Blogathon Vancouver 2008: "G" is for Granville Island

Known often as a tourist destination and choice spot to take out of town guests, Granville Island is a true gem to locals and visitors alike. A while back John and I took a day trip over to GI – and by that I mean we walked down to the water taxi and spent the afternoon shopping in the market and enjoying the various forms of entertainment along the boardwalks.

Here’s a quick excerpt from VancouverHistory:

“The 38 acres of Granville Island, worth many millions of dollars today, were once a little mud flat worth zilch. The little mound, in fact, used to disappear at high tide. But, to a keen-eyed public official named Sam McClay, that drab little mud flat (some called it a sand bar) under the shadow of the old Granville Bridge looked as if it might be a good base for some landfill….

…A land boom had begun in Vancouver in 1905, you see, and land became so costly (especially if it had access to the waters of False Creek or Burrard Inlet) that many manufacturers couldn’t afford to locate at suitable sites; they had to go to less desirable areas….

…Locals used to call it Mud Island; it wasn’t until about 1938, apparently, that the name Granville Island began to be used regularly…

…In June of 1973 the ownership of the island was transferred from the National Harbors Board to Central Mortgage and Housing, now Canada Mortgage and Housing…
…Some 10.5 million people visit annually now, and many of them go to the Granville Island Public Market, a great urban experience…

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Today Granville Island is home for many artisans, the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, and various playhouses. The key attraction for us on a regular basis is of course the market – the freshest fruits, tastiest cheese and sweetest desserts can all be found within.