A Community Steeped
in Natural Splendour
& Rich Heritage

West Vancouver is on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, in particular, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh have occupied and governed this territory since beyond recorded history. In the late 19th and throughout the 20th century, as Vancouver developed, its inhabitants frequently traveled across Burrard Inlet to West Vancouver for leisure activities like picnicking and camping. Over time, these outings led to permanent residencies within quaint, shoreline-hugging communities. Nestled between sea and mountain, these hamlets rose along the slopes, shaping distinct neighbourhoods with their own unique character.

Dundarave’s namesake was chosen by early West Vancouver resident R.E. Macnaghten in honour of his clan’s ancestral castle in Loch Fine, Scotland. The name, rooted in Gaelic for “hill of the two oars,” reflects the castle’s access by rowboat — a fitting name considering this area was once only accessible by boat. While Dundarave is often pronounced to rhyme with Dave, historical research indicates it should echo have, and in Scottish, it’s Doon Daa Raav. Before Macnaghten and others purchased and subdivided land here in 1909, the Squamish peoples referred to the general area from Dundarave west in West Vancouver as Smelakw’a (West Bay). Dundarave Pier was built in 1914 to connect with downtown Vancouver by ferry. Despite being supplanted by John Lawson’s Pier, it turned into a popular spot for beachgoers and hosted the first Dundarave Regatta in 1916.