Picture a shallow-sided fjord carved by the last Ice Age. This is Burrard Inlet. It separates Vancouver from the North Shore Mountains.
Burrard Inlet. Its name echoes through time. The inlet is a body of water steeped in history. It stretches 44 kilometers from the Strait of Georgia to the head of Indian Arm. For thousands of years, the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-waututh people have called this place home. They are the original inhabitants of Burrard Inlet.
In 1791, European explorers arrived. Juan Carrasco and José María Narváez sailed into the western part of Burrard Inlet. They were under orders from Francisco de Eliza. They sought the Fraser River but mistook the river’s delta for a major inlet. They named it Canal de Floridablanca.
The next year, Dionisio Alcalá Galiano set out to find the real nature of Canal de Floridablanca. He realized there was a great river and sighted Burrard Inlet. Days later, Captain George Vancouver named the inlet after his friend Captain Harry Burrard Neale.
The British Columbia Pilot described Burrard Inlet in 1888. It noted the easy access for steam vessels of all sizes. It also mentioned the convenient depth of water for anchorage. The proximity to the Fraser River and the Pacific and Canadian Railway added to its importance. The inlet was divided into three distinct harbours: English Bay, Vancouver Harbour, and Port Moody.
Burrard Inlet runs east from the Strait of Georgia to Port Moody. Indian Arm branches off to the north. It nestles between Belcarra and Deep Cove. Near the mouth of the inlet, a section is named English Bay. From there, False Creek carves into the peninsula.
Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, and Port Moody all lie on the shores of Burrard Inlet. Bridges span the inlet. They are the Lions Gate Bridge, the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing, and the CNR railway bridge. The SeaBus passenger ferry also crosses here.
Protected from the open ocean, Burrard Inlet is Vancouver’s primary port area. It provides calm waters for large ships. The shoreline is a mix of residential, commercial, and port-industrial areas. There are railyards, terminals, grain elevators, and oil refineries. Freighters anchor in English Bay, waiting to load or discharge.
Some parts of Burrard Inlet remain forested. The steep slopes of Indian Arm have seen little development. In 2003, a wilderness hiking trail around Indian Arm was completed. It was the work of one man over many years.
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation calls themselves “The People of the Inlet”. For them, Burrard Inlet has always been a vital resource. They hunted, fished, and gathered food here. Crabs, clams, mussels, oysters, fish, deer, and berries were abundant. Today, the inlet remains important for food, livelihood, and recreation.
However, Burrard Inlet has experienced significant change. This has impacted food production and put plants and animals at risk. Habitat has been lost to industrial and commercial activity. Protecting Burrard Inlet from further damage is essential. It will benefit everyone along its coastline. Burrard Inlet. A place of history, industry, and natural beauty. Its story continues to unfold.