Walking Tours | Summer 2025

Registration opens May 1st at 10am!

Get your walking shoes ready - our summer walking tours are back! From May to September, join us on a stroll around Vancouver's historic neighbourhoods with our beloved walking tour guides.  Historian John Atkin will explore various neighborhoods, in his series, "Walking the Line", he will speak about the old BC Electric interurban Central Park line. Rob Howatson will focus on South Vancouver with points of interest in Sunsets Sunny Slope, Downtown South Vancouver, and the River District.

Please Note: This year we've modified the tour schedule to avoid afternoon tours, ensuring a more comfortable experience for everyone. By avoiding the intense afternoon heat, we aim to prevent the risk of heat exhaustion and enhance your overall tour experience.

• Rob Howatson will run his tours on Saturday Mornings at 10am -12pm 
• John Atkin will run his tours Saturday Mornings at 10am -12pm and Wednesday Evenings 6pm-8pm.

Details:

• Walking Tours will take place rain or shine on select days, May through September. Each tour will be two (2) +/- hours long and may take a one-way or circular route.
• There is a maximum capacity of 20 people per tour and need 10 registrants to run. Registration is required in advance for all walking tours and ID must match the ticket. Unregistered people will not be permitted to join on the tour date. Do not seek out the group on the tour day in hopes of joining as this will disrupt the tour; if you are not able to attend your tour, due to liability reasons an unregistered replacement showing up in your place will not be accepted.
• Tours take place in public spaces through Vancouver, BC. Participants will encounter a variety of terrain including uncontrolled road crossings, gravel, stairs, slopes, etc. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at mail@vancouverheritagefoundation.org.
• For the comfort and safety of all participants, service animals are the only pets allowed on walking tours.
• While tours are geared towards an adult audience, children are welcome to attend. Infants and toddlers in a carrier or stroller do not require a ticket. Children 6 years and older must be able to walk the entire duration of the tour and require their own ticket. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at mail@vancouverheritagefoundation.org.
• Washrooms will not be available on the tour.
• Further details, including start and finish points, will be provided to registered participants.
• Tickets will be available for purchase until 5pm the day before each tour.
• Please email katherine@vancouverheritagefoundation.org to join waitlists for specific tour dates. Enter your email address through the 'Join waiting list' button on this page to be added to the general list for all tours. 

May 17th | Exploring Kensington Cedar Cottage with John Atkin

(Sold Out!) In partnership with the Kensington Cedar Cottage Community Centre, please join John Atkin as he explores the Kensington Cedar Cottage Neighborhood. 

Can't make it on the 17th? The Kensington Cedar Cottage Community Centre is running the same tour on May 10th and there is still space available. Click here for more information.

Wednesday, May 28th and Saturday, May 31st | Walking the Line: Epworth with John Atkin      

From 1891 to 1954, the BC Electric interurban Central Park Line ran between New Westminster and Vancouver. It served the populations of Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster as they moved from place to Place. At its peak the Central Park Line operated with 16 Stations. Following some of those stations from west to east, this set of walks will be exploring the history, heritage and legacy of BC Electric interurban Central Park line.  This tour will explore the area around the Epworth Station.

Wednesday, June 11th and Saturday, June 14th | Walking the Line: Cedar-Cottage with John Atkin

From 1891 to 1954, the BC Electric interurban Central Park Line ran between New Westminster and Vancouver. It served the populations of Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster as they moved from place to Place. At its peak the Central Park Line operated with 16 Stations. Following some of those stations from west to east, this set of walks will be exploring the history, heritage and legacy of BC Electric interurban Central Park line. This tour will explore the area around the Cedar-Cottage Station.

Saturday, June 28th | Sunset's Sunny Slope with Rob Howatson

As the hill steepens, the neighbourhood lore deepens. Join native South Vancouverite Rob Howatson for a stroll around Lower Sunset, where quiet residential streets meet the noisy bustle of the city’s largest industrial area. See where South Van’s first school once stood and walk among the site’s current structures: Sunset’s first condo towers. Up the hill, the school’s successor, Walter Moberly Elementary, shows its checkered history through a mish mash of renovations and extensions. Hear about the struggles to create early neighbourhood halls, walk the old stream paths and follow Khalsa Diwan Road down to the Gurdwara that helped transform the slope into an Indo-Canadian settlement.

Wednesday, June 25th | Walking the Line: Lakeview with John Atkin

From 1891 to 1954, the BC Electric interurban Central Park Line ran between New Westminster and Vancouver. It served the populations of Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster as they moved from place to Place. At its peak the Central Park Line operated with 16 Stations. Following some of those stations from west to east, this set of walks will be exploring the history, heritage and legacy of BC Electric interurban Central Park line. This tour will explore the area around the Lakeview Station.

Saturday, July 5th | Walking the Line: Gladstone with John Atkin

SOLD OUT ! From 1891 to 1954, the BC Electric interurban Central Park Line ran between New Westminster and Vancouver. It served the populations of Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster as they moved from place to Place. At its peak the Central Park Line operated with 16 Stations. Following some of those stations from west to east, this set of walks will be exploring the history, heritage and legacy of BC Electric interurban Central Park line. This tour will explore the area around the Gladstone Station.

Wednesday, July 9th and Saturday, July 12th | Walking the Line: Nanaimo Road with John Atkin

From 1891 to 1954, the BC Electric interurban Central Park Line ran between New Westminster and Vancouver. It served the populations of Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster as they moved from place to Place. At its peak the Central Park Line operated with 16 Stations. Following some of those stations from west to east, this set of walks will be exploring the history, heritage and legacy of BC Electric interurban Central Park line. This tour will explore the area around the Nanaimo Road Station.

Saturday, July 19th and July 26th | Exploring Downtown South Vancouver with Rob Howatson

Fraser and 41st was the hub of the sprawling-yet-humble municipality of South Vancouver. Amalgamation demolished its city hall, but the stories live on through its biggest park, South Memorial; its first high school, John Oliver; and its eternal graveyard, Mountain View.

Saturday, August 9th and Saturday, August 23rd | Exploring Fraserview's Riverfront with Rob Howatson

Stroll the Fraser River’s edge, where a country music star was discovered, squatter shacks rode the tides and Captain House anchored his tragic but rewarding life. This tour covers the best parts of previously offered walking tours, 'Fraserview's Shifting Shores' and 'Grappling With The North Arm'.

Wednesday, August 13th and Saturday, August 16th | Walking the Line: Beaconsfield with John Atkin

From 1891 to 1954, the BC Electric interurban Central Park Line ran between New Westminster and Vancouver. It served the populations of Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster as they moved from place to Place. At its peak the Central Park Line operated with 16 Stations. Following some of those stations from west to east, this set of walks will be exploring the history, heritage and legacy of BC Electric interurban Central Park line. This tour will explore the area around the Beaconsfield Station.

Wednesday, September 3rd and Saturday, September 6th | Walking the Line: Earls Road with John Atkin

From 1891 to 1954, the BC Electric interurban Central Park Line ran between New Westminster and Vancouver. It served the populations of Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster as they moved from place to Place. At its peak the Central Park Line operated with 16 Stations. Following some of those stations from west to east, this set of walks will be exploring the history, heritage and legacy of BC Electric interurban Central Park line. This tour will explore the area around the Earls Road Station.

Wednesday, September 10th and Saturday, September 13th | Walking the Line: Collingwood West with John Atkin

From 1891 to 1954, the BC Electric interurban Central Park Line ran between New Westminster and Vancouver. It served the populations of Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster as they moved from place to Place. At its peak the Central Park Line operated with 16 Stations. Following some of those stations from west to east, this set of walks will be exploring the history, heritage and legacy of BC Electric interurban Central Park line. This tour will explore the area around the Collingwood West Station.

Wednesday, September 17th and Saturday, September 20th | Walking the Line: Collingwood East with John Atkin

From 1891 to 1954, the BC Electric interurban Central Park Line ran between New Westminster and Vancouver. It served the populations of Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster as they moved from place to Place. At its peak the Central Park Line operated with 16 Stations. Following some of those stations from west to east, this set of walks will be exploring the history, heritage and legacy of BC Electric interurban Central Park line. This tour will explore the area around the Collingwood East Station.

*Please email katherine@vancouverheritagefoundation.org to be added to the waiting list for specific tours*

John Atkin is a civic historian, author and heritage consultant. He offers an interesting and offbeat insight into the city’s architecture, history and neighbourhoods through a series of unique and popular walking tours. These combine his interests in urban planning and development, a love of architecture and a fascination for the curious. 

Rob Howatson is a writer, local history buff and lifelong South Van’er. He caught the heritage bug in 2007 when he discovered a time capsule hidden in the old Sunset Community Centre. (It contained rare Bing Crosby footage!) Rob also works for the City of Richmond at Steveston’s heritage sites.

PLEASE NOTE: For in-person events, we are unable to provide refunds or credits for cancellations received less than four (4) weeks prior to the event. For additional information on VHF's policies, please visit our Policies page prior to registering.

If you would like to make a donation in addition to your registration, the amount will be tax deductible and you will receive an official tax receipt for donations of $20 or more. Our Registered Charity number is 891765968.