From the outside, St. Stephen’s Anglican Church looks unlike any other church in West Vancouver. With its dominant, geometric cedar-shake walls - which also serve as a roof - words such as dramatic, angular and bold might be used to describe this church at first glance. But despite its stunning exterior, nothing could prepare you for the visual feast that awaits you on the inside! One is greeted by a light-filled interior, with a dramatic and soaring geometric ceiling, exquisitely eye-catching chandeliers, and the piece-de-resistance … the most stunning stained-glass windows, made of faceted, gem-cut coloured glass, which create a jaw-dropping curtain of colour. Join us as we explore the history and features of this iconic architectural “gem” which is amongst the most significant mid-century modern churches in the world. It still stands today but is very much under threat in this world of declining religious affiliations, governmental pressures for affordable housing and developers’ drive for profits.

Ten minutes drive from the heart of Vancouver’s downtown section through enchanting Stanley Park and over the magnificent Lion’s Gate Bridge brings you to….Norgate Park.

This was the introduction to Norgate Subdivision from a ca. 1950 pamphlet that advertised the new community at the time. The heading of the pamphlet: Norgate Park: Across the Bridge to Modern Living was an apt description at that time and not just an advertising ploy. Read on to learn how Norgate came to be and how it was known for its “Modern Living”.