Kitsilano Real Estate – Homes and Condos For Sale

Free-thinking Kitsilano, British Columbia, Canada is home to two of the most visited beaches in Vancouver, Jericho and Kitsilano, both framed by English Bay. The southern border is 16th Avenue, to the west is Alma Street and Burrard Street brings up the east. Most of the area is residential, mostly in multi-family structures, but there are two commercial areas that offer trendy restaurants, shops and services. One runs along West 4th Ave. between Balsam and Burrard Sts. The other flows along West Broadway from Blenheim St. and Larch St. The latter is sometimes called West Kitsilano.

Named for s Squamish First Nations chief, August Jack Khatsahlano, this area was first settled by westerners in the 1800s by those working in sawmills and other related industries. By the 1960s the inexpensive area became a magnet for hippie-types from that tumultuous decade. Over time the hippies were replaced by the yuppies drawn to the beaches, parks and easy access to downtown Vancouver.

Traces of the hippie era remain, such as the vegetarian eatery called the Naam Café on the corner of MacDonald and 4th Avenue. Three pubs from that era, boasting the some of the first pub licenses issued in the city of Vancouver, still operate, all on 4th Avenue. It probably is not all that surprising that Greenpeace got its start, and opened its first office, in Kitsilano, as did British Columbia’s Green Party.

Festivals abound in Kitsilano. In June, Greek Day is celebrated in the area’s Greektown. Jericho Beach Park hosts the Vancouver Folk Music Festival each summer. And the words of Shakespeare flow freely each year at Vanier Park’s outdoor festival honouring the Bard.