Shaughnesssy has many heritage house that date back to the first half of the last century.

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The residents take good care of their houses and front yards.

The Neighbourhood of Shaughnessy

Almost entirely a residential area, Shaughnessy is home to approximately 2,970 households spread over 447 hectares of land. Residents of Shaughnessy enjoy a good and central location; the lovely neighbourhood is the city’s geographic heart and its borders are 16th Avenue in the north, 41st Avenue in the south, Oak Street in the east, and Arbutus Street in the west. Shaughnessy is also well known for its welcoming atmosphere, great community, and many beautiful mansions and unique historical homes for you to choose from.

A Little More About the Popular Neighbourhood

The neighbourhood’s history goes all the way back to 1907, when it was developed by the Canadian Pacific Railway (one of the biggest real-estate developers in Canada) as an alternative to the West End. The company’s president, Thomas Shaughnessy (known also as the 1st Baron Shaughnessy), received the honour of giving the neighbourhood his name. A large number of heritage homes from the first half of the last century are still well preserved today. It is precisely these houses that draw so many buyers to the area. You will probably have some trouble finding such a wide selection of different colours, architectural details, and large gardens elsewhere in the city.

The shopping district is concentrated along Arbutus Street. One of the biggest local attractions is the beautiful Van Dusen Botanical Gardens, with over 250,000 plants from different ecosystems all over the world! You’ll be surprised to find specimens from both the Himalayas and Mediterranean here. A huge fan of golf? The Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club is among the best of all private clubs in Vancouver! It’s open throughout the year, with temporary greens provided even during the toughest of winters. There are no public high schools, but you will find other educational facilities, such as Little Flower Academy, Vancouver College, Shaughnessy Elementary School, and York House School.

Find out more about Vancouver's best neighbourhoods with our visual guide, have a close look at Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood, Strathcona!

You'll probably find your favorite colour here!

Some of the architectural details are just stunning.

Does this remind you of a fairy tale?

Shaughnessy is mainly a residential neighbourhood.

The magnificent entrance pillars of one of the homes.

The Shaughnesssy Elementary School

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Meet the Photographer

Davis Chan

I am a Vancouver based photographer. Although I shoot commercially, my real passion lies in landscapes, street and social documentary. Among all the genres in landscape photography, capturing aging urban areas and industrial sites interest me the most.