In the early 20th century, the area east of the Seymour River was heavily forested with mostly dirt trails, horse drawn wagons, and very few residents, save those connected to logging activities and to the lumber and shingle mills in the area. It was to this “land of opportunity” that newlyweds, Jack and Christena Gillis, came in 1923, arriving by train from PEI. Jack got a job initially with the Burrard Dry Dock, and then at a shingle mill and finally with the DNV opening roads, including from Deep Cove Highway to the wharf at the foot of Strathcona Road. During this time, he scouted the area and decided to purchase four lots on Harris Ave from Strathcona Road towards the water. The price for each lot was $20!  Over the next few years, in his spare time, he built a log house on lot #4. It was eventually completed in 1926. The log house became known as The Homestead and today, lives on as one of the few log homes in the DNV. Amazingly, this year, the Homestead turns 100!  Read on to learn more about the construction and evolution of this house and the Gillis and Webb families, who are inextricably linked to this living piece of history in our midst!

Every summer, West Coast Modern Week brings together architects, historians, designers, and curious locals to celebrate the region’s remarkable modernist legacy. Hosted by the West Vancouver Art Museum, the week features exhibitions, lectures, open houses, and — most beloved of all — the guided walking tours that bring architectural history to life at street level. As part of this annual celebration, North Shore Heritage contributes its deep local knowledge through tours that reveal the stories behind the buildings we pass every day. This year’s tour, Municipal Modern, explores how West Vancouver’s civic identity was shaped in the mid‑20th century by a new generation of architects.