North Vancouver is really two municipalities: the compact City of North Vancouver around Lonsdale Avenue and the waterfront, and the much larger District that surrounds it on three sides, from Deep Cove to the Capilano River. The SeaBus links Lonsdale Quay with downtown Vancouver, which makes the area home to many people who work across the water.
The waterfront has a long industrial history. Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards still build vessels in the City, and the Shipyards district around the old yards is now a public space surrounded by restaurants and shops. Film and television studios operate on the North Shore, and Capilano University’s main campus is in the District.
Then there are the mountains. Grouse Mountain, Lynn Canyon, Mount Seymour and Deep Cove draw visitors year-round, supporting a cluster of tour, rental, guiding and hospitality businesses that live or die on online bookings and quick answers to visitor questions.