-lined streets are the home of the local community centre; a hive of activity for residents. It has an ample range of summer day camps and classes outside of school time and during the holidays, which makes it ideal for parents needing child care.

Dunbar-Southlands is also home to one of the cities last remaining independent theatres (the Dunbar Theatre), ideal for date nights or even for hiring out for birthday parties.

The vibrant University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus can also be found here, generating a considerable student population in the area and offers a great spot for university students who wish to stick close to home.

The neighborhood is only 15-20 minutes away from downtown Vancouver, or around 30-35 minutes if using public transportation.

Another Vancouver neighborhood with plentiful green spaces, whilst seamlessly entwined with the urban living lifestyle. Mount Pleasant arguably has some of the best restaurants and also breweries in the city, in addition to an expanse of stores and bars that span Main Street.

Despite the sheer number of amenities and places to catch up and socialise throughout the day and evening, there are equally a vast array of peaceful green spaces for families to enjoy. Mount Pleasant is notable for being a friendly neighborhood with a great community feel, which is ideal for many families.

From a school perspective, Mount Pleasant has its own eponymous elementary school (Mount Pleasant Elementary), which is located centrally right in the heart of the neighborhood. High school students have Sir Charles Tupper Secondary school located in the nearby Riley Park, a short distance drive away.

There are plenty of public transportation options to get you downtown within 15-25 minutes, whilst it can also be driven to in around 10 minutes.

Shaughnessy is well regarded for its beautiful heritage homes, tree-lined streets, and abundance of green spaces for families to enjoy. The sense of community in Shaughnessy is elevated by the majority of it being residential, boasting many large homes and quiet streets; a peaceful spot for any family to grow and live. Shaughnessy Park, Angus Park, Devonshire Park, and Kerrisdale Park are some of the many green spaces for families to enjoy here, whilst the famous Van Dusen Botanical Garden is also a short distance away.

It also has some of the most renowned public and private schools in Vancouver. Quilchena Elementary and Shaughnessy Elementary are ideal for younger children, and Point Grey Secondary is an excellent choice for high school students. For the private educational facilities, Little Flower Academy, York House, and Vancouver College are among the most notable places should you be able to afford the admission fees.

Given the seemingly exclusive nature of the neighborhood, rents and property prices aren’t out of the question for everyone. It also isn’t too far from downtown either, with public transportation able to get you there in any time frame between 20-30 minutes, whilst driving yourself in a car will typically take 10-20 minutes.

West End has plenty of reasons for families to call it their home. It features a beachside village charm, complete with urban living and a downtown setting. It benefits from a wide range of diversity, including international students, working professionals, and crucially, families.

Lord Roberst Elementary and the Lord Roberts Annex are two schools both located in the heart of West End’s community, feeding directly into the nearby King George Secondary school; conveniently located by the West End Community Centre. The University of British Columbia’s downtown campus is also in Robson Square also.

Downtown Vancouver is within walking distance from West End, which is convenient for families who don’t drive or would rather avoid public transportation. As it is on the edge of the Downtown area, however, there are a wealth of public transportation options to further afield in the Metro Vancouver area.

As a family-friendly city, Metro Vancouver has so much to offer; both from the neighborhoods we have hand-picked, through to the surrounding areas. The endless activities, paired with the exemplary range of educational facilities and the attractive draw from international students make it the perfect location to raise a family, no matter which neighborhood you choose.