ACTIVE NEWS Coal H arbour a Vancouver Destination Walk
Expansive view s from Vancouver’s port harbour com bine w ith w orld renow ned architectural accom plishm ents to m ake the Coal H arbour Seaw all Walk an elegant and inspiring destination.
This is a 5.89 km / 3.68 m ile or 11,662 step circular route. It is a m ust for those interested in history, architecture, or exceptional view s. Along the w aterfront you w ill pass prom inent buildings and an intricate netw ork of lush green spaces all sharing the accessible, m ultiuse seaw all. This recently com pleted urban trail displays the interesting juxtaposition of natural beauty and hum an ingenuity.
The w alk starts and finishes at Canada Place, an “Inspirationally Canadian” destination and hub of econom ic activity in Vancouver. Recognized across the w orld by its iconic great w hite sails, Canada Place is a sym bol of national pride on the West Coast. Also hom e to a cruise ship term inal, this elegant epicentre holds a distinguished place on the w aterfront and hosts m any special events for the public throughout the year. Your w alk w ill travel along the Canada Place Prom enade and tour past historical points of interest w hich are m arked by educational plaques.
Travelling w est along the w aterfront you w ill com e to the new ly renovated Vancouver Convention Centre. This aw ard w inning building w on the title of "World's Best Conference Centre" in both 2002 and 2008, and is considered to be one of the m ost green convention centres in the w orld. The com m itm ent to green technology is evident w hen view ing the building’s “living roof” from its w est side. Featuring seaw ater heating and cooling, on-site w ater treatm ent, and a fish habitat built into the foundation; the Vancouver Convention Centre is a truly inspirational m asterpiece of sustainable design.
As you continue along the seaw all the green them e continues. Constructed betw een 1997 and 2002, H arbour G reen Park is the longest continuous w aterfront park in the dow ntow n area. It can be accessed from the seaw all or from its grand Bute Street entrance. H ere there is a spectacular w ater feature w hich doubles as a refreshing spray park in the sum m er. Another great place to enjoy refreshm ent in the park is The M ill M arine Bistro, a beautiful exam ple of Art Deco architecture; it boasts one of the city’s largest outdoor patios.
A great exam ple of Industrial design, w ith sleek curves and sharp edges, Coal H arbour Com m unity Centre w as built to reflect the area’s m aritim e culture, and resem bles a ship. O ffering program s from oil painting to sushi rolling, recreational opportunities for every age group and ability are available. The rooftop green space, aptly nam ed Coal H arbour Park, has rolling law ns adorned w ith flow ers and foliage. It overlooks the busy H arbour and provides an excellent vantage point to w atch the floatplanes arrive and depart against the striking m ountain backdrop.
As you reach the end of the seaw all portion of this w alk you w ill find M arina Square Park, a restful and attractive place to visit at the foot of Denm an Street. M ake sure to check out the stepping stones that w ind through the w ater feature at this location. From here you can see the Vancouver Row ing Club and several m arinas. As w ell, you can see Devonian H arbour Park the gatew ay to w orld fam ous Stanley Park. At this point, you can choose to retrace your footsteps along the seaw all or return to your starting point by w ay of Robson Street. The latter option w ill allow further exploration of the area’s rich history and culture, and guide you past additional architectural accom plishm ents unique to Vancouver. The return route via Robson Street is outlined below .
From M arina Square Park w alk south along Denm an Street until you reach Robson Street. This unique strip, nam ed after John Robson, Prem ier of British Colum bia from 1889 – 1892, is fam ous for its eclectic m ix of shops and is a favoured destination for tourists as w ell as locals. Its com m ercial traditions date back to 1895 w hen train tracks w ere laid along it, and a w ide variety of sm all European shops popped up to serve Vancouver's boom ing population. After World War II the street becam e know n as “Robsonstrasse”, in hom age of its pioneers. Travelling east you w ill pass prem ier fashion retailers and m any fine dining restaurants. Be prepared for the hustle and bustle of eager shoppers at any tim e of the year.
When you turn left at Burrard Street you w ill begin to travel north and pass the The Fairm ont H otel Vancouver. “Like the city that surrounds it, the hotel is rich in history, resplendent in natural beauty, vibrant and cosm opolitan”. Taking 11 years to com plete, final touches to the hotel w ere m ade in 1939, m aking this the third hotel to be nam ed 'H otel Vancouver'.
At G eorgia Street you w ill notice the Christ Church Cathedral. O ver 100 years old and still in service, this H eritage building is a true m arvel. It w as built in 1894 and is an exam ple of G othic Revival architecture. With stained glass w indow s and Douglas fir ceiling beam s, the cathedral is an astonishing blend of old w orld design and new w orld m aterials. From this vantage point on G eorgia Street you can also take in the m agnitude of M etro Vancouver’s tallest structure, the Shangri-la. It is a m ixed use high rise standing at 201 m eters, and it contains 62 storeys. This skyscraper is the 11th tallest building in Canada, and is know n for its luxurious 5 star hotel. The building's podium com plex has a spa, an U rban Fare specialty grocery store, a Vancouver Art G allery display, and a cur rated sculpture garden open to the public.
As you continue further south dow n Burrard Street you w ill notice an im pressive grouping of structures know n collectively as The Bentall Centre. The five Bentall buildings have a great im pact on the architectural appearance of Vancouver. These beautiful structures are equally pleasing at ground level w ith a m ultitude of open spaces alive w ith w ater features, native foliage and colourful planters.
Turn right at H astings and you w ill com e to The M arine Building. When it opened in 1930, uniform ed doorm en stood at its entrance beneath a huge polished brass archw ay. Reaching nearly 100 m etres tall, Vancouverites w ere truly im pressed. G azing up tow ards the intricately carved m arine scenery it is easy to understand w hy this building rem ains so im portant. Through a w aving forest of seaw eed, a m ass of lobsters, crabs, praw ns and starfish craw l over top of each other. Flying past the sea creatures, a flock of Canada geese can be seen w ith sun rays blazing over them . This suprem ely artistic structure, w ith its distinct w edding cake “icing” and tow er rem iniscent of M ayan architecture is one of the great Art Deco buildings of the w orld and is, to m any, the building m ost clearly identified w ith Vancouver.
At the intersection of H astings Street and H ornby Street you w ill find The Vancouver Club. Established in 1889, the Vancouver Club is a vital part of professional life in Vancouver and a cornerstone in the careers of the city's m ost distinguished achievers. In the heart of the business district, this prestigious place is now an “A” class heritage building.
At this point in the w alk, you w ill turn left and continue south along the greenw ay at the foot of H ornby Street. Crossing Cordova Street you w ill soon return to your starting point at Canada Place on Waterfront Road.