Get to Know Mount Pleasant

Prior to European colonization, the area was home to dense forests and numerous waterways, many of them fish-bearing, all a part of the traditional, unceded and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

Its thriving ecology and abundance of resources sustained Indigenous communities for thousands of years and were part of what attracted European settlers to the area during colonization. Tea Swamp Park, the St. George Rainway, China Creek and Brewery Creek are named to acknowledge waterways that once ran through Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, Gertrude Guerin Plaza at the intersection of Main Street and Kingsway commemorates the Musqueam Chief and activist whose legacy includes her work as a founding member of the Native Education College, located at East 5th Avenue and Scotia Street.

And Kingsway’s meandering route delineates an ancient Indigenous trail which later became a colonial wagon road — a history remembered in artist and ECU alum Sonny Assu’s 2012 public artwork Indigenous Trail/Wagon Road, commissioned by the City of Vancouver, which appears along the entire length of Kingsway from Main Street to Boundary Road.

As a neighbourhood, Mount Pleasant is one of the oldest in Vancouver. Originally an industrial hub, it was populated through the 19th century by businesses including tanneries, dairies, breweries and slaughterhouses, all of which took advantage of the creek that still ran through the area. In the late 1800s, Mount Pleasant’s northern reaches near ECU were one of the city’s first areas after Downtown to be developed for residential use.

During WWI, the tidal flats of False Creek from Main Street to Clark Drive were filled to provide a site for two large railway terminals and railyards. This area would later become an industrial zone and subsequently the False Creek Flats neighbourhood on which ECU now stands.

The resurgence of local breweries in the area (see our entry below) in recent decades rhymes with the neighbourhood’s origins, while its many artist’s studios, galleries, small businesses and other wonderful amenities (also see below!) make for a lively community.

See the City of Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant Historic Statement for more details on the area’s history. And discover more below about the Mount Pleasant of today!

Mount Pleasant (and the nearby Riley Park / Little Mountain and False Creek neighbourhoods) enjoy a wonderful variety of farmer’s markets where you’ll find a huge range of fresh food from local producers.

Mount Pleasant Farmer’s Market | Open Sundays, 10AM to 2PM from May 4 to Oct. 26.

Riley Park Farmers Market
Summer Market: Open Saturdays, 10AM to 2PM, Apr. 5 to Oct. 25
Winter Market: Open Saturdays, 10AM to 2PM, Nov. 2 to Mar. 29


False Creek Farmers Market | Open Thursdays, 3PM to 7PM, Jul. 3 to Oct. 2.

Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas boast a wealth of public community centres (all accessible via a single recreation pass) and outdoor spaces for your relaxation and health.

Mount Pleasant Community Centre | Includes a gym with climbing wall, a fitness centre and steam room, plus the Mount Pleasant Branch of the Vancouver Public Library.

Creekside Community Recreation Centre | Includes a fitness centre, gymnasium, and a paddling launch + kayak and dragon boat centre along the seawall outside.

Hillcrest Centre | Includes an aquatic centre, ice rink, fitness centre and gymnasium.

Dude Chilling Park | Otherwise known as Guelph Park, did you know that artist, designer and ECU alum Viktor Briestensky (BFA 2012) is the person responsible for its renaming (which references the park’s sculpture, Reclining Figure – affectionately known as “The Dude” – by artist Michael Dennis)?

Jonathan Rogers Park | Great for sunsets and hangs.

Robson Park | For basketball, soccer, tennis or a relaxing picnic on the grass.

Mount Pleasant Park | Sports court, skate park, and a popular summer picnic spot for local families.

Tea Swamp Park | Grab a bench in the shade and enjoy a chat with a friend.

China Creek North | Lounge on the hill, hit some balls or take a spin on the jogging track.

China Creek South | Home to weeping willows + Vancouver’s first skate park!

Queen Elizabeth Park | At 125m above sea level, QE Park is the highest point in Vancouver. This formal basalt quarry is also home to cascading gardens, water features, picnic areas, duck ponds, sports courts, a frisbee-golf course, pitch and putt, and the incredible Bloedel Conservatory, a domed biosphere housing tropical birds, koi fish and over 500 rare and exotic plants.

False Creek | The area now known as False Creek was once the site of an ancestral Squamish settlement called Sen̓áḵw (a name now borne by the Squamish Nation’s residential development at the foot of the Burrard Street Bridge). Nowadays, the waterway is limned by a seawall for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a tight cluster of residential buildings, semi-industrial zones and public spaces.

The city’s False Creek Olympic Village destination walk will tour you around the north end of Mount Pleasant, along the edge of Strathcona, through Yaletown, over the Cambie Street Bridge, through Olympic Village and back again. Along the way, you’ll find Science World, Habitat Island (aka Beer Island) and numerous public artworks including Should I Be Worried by artist and ECU’s Associate Vice President (AVP) of Research + Dean of Graduate Studies Justin Langlois.

You can also get up close and personal with the waterway by crisscrossing it on the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries.

There are many places near ECU to get a cup of your favourite pick-me-up, but some local favourites include:

Nemesis | Right outside ECU’s main entrance in the wild red building.

Kafka’s | Just across Carolina Street from ECU in the Centre for Digital Media.

Gene | In the iconic Triangle Building and just a couple doors down from Rath Art Supplies.

JJ Bean | A Vancouver staple, with its Mount Pleasant location cozying up alongside the 14th Avenue parklet for a moment of urban respite.

Elysian | Roasting some of the best coffee in the city, Elysian’s Ontario Street location offers a shady outdoor seating area along a bike route.

Forecast | Across from JJ Bean and featuring a lot of seating, Forecast is great if you need a place to hunker down and study. this place is known for their brunch and Wilder cookies.

49th Parallel | With an outdoor patio and Lucky’s Doughnuts made in-house, this brick-and-beam location is sure to please.

Liberty Bakery | This neighbourhood favourite was co-founded by the late, great Rodney Graham. Relax in the parklet outside or head cross 21st Avenue to the equally excellent Coco et Olive.

Mount Pleasant is home to a number of great bike shops. But for more than three decades, Our Community Bikes has been empowering cyclists and making cycling more accessible by equipping riders with resources and knowledge, providing refurbished bicycles and delivering education in mechanical skills. They’ll get you back on the road and help you better understand your ride so you can keep yourself rolling with fewer worries. Visit them on Main Street at 8th Avenue.

For folks experiencing severe or ongoing financial hardship, they also run a program called Pedals for the People which distributes refurbished bikes free of charge to those who’d be otherwise unable to afford them. Visit their website to learn more!

Mount Pleasant is home to a number of established and emerging galleries, from commercial to artist-run nonprofits. Some have played a key role in the Vancouver arts community for decades. Others have only just begun to make their mark. All of them are worth a visit!

grunt gallery | Since 1984, this nonprofit artist-run centre (located just steps from ECU campus!) has been a key part of Vancouver's arts community, working with local, national and international artist communities to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for the development of innovative and provocative contemporary art.

Western Front | Like grunt, this nonprofit artist-run centre has been at the heart of multidisciplinary arts practice in Vancouver since its founding in 1973. Located just a few blocks from campus.

Gallery Jones | This commercial gallery represents contemporary artists both from Canada and the international scene, including several ECU community members. Located just steps from campus.

Paul Kyle Gallery | A commercial gallery like its neighbour, Gallery Jones, Paul Kyle offers artworks from both contemporary artists and the secondary market.

The James Black Gallery | A queer, artist-run centre for emerging artists working in community engagement and experimental art practices.

THIS Gallery | An artist-led gallery space dedicated to supporting artists through the promotion and sale of their work.

CSA Space | An independent, Canadian project space operating out of Mount Pleasant’s iconic Triangle Building. To access CSA, ask at the legendary Pulpfiction Books (which is run by one of CSA’s three cofounders, Christopher Brayshaw) located just a few doors down Main Street.

Macauley + Co. | A commercial gallery located close by campus and representing both established and emerging contemporary practitioners from Vancouver, across Canada and beyond.

Pale Fire Projects | One of the newer galleries in the neighbourhood, this commercial project space presents exhibitions on a quarterly cycle.

Eastside Culture Crawl | While technically focused on neighbourhoods outside Mount Pleasant, this annual event is an excellent time to familiarize yourself with the local arts community. The Crawl is especially notable for being a time during which an extraordinary number of artists open their studios to the public, including at the Arts Factory near campus where many ECU alums, staff and faculty members maintain spaces.

Standing proudly at the intersection of Main Street and Kingsway, the Triangle Building is part of the ‘Triangle Block’, which is recognized and celebrated as the “historic heart” of the neighbourhood. Read more about its fascinating history via Scout Magazine, and pay a visit to some of the wonderful local businesses to which it plays home, including:

Rath Art Supplies | Current owner Theresa Frazao took over this small-but-mighty art store from its original owner, the late Stan Rathbun, in 2018. She has maintained its warm and community-minded vibe, as well as the store’s readiness to build your custom wood panels or stretchers for canvas and linen, whether over-sized with seams, or round / oddly shaped (all created by Rath staff member and ECU alum Nova!). Read more about where to find sustainable and affordable art supplies in our recent article! [LINK]

Gene Coffee | A Mount Pleasant mainstay for more than a decade, this wedge-shaped hangout spot occupies the “prow of the ship.” Keep an eye out for local artists who often stop by to refuel and relax in the cafe’s outdoor areas.

Pulpfiction Books | Over a quarter century, this legendary independent bookstore has grown into one of Western Canada’s largest and busiest sellers, offering both new and quality-used titles. With an astonishing rate of turnover, their shelves are always worth a browse, and don’t be shy about speaking with staff to help you choose – the place is run by voracious readers with an enduring love of the written word.

Budgie’s Burritos | This no-fuss vegetarian and vegan restaurant serves tasty and affordable Tex-Mex food that is sure to satisfy. Owned and operated by Vancouver local Macey Budgell, Budgie’s has been sustaining students, musicians, artists, skateboarders and the larger community for 20 years.

The Pleasant | Are you looking for a chill place to hang with friends, have a drink and maybe some delicious wings? The Pleasant is the quietish place you can do that. There’s also a back room and gallery that can be rented for small art shows or birthday parties!

Many local breweries accommodate folks of all ages by offering non-alcoholic offerings and food in contrast to their unique and delicious brews. Local bars, however, are all 19+. Two pieces of government-issued ID are required to purchase alcohol in any location in BC.

Brassneck | Located just up Main Street, this small, neighbourhood brewery serves a rotating selection of excellent beers brewed on site (to stay or to go!) with snacks from sister location, The Magnet.

Main St Brewing | Another excellent local brewery co-owned by some of the folks whose other outfits include The Cascade Room and El Camino’s, both of which are located nearby on Main Street.

R&B | Serving Mount Pleasant since 1997, this East Van brewery is one of the originals. In more recent years, R&B has begun offering a full restaurant experience, with snacks and meals on offer in addition to their tap list.

Red Truck | Another Vancouver original, this brewery is located just a few blocks from campus. A solid line-up of no-nonsense brews and a counter-service dining area for lunches or dinners.

33 Acres | Now with a location in Alberta, this local brewery has grown beyond its original (and nearby) location in Mount Pleasant. Find its classics on tap or to-go, with a small selection of rotating beers, wines, cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages and food.

Faculty Brewing | This Ontario Street brewery offers a rotating tap list, growler fills and a small selection of snacks. For those who prefer non-alcoholic beverages, they also offer libations from their sister operation, Oddity Kombucha, located right across the street!

Electric Bicycle Brewing | This relatively new neighbourhood brewery offers a tight line-up of draught beer, wines, cocktails and hi-balls, with televisions to enjoy NFL and NHL games.

Steamworks | Technically a satellite location for the brewpub proper (which is located Downtown), Steamworks offers a full restaurant experience.

The Lido | Run and frequented by locals, this psych-inflected music pub features regular gigs by bands from across Vancouver and beyond, as well as DJs, mind-blowing live visuals, and the occasional karaoke night. (19+)

The Fox Cabaret | Whether you’re looking for a drag show, a night of dancing, live bands, comedy and improv or karaoke, the Fox Cabaret has it all! (19+)

The Biltmore Cabaret | This 50+ year-old venue, in the basement of a former hotel, hosts some of the best live music and comedy in the city! (19+)

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