Vancouver and its region

About this book

Vancouver is considered by many to be one of the most vibrant and livable urban areas in the world. The story of the city and its region has many aspects: a spectacular physical setting shaped over millennia by glaciers and volcanic activity; a complex and vigorous Native society disrupted by the fur trade, the gold rush, the railroad, and urbanization; a dynamic metropolis rapidly rising to prominence on the provincial, Pacific, and world stages; and a biophysical environment profoundly altered by the impacts of urban growth. In Vancouver and Its Region leading Canadian geographers examine the remarkable transformation of British Columbia's Lower Mainland and answer the question: what is this place about? The authors present an integrated, accessible account of the physical, social, economic, historical, and environmental development of the region. The book opens with a vivid photographic essay and the rest of the text is richly illustrated with over 150 original maps, photographs, drawings, and diagrams. Each carefully researched chapter is rich in local detail, yet deliberately seeks a broader view. Readers will be intrigued by the fresh perspectives offered on Vancouver, and the book makes substantial contributions to the various interdisciplinary fields of geography. This book comes at a time when many people are concerned about the future of the Lower Mainland. They wonder if the region will be able to retain its vitality in face of increasing urban problems and the pressures of too much growth. By providing an understanding of what Vancouver is about, this important book makes a critical contribution to our understanding of what it will become.