Kerrisdale

Kerrisdale is a neighbourhood in the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Kerrisdale is a mixed neighbourhood featuring old bungalows, newer 'Vancouver Specials', and various low and mid-rise rental and condo apartment buildings. The neighbourhood is ethnically diverse. It features a small shopping district running generally along West 41st Avenue between Larch and Maple Streets and West Boulevard between 37th and 47th Avenues. Although the City officially defines Kerrisdale as being south of 41st Ave (north of 41st is called Arbutus Ridge), most people consider the area's boundaries to be West 33rd Ave to the north, Granville Street to the east, West 57th Street to the south, and Blenheim Street to the west. The northern part of Marpole is also generally thought of as part of Kerrisdale, thus many refer to the area as also Kerrisdale-Marpole The southwestern part of Kerrisdale is known as Southlands, due to its location in relation to the city. Southlands is known for its horse stables and rural feel.

History

Kerrisdale gained its name in 1905 when British Columbia Electric Railway manager R.H. Sterling asked Mrs. William McKinnon to name the interurban stop at Wilson Road (today West 41st Avenue). She chose to call it "Kerry's Dale", after the name of her family home, Kerrydale, in Gairloch, Scotland. Kerrydale means “little seat of the fairies.” It was quickly corrupted to Kerrisdale. The area was part of the Municipality of Point Grey, which amalgamated january 1, 1929 with the City of Vancouver and the Municipality of South Vancouver. Many of the streets and avenues surrounding this focal intersection developed around this time, with local landmarks such as Point Grey Secondary School, Ryerson Church, and the Shannon Mews and the Allen Brown Estate constructed in these formative years.

Issues

Although formerly British in character and demographic, Kerrisdale began to experience an influx of affluent immigrants from Hong Kong in the mid 1980s. Many new immigrants constructed large, modern houses. Therefore, Kerrisdale is generally a hodge-podge of architecture, with old bungalows in between new stucco houses.

A second divisive issue facing the area is that of the Arbutus Corridor. The corridor, a no-longer-used CPR railway line which bisects the neighbourhood, has been the object of many debates since its abandonment in January of 2000. Suggested uses of this 10km corridor have included a SkyTrain line (vociferously opposed by local residents), a paved bikeway, condominium development, and a tourist-oriented streetcar line. The City passed an Official Development Plan in 2001, designating the corridor as a transportation corridor, specifically precluding SkyTrain. CPR contested this in court, and in early 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the City was within its rights. At present, the line still sits in limbo, overgrown with weeds and brambles, awaiting an official decision as to its future.

Many people also argue that Kerrisdale is losing its small shopping village feel due to the many large corporate stores opening up (Starbucks, McDonalds, GAP, Sleep Country) which are replacing small, local businesses that represent the original village's ideals.

The stretch of businesses along W. 41st Ave between Balsam and Maple streets comprise the Kerrisdale Business Association, the longest running such association in Vancouver. Member businesses pool funds for festivities and general beautification of the area, including the hiring of a full-time gardener during summer months.

Demographics

Kerrisdale has a mix of professionals, middle class workers, the very wealthy and students renting basement suites, or more inexpensive apartment blocks to attend nearby schools. The area was in the past also characterized by a number of elderly residents on fixed incomes who primarily rent in the older low rise buildings that characterize much of the community.

Education

Kerrisdale is home to Kerrisdale Elementary School, Kerrisdale Annex, Maple Grove Elementary School, McKechnie Elementary School, and Quilchena Elementary School, as well as Magee Secondary School, Prince of Wales Secondary School and Point Grey Secondary School.

Crofton House School, a girls private school, is on the western edge of the neighbourhood, next to Dunbar-Southlands.

External links

* [http://vancouver.ca/community_profiles/kerrisdale City of Vancouver - Kerrisdale]
* [http://www.vpl.ca/branches/Kerrisdale/home.html Vancouver Public Library - Kerrisdale Branch]
* [http://vancouver.ca/parks/cc/Kerrisdale Kerrisdale Community Centre]
* [http://www.discovervancouver.com/GVB/kerrisdale-vancouver.asp Discover Vancouver - Kerrisdale]