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Your input with stories and history about the Western Part of West Vancouver would be most appreciated!
Written with help from Karen Hardie
Cha-Hai is the Squamish Nation name for Horseshoe Bay. For the Squamish people it was a sheltered bay in which they rested as they travelled up and down the coast. In 1792, Captain George Vancouver sailed into and around Howe Sound, but it was not until 1858 that the area was surveyed by Captain Richards in H.M.S Plumber. During the early 1900’s some small logging operations took place in Horseshoe Bay, later the area became “cottage country” for many wealthy Vancouverites. They came by boat, and when the P.G.E. Railway was completed, by train. In 1931, a new era began for Horseshoe Bay when Dan Sewell acquired some waterfront property and established a resort called Whytecliff Lodge. This was located on the approximate site of what is now the Boathouse Restaurant. Mr. Sewell later added a marina to his operation, all a part of his plan to cultivate a sport fishing business. Equipped with a fleet of boats, and lots of available salmon, the word soon spread that Horseshoe Bay was “the place” to go fishing. It did not take too long for the likes of several high profile entertainers such as Bing Crosby to come to Horseshoe Bay for the fishing. As Horseshoe Bay was quite sheltered, several small ferry services started up in the area. In the early 1950's the operators of Black Ball Ferries in Seattle approached West Vancouver council about leasing property in Horseshoe Bay. After the proposal was approved, Black Ball Ferries began running a service to Gibsons Landing in 1951, later they expanded their service to Bowen Island and Nanaimo. In 1958 strikes at Black Ball Ferries threatened to isolate Vancouver Island without ferry service. In response, the BC Government purchased Black Ball in 1962. Currently BC Ferries runs services to the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island and Bowen Island from Horseshoe Bay.
The painting below of Whytcliff Lodge was taken from a photograph circa 1935. painted by Sarah Pickingford.
The two postcards below are circa 1930.
Overview of Horshoe Bay below was taken in 1942
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