VANCOUVER - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 54

When Europeans first settled Vancouver, Granville Island was nothing more than a sand-
bar, but tons of fill transformed it into an island. It soon became a center of industry (its
official name is Industrial Island), filled with factories and warehouses. Lacking space, city
officials at one point proposed to reclaim all of False Creek, but in the end only a small
section was filled—and Granville Island became joined to the mainland. By the end of the
1970s, the island and adjacent areas had become an industrial wasteland, so with a massive
injection of funds from the federal government, the entire waterfront got a facelift.
You can spend the better part of a day just walking around the island looking at the
marina, the many specialty businesses that reflect the island's maritime heritage, fresh food
markets, gift shops, restaurants, and theaters. The highlight is colorful Granville Island
Public Market (9am-6pm daily), a hub of activity from dawn to dusk and a lot more than
a tourist attraction. Inside the market you'll find all kinds of things to eat—fresh fruit and
vegetables, seafood from local waters, a wide variety of meats, specialty ingredients, and
prepared ready-to-go meals—as well as unique jewelry and crafts, potted plants, and cut
flowers.
boardwalk along the Public Market on Granville Island