Why is the Burrard Peninsula rarely called that by locals? You see, the Burrard Peninsula, this very land beneath us, holds Vancouver and parts of Burnaby and New Westminster. These cities, with their distinct neighborhoods, often overshadow the overall name of the peninsula. It’s like saying “that bakery on the continent of Europe” instead of “that Parisian patisserie.” The Squamish people, however, knew this land as Ulxen, encompassing the rise from Point Grey to Central Park.
The Burrard Peninsula is a geographical oddity. It’s technically connected to the mainland. But you can’t just walk from one to the other without crossing a body of water. The Canadian Pacific Railway acts as a bridge across the narrowest point. It cuts through Coquitlam before reaching the peninsula’s northeastern tip. From there, the peninsula stretches west for about 40 kilometers, ending at Point Grey.
This peninsula is a tapestry of urban and natural spaces. Once heavily forested, it’s now dominated by a cityscape. Yet pockets of green remain. Stanley Park in Vancouver and Pacific Spirit Regional Park in Point Grey offer respite from the urban hustle. Burnaby boasts Burnaby Mountain, Central Park, Burnaby Lake, and Deer Lake. The Burrard Peninsula, though rarely acknowledged by name, holds a diverse landscape, both natural and man-made.