General Overview

Shaughnessy is named after CPR's company president, Sir Thomas Shaughnessy. It is one of 23 communities in Vancouver. Its boundaries stretch from 16th to 41st Avenues, and from West Boulevard to Oak Street. These boundaries are defined by the City for planning and administrative purposes. They may not accurately reflect smaller historical neighbourhoods.

Built on the heights overlooking Vancouver's Downtown core, Shaughnessy has always aspired to be the city's most prestigious area. It is one of the city's most stable and prosperous communities, characterized by large, well-tended character homes on winding, tree-lined streets.

"First" or "Old" Shaughnessy, as it is often referred to (that part of Shaughnessy north of King Edward Avenue), originally formed approximately 2,428 hectares (6,000 acres) of land granted to the Canadian Pacific Railway by the federal government as a condition of extending the railway to the Pacific Coast. In 1907, Richard Marpole, general superintendent and executive assistant of the CPR, proposed the development of this exclusive and prestigious residential area to lure the city's elite from the West End.

While Shaughnessy remains predominantly single-family and residential in nature, numerous multiple conversion dwellings, special care residential facilities and several consulates can be found in the First Shaughnessy District. Many of First Shaughnessy's multiple dwellings remain as a result of federal government efforts to provide additional housing after World War II.

People of Shaughnessy
Generally, Shaughnessy has an older population. Those from the "baby boom" generation (those born between the years 1947 and 1965) represent only 27.9% of the total population, compared with 39% citywide. Also in contrast, 33.6% of the people in Shaughnessy are adults aged 40-64, compared with 27.6% city wide.

Parks
Seven hectares of park land are distributed throughout Shaughnessy. Most residents are within a comfortable walking distance (800 metres) from one of the area's four parks, the exception being a sector in the southeast near Oak Street and 41st Avenue. Shaughnessy has 0.74 hectares of park land per 1,000 persons, as compared to the city average of 1.12.

The three main parks serving the area (Devonshire, Angus and Shaughnessy) are small, primarily ornamental open spaces landscaped to a standard found in few other local parks in the city. Recreation opportunities offered are even hectares of park land are distributed throughout passive ones with an emphasis on aesthetics rather than active recreational functions. Kerrisdale Park, in the community's southwest corner, is the site of the Kerrisdale Arena. VanDusen Gardens is located in Shaughnessy as well, and although it serves a city-wide function, it provides the area a high-quality open space and visual amenity.

Schools
There are two elementary (kindergarten to grade 7) schools. Vancouver College, an independent school, provides all levels of education to another male students. There is Point Grey Secondary on East Boulevard. The Little Flower Academy, an independent school, provides secondary level education for female students. York House School, which is independent, on King Edward Avenue provides kindergarten to grade 12 education for female students.

Related Links:
Shaughnessy Profile
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/community_profiles/shaughnessy/

Vancouver School Board
http://www.vsb.bc.ca

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