Given that the review of the Official Community Plan of our Village is in full swing, it is appropriate to reflect on where we have come from, and where we hope we are going. The revised Plan that will emerge from the review process will only be as good and effective as we, the residents and Councils of the day, wish it to be.

"The OCP is the blueprint of policy and principle that guides all decisions made by the Council and Administration in relation to our environment, development in the community, social and recreational issues, municipal services, infrastructure, governance …" (Mayor Max Wyman, April 2007). 

The Mayor's statement encapsulates much of what relates to our Quality of Life, the factors that brought many of us here in the first place, and our Vision for the future.

In the early 1800s the Sea to Sky corridor was known as the Pemberton Trail and was briefly used as a cattle trail that ended at Burrard Inlet. [Correction: The Trail followed the valley to the east of the Lions, not along the coast]. As separate entities, Brunswick Beach and Lions Bay were first surveyed in 1908. The first residents came to Brunswick Beach in 1911.  Lions Bay and Brunswick Beach were initially unincorporated Water Improvement Districts, governed in a very limited way by a Board of Trustees. Taxes were paid directly to Victoria.

Lions Bay was granted Village status on January 2, 1971. Brunswick Beach was joined with the Municipality on October 22, 1999, as a result of a restructure study and referendum. The Village collects and administers a group of taxes: Municipal, West Vancouver School Board, Lions Bay Fire Protection, Kelvin Grove Sewer facility, Water Parcel, Metro Vancouver, Translink, Hospital, MFA, BCAA, Policing, and local fees (Water, Garbage, Recycling). Property Assessments however are done provincially. Lions Bay is one of the 21 members of the Metro Vancouver Board (formerly the GVRD). Our population is 0.1% of Metro Vancouver. Immediately to the north is the Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD).

 In the early days, access to the two communities - mostly rural summer 'getaway shoreline cottages' remote from the big city, "far from the madding crowd", was by boat. The opening of the railway (in 1954) and the highway (in 1958) brought about dramatic changes and permanent residences to the young communities on Howe Sound. The first highway was a lightly traveled 2-lane road, crossing several picturesque trestle bridges, devoid of the traffic noise that the modern 4-lane busy thoroughfare now brings to our ears. 

According to 2006 census data, Lions Bay has about 1,330-1418 people (varying numbers are quoted), a population that has changed very little over three census periods. There are about 530 homes and about 25-30 undeveloped lots. A major expansion occurred in the 1971-1980 decade when almost 50% of the current 530 homes were built (census data). The growth pattern of the Village is shown below.

Period            % built
1946-1960         5%
1961-1970        16%
1971-1980        47%
1981-1985        9%
1986-1990        13%
1991-1995        8%
1996-2000        2%
Some other dates (of uncertain accuracy, my apologies) that mark the development and the "coming of age" of Lions Bay up to the present would include:

Beginings:  1911 First home at Brunswick Beach.
Logging flume constructed at Brunswick Beach.
1929 "Norman's Lodge", Brunswick Beach. 
1945 Land (100 acres) on the waterfront used as a Camp by St Mark's Church sold to a  
         developer (Bob Nelson?)
Water Improvement District phase(?).
     Frank Smith, only employee and jack-of-all trades.
     Lions Bay Property Owner's Association formed.
     An "Unofficial" Fire Brigade, including a Women's Auxiliary, was formed.
     The "Seagull icon" appeared on the Nelson Newsletters.

1954 Completion of the N. Van to Squamish railway (Squamish to Lillooet already existed).

1958 Development increases, by Lions Bay Development Ltd, under Bob Nelson.
Develoment of the Lions Bay Beach Park, a "beach house" and a wading pool, and several community rights of way.

Horeshoe Bay to Squamish highway opened.
1962 Hurricane Freda
1965 Opening of the Lions Bay Marina.
1966 Water Improvement District recognized(?)
1969 Harvey Creek flood and torrent.
 First "Seagull" (by the Lions Bay Property Association) appeared.
     Voting held to become a Village (86 of 110 voters in favour).

Early 1970s Expanded development of Lions Bay by Dawson Development Ltd.
 Allocation of parkland, community green space and at least one lot to the Village.
      A townhouse/condo multi-family development begun.
1971 First Council elected February 27, 1971. "Municipal Chambers" was in a private residence.
 Village Letters Patent granted.
      Enactment of Bylaws begins (Zoning, Building …).
      BC Centenary Celebrations; landscaping of Village entrance. Log entrance sign carved by Paul Deggan, log provided by Anaconda Mining Company.
      Opening of the Lions Bay General Store and Post Office.
      Post boxes moved from Horseshoe Bay to Lions Bay.
 
1972 Formation of the Official Lions Bay Volunteer Fire Department, including a Women's Auxiliary.
First "Fire Hall" built (in Harvey Creek!).
      Completion of the Lions Bay Community Hall and new Fire Hall.
      Relocation of Council Chambers from a private home (to current Library room).
      First Community Plan (unofficial).

Mid 1970s Formation of the Lions Bay Volunteer Ambulance Service.
     Formation of Boy Scout & Cub, Girl Guide & Brownie and Playschool groups.
1975 Tragic highway loss of Gary Ingram (First Lions Bay Fire Chief) and his wife.
1977 Opening of the Lions Bay Primary (K-3) School.
      Tragic loss of two children in a condominium fire (December 29).

Early 1980s Formation of the Lions Bay Volunteer Search & Rescue Team (SAR).
Development of Kelvin Grove begun.
      First Canada Day (Dominion Day) celebration in the Village.

1981 "M" Creek (October) and Strachan Creek  (December) highway disasters. Many lives were lost.
1983 Tragic loss of David and Tom Wade on February 11, 1983 in the Alberta Creek debris landslide and torrent.
Mid 1980s Debris torrents along Howe Sound (Harvey, Alberta, Strachan and "M" Creek
bridges destroyed). Many lives were lost.
Upgrading of the highway, trestle bridges replaced, catchment basins in several creeks (Harvey, Magnesia, Strachan) and a concrete flume in Alberta Creek built at considerable cost to the Province.
      Village entrance re-landscaped.
      Creation of the Curly Stewart Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund.

Late 1980s Formation of the Lions Bay Volunteer Emergency Social Services Team (ESS).
1987 Bus service (Route #259) extended to Lions Bay (three times daily, later discontinued)
1990s Upgrading of infrastructure, including water mains. New Magnesia Creek intake, new 100,000 storage tank, fir hydrants upgraded.
1990 Opening of the Lions Bay Emergency Building (housing Fire Department, Ambulance, ESS and Search & Rescue services).
     Relocation of Council Chambers and Municipal Office to current space.
      Formation of the Library.
Renaming of the Heritage Committee to "Lions Bay Historical Society" (registered in 1995).

1996 25th Anniversary Celebrations of Incorporation of the Village Municipality of Lions Bay.

The Year begins with the First Village "Dip & Dash" on New Years Day!
Unveiling of the Municipal Flag (January), designed by Victor Miles and selected in a
        competition organized by the Historical Society.
Designation of the Official Village Flower (wild Columbine, Aquilegia formosa, as painted by Mary Comber Miles).
     "Spirit of  '96" artistic Banner Event. 
     Dedication of the "Wade Memorial Park".
1999 Letters Patent granted, uniting Brunswick Beach and Lions Bay, marked by "Celebration Together 2000" on February 13th of the Millennium Year.
Mid 2000s Dramatic increases in Property Assessments.

2001 30th Anniversary of Incorporation of the Village Municipality of Lions Bay.
Publication of "Historical Passages" by the Lions Bay Historical Society.
Creation and Dedication of the Lori Beck Memorial Patio with BBQ, picnic table, and rustic log enclosure at Lions Bay Beach Park.
2002 Council remuneration introduced.
First Official Community Plan Bylaw 326 passed, following a comprehensive community based process and survey.
2003 Inauguration of the Lions Bay Community Scholarship Foundation.
Appointment of the Community Advisory Group (CAG), consultations with the MoT about Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement begun.
2004 Major review of Infrastructure and Fire Department needs.
2005 Inauguration of Translink's hourly bus service (C12) to Horseshoe Bay and Caulfeild.
     Remuneration of Fire Department Officers.   

2006 Dedication by SAR members of a new safe footbridge across the upper reaches of Harvey Creek on the trail to the Lions, in honour of SAR co-founder Marcel Andrie (died 1994).
2007 First New Year's Mayors Levee event.
     A highly successful winter Lantern Festival.
Review of the Official Community Plan begun.
   
Acknowledgement: Lions Bay is the sum of many parts. I am most grateful to the Lions Bay Historical Society and the many residents who have helped put this draft of "Reflections" together. To Trudi Luethy goes a special "thank you" for her many useful historical contributions. This is "a work in progress". I sense that what is understated is a worthy recognition of the many contributions that volunteers have made and continue to make to the fabric of Lions Bay - important contributions that may not have a discrete start date but have come about, sometimes in a 'grass roots' fashion, sometimes spearheaded by one individual. To remedy this deficiency, I recommend that you obtain a copy of "The Village of Lions Bay - Historical Passages from the 1790s to the Present" from the Village Office. Take a look at the second last page. If you can, please correct errors in my dateline, and suggest items or events for "Reflections" that I have overlooked.

Updated February 28, 2008.
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