Renfrew Heights, Vancouver Eastside | Neighbourhood Profile

Renfrew Heights is a pleasant, middle class community of primarily residential homes on Vancouver’s east side and conveniently located near the Burnaby border. With the construction of two Skytrain rapid transit lines through the neighbourhood since the 1980s, families from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds moved to Renfrew Heights for its more afforable homes, townhouses and condos. Sunny Hill Health Centre on Slocan, as part of BC Children’s Hospital, provides specialized development and rehabilitation services for children, youth and their families.

Schools

Renfrew Heights has five schools in its catchment area as part of the Vancouver School Board including Renfrew, Renfrew Annex, Lord Beaconsfield & Nootka Elementary, and Windermere Secondary as the main high school in the community with grades 8 – 12. In addition, there are three independent private schools in the neighbourhood.

Location

Renfrew Heights located on the Burnaby border has Grandview Highway to the north, 29th Avenue to the south, Nanaimo Street to the west and Boundary Road to the east.

Housing

With a combination of older and now newer single family homes and a smaller mix of condominiums and apartments, Renfrew Heights is predominantly a residential sector in East Van with numerous examples of Mid Century Venerable design and the ubiquitous Vancouver Special. More buyers than ever are moving their families to the Renfrew Heights area, as detached affordability in the city is more prominent than ever. A neighbourhood landmark can be found at the corner of Dieppe and Normandy Drive, home of the original Renfrew Heights Housing Project for War Veterans that took place during the 1940s. A hillside in the community was cleared to make way for the first of hundreds of look-alike bungalows constructed for returning troops of WWll. Today, many of the original homes are still standing.

Recreation

For outdoor enthusiasts, Renfrew Heights is home to Still Creek, the longest of the few visible creeks remaining in Vancouver, running through both Renfrew Ravine and Renfrew Community Park. Other parks of note in the neighbourhood for dog walking or playgrounds include Falaise and Beaconsfield Park. Renfrew Park Community Centre features a games room, computer lab, multi-purpose rooms, swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna, whirlpool and newer library.

Shopping & Restaurants

Major shopping for residents of Renfrew Heights can be found at Grandview Highway to the north with a Real Canadian Superstore, Canadian Tire, Save-on Foods and Walmart. South to Kingsway and there’s a Safeway and London Drugs. Fresh sushi, Chinese food, Vietnamese pho or good old fashioned burgers & onion rings can all be found along the Grandview Highway corridor.

Transportation

Offering a unique option for transit users in Renfrew Heights is super easy access to the 29th Avenue Skytrain Station at grade level, located on a historical right-of-way once used by the old British Columbia Electric Railway. Other transit options include Translink Bus Service along 29th Avenue to the south. The Grandview Highway quickly connects vehicles to Highway 1 with convenient access to Burnaby, Coquitlam and Surrey.