vancouverThe North Shore is Vancouver with the mountains pulled closer. North and West Vancouver sit across Burrard Inlet, a short SeaBus ride from downtown, with trailheads, forest and ocean a few minutes from almost any front door.
Life here leans outdoors. Grouse, Seymour and Cypress are right there, and Lynn Canyon and Deep Cove are local walks rather than day trips. A lot of North Shore social life starts on a trail and ends at a coffee shop.
It is quieter and more spread out than the city side, with more families and fewer late nights. That makes recurring groups matter more, not less. When you can't bump into people on a dense block, a weekly club is how you keep seeing the same faces.
Lonsdale is the closest thing to a main street, and Lonsdale Quay is where the SeaBus lands. If you live here, check the North Shore groups first. If you don't, most of them are one boat ride away.
Communities in North Vancouver
12 groups in the directory meet or are based around North Vancouver — here they are, by category.
Yoga & Wellness
- Lululemon Summer Yoga Series — FREE outdoor yoga classes
Hiking & Outdoors
- North Vancouver Outdoors Club — Hike, cycle, snowshoe, ski, urban walks, backpacking. Established, carries liability insurance
- North Van Hiking — Transit-accessible hikes
Chess
- North Shore Chess Club — Weekly chess meetups on the North Shore. Welcoming to all skill levels
Board Games
- Good Game - North Vancouver — Board gaming meetup with modern games provided. Inclusive, fun
- Mench Café — Board gaming & cyber café
Climbing
- Van Queer Climbers — LGBTQ+ climbing meetups
- Project Climbing — Bouldering gym with community focus
Writing
- North Shore Writers' Association — Fellowship of writers at all stages. Non-profit, teaching and community
Pickleball
- North Shore Pickleball Club — Active pickleball community on the North Shore. All skill levels, regular play sessions, non-profit society
- North Shore Winter Club Pickleball — Socials Monday and Wednesday evenings
- Ambleside Park Courts (West Van) — Four new courts opened September 2024. Outdoor play, scenic location
Ready to show up?
The whole point of this directory is that the next step is small: pick one, note the day, and go. If nothing here fits, North Vancouver is close enough to the rest of the city that you can browse every category and find something a short ride away.
New to Vancouver? Start with the most welcoming groups, or read how to make friends in Vancouver — the short version is: pick something recurring and go three times.
More neighbourhoods: Kitsilano · East Vancouver · Mount Pleasant · Downtown Vancouver