Point Grey facts for kids
Point Grey (called Elḵsn by the Squamish) is a piece of land that sticks out into the water. It marks the southern entrance to English Bay and Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, British Columbia. This area is famous for its beautiful views and important history.
Point Grey is home to several popular beaches, including Wreck Beach, Tower Beach, and Point Grey Beach. Since 1925, the top of Point Grey has also been the main location for the University of British Columbia (UBC), a large and well-known university.
History of Point Grey
Point Grey has a rich history, especially during times of war.
Point Grey in World War II
During World War II, Tower Beach at Point Grey was an important military site. Soldiers used watchtowers there to look for enemy submarines. There were also gun placements, which were places where large guns were set up to defend the coast. The UBC campus itself was a military base called CFB Point Grey during the war.
Today, you can still see the ruins of these old watchtowers. The gun emplacements have been made part of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, which is a museum on the university campus. This shows how the area played a role in protecting Canada.
How Point Grey Got Its Name
The name Point Grey is often used to refer to the nearby Vancouver neighbourhood of West Point Grey. The name was given by Captain George Vancouver, a British explorer. He named it after his friend, Captain George Grey.
However, the Spaniards had explored the area a year before Captain Vancouver. They had named this land "Punta de Langara." They chose this name to honour Admiral Don Juan de Langara, a Spanish admiral. So, Point Grey has two historical names, one from the British and one from the Spanish.
