Vancouver’s settlement history dates back to the late 1400s. The first people to discover the area were the Spanish, who were passing by as they cruised to explore Canada’s west coast. The Spaniards had claimed the west coast region based on the treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. It is for this reason that the city still has some Spanish street names such as Cordova, Cardero, Valdez, and Narvaez. However, it was in the year 1792 that the British explorer Captain George Vancouver visited the city, and it began its route to development. The captain explored the inner harbor gave British names to several places. Significant European settlement occurred in the 1800s with follow-up exploration from renowned people such as Simon Fraser. By 1886, the city had a population of 1,000.
The actual development of the city began in the 1800s. The first mayor of the city was a realtor by the name Malcolm. A. McLean, who ascended to the position in 1886. In the same year, the city (then known as Granville) experienced a brush fire that brought down a significant portion of the city’s infrastructure. McLean appreciated the city’s value and led it through this phase to the year 1887. By the time he was leaving office, the city had surpassed its former glory to the point that it welcomed its first train. Granville was then the final stop to the first transcontinental train. In the year 1889, the city successfully built its first bridge in Granville Street. The city also saw a suspension bridge constructed in Capilano. By the year 1900, it had a lighthouse at Brockton Point, electric streetcars, and a tram-based public transportation system.
Canada has been a wildlife tourism destination for a long time. Having the beaver as the country’s national symbol underscores the role that wildlife has played in its heritage. Vancouver is one of the cities in the country that are home to this spectacular species. In 1956, the city opened up Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park. The purpose of this public aquarium was to protect wildlife in an area that was becoming more urban with time. The threat of extinction and encroachment was real and the city’s leadership considered such an establishment as necessary to preserve the ecosystem. It has more than 65,000 animals grouped under 300 fish species, 56 reptiles and amphibian species, 30,000 invertebrates, and 60 species of mammals and birds.
The beaver remains the most sought-after species of Vancouver’s wildlife. European settlers learned about the species not long after they arrived in Vancouver. These settled noted beavers moving around the lake as early as 1907. Afterwards, they would put up a perimeter wall around the lake to make it safer for the beavers and the lake ecosystem. This development was way before the government laid claim to the park. Other than wildlife found in the park, Vancouver has been home to more than 500 species of birds, 140 species of mammals, more than 10 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 400 species of fish. This diversity in the ecosystem is a vindication of the historical management of the city’s wildlife. The city is also home to several invasive species such as Blackberry species, English ivy, Cherry laurel (English laurel), English holly, Giant hogweed, Butterfly bush, Gorse, Spurge laurel (Daphne laurel), Policeman’s helmet (Himalayan balsam), and Clematis – old man’s beard (traveler’s joy).
Vancouver also has a history of mining activities to date. These activities began in the 18th century after the arrival of Europeans. The most significant target minerals mined throughout time have been copper and coal. However, other minerals that have been historically mined in Vancouver are gold, zinc, silver, lead, molybdenum, and industrial minerals. Mining was responsible for an increase in economic activities in the 19th century, and entrepreneurs strived to have a stake in the economy. As a result of these activities, the century saw several communities formed. A phenomenal example of such a community is Crofton, which came as a result of the need to export the hundreds of tons of copper being mined in Vancouver. However, the decline in copper deposits in Vancouver led to several people abandoning the island. While there are still mining activities on the island, they are not as formidable as they were in the 19th century.