Granville Island, one of Vancouvers main tourist attractions is only 20 minutes walking distance from our apartment, a bit more if you take the nicer walk along the beach. It's called an urban Oasis on the official website and what makes it unique really is the location is the middle of the city, looking at the downtown skyline combined with the island feeling, being almost completely surrounded by water.
At the entrance to False Creek where Granville Island is today you would originally find two seaweed-laden sandbars, which the Squamish Indians used as their winter fishing grounds because of its richness in fish and wildlife. The Island as we know it today was manmade around 1915 when the land was claimed by the Harbour Commission. More than 760,000 cubic meters of sea mud were sucked from False Creek’s bed and poured within the island’s wooden walls. The mud flats finally transformed into an island, railway tracks were built and a wooden roadway to False Creek’s southern shore.
For many years Granville Island was officially called “Industrial Island” with about 1,200 people working in the island’s factories by 1930. In World War II defense equipment was produced here such as anti-torpedo nets, minesweeping ropes and rigging ropes for the merchant fleet. After the war many of the island’s biggest customers moved out of False Creek, seeking more and cheaper land, and preferring truck transport to water. The little island started to suffer from neglect until in the early 70s a successful initiative started to turn Granville Island into a people-friendly urban area. Urban geographer Walter Hardwick completed a land economics study of the creek. He saw the area as ideal for an urban mix of housing and public use.
In July, 1979, the Granville island public market was opened which is world-famous today. It is a tourist attraction especially in the summer but also a lot of locals (like us!) go to the market regularly for fresh vegetables, fruit, seafood or meat, cheese or bakery.
Since the redevelopment Granville Island has become a paradise for artists and those interested in art. All across the Island, former empty sheds have been turned into studios, stages, sets and scenery for art exhibits, theatrical plays, street performers, and music shows. Since the 70s the island attracts creative people, craft studios, including a glassblowing studio, a printmaking shop, a luthier, a master shoemaker, various jewellers, and the B.C. Potter's Guild are located here as well as the worldwide recognized Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
Last but not least my favourite Vancouver beer is brewed directly on Granville Island at the Granville Island Brewing Company, a Canada's first microbrewery. Supposedly their beer is even brewed according to the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516 which I doubt in the case of the Honey Lager. I like the Pale Ale best.
More about the islands history can be foud here.
The chicken noodle soup (here without noodles and chicken) tasted very good. Looking forward to tomorrows leftovers!
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