All of these photos – chance encounters and random incidents – were taken in Vancouver. This post is about the people of Vancouver, but it is also about the city itself where the people live and play. This unique, vibrant, livable city is the setting; highlighted are the people who bring it to life. All are photos that didn’t fit neatly into any previous post, and I didn’t want them forever buried in the archives.

They reveal what catches my eye – it may be bright colours, or strong shadows, or something quirky, or a tableau of people who are unaware of their part in it; sometimes it’s the way the light falls, or exuberant activity, or a colourful background brought to life by the people passing by it. All of them are about who we are, the way we inhabit the world as we go about our lives, whether as travellers or locals. All of them are about my fascination with humanity – how alike we all are, and at the same time how unique we are. I find people endlessly interesting and entertaining, so hopefully these photos tell a story about the people that intrigued me.

I’ll begin with winter. Even though it’s still only the middle of October, looking out my window at the rain-filled clouds and the ever-diminishing yellow leaves on the trees, it’s hard to convince me winter is not already here.

The polar bear swim:
For some reason I will never understand, every year on January 1st  thousands plunge into the frigid waters of Vancouver Harbour. This past New Year’s Day we were at Jericho Beach, where the polar bears were fewer than can be found at English Bay but were just as harebrained and intrepid.








When winter finally does arrive in all its dark northern glory it will bring short days and icy sidewalks, snow and snow shovels.





We’ve done a fair bit of snowshoeing up at Mt Hollyburn, where there are dedicated snowshoe and cross-country ski trails. It’s about a forty-five minute drive from home depending on traffic. The snowshoe trails and the ski trails intersect in several places, and the mountain is always busy, even on a weekday. Canadians know how to do winter.








Spring brings the Cherry Blossom Festival which brings the crowds











and performers








to VanDusen Garden and David Lam Park.

False Creek is not a creek at all. It is a short narrow inlet from the much larger Burrard Inlet, and is south of the main harbour. It is surrounded on either side by up-market highrises, the hip Granville Island, and some foreshore parks. Two companies ferry people in tiny boats from side to side and end to end of this urban waterway. The captain collect fares





as they continue on their way negotiating other water traffic – ferries, stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, yachts, dragon boats,





and the always controversial live-aboard boats that are home to a community of travellers, artists, disheveled dreamers and self-described pirates. They usually don’t have anchoring permits, and the city knows it’s dealing with an ongoing problem of unauthorized anchoring. There’s this: responsibility is shared between the City, Transport Canada, the Coast Guard, and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, none of whom really care about the people who live aboard. It’s a mess of jurisdiction. And a fascinating, if challenging, life-style choice.








And now summer! Summer in the city is the best time of all. Summer here is magical.

Vancouver’s Seawall,







is the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path, a twenty-eight kilometre seaside greenway. Walking or cycling the seawall is one of the best ways to see the city,














or to hang in a hammock scrolling socials or listening to music.





On the long sunny days people flock to the many beaches – Spanish Banks, Locarno Beach, Jericho Beach, Kits Beach, and across the water there’s Sunset Beach, English Bay, and Second and Third Beaches. Our favourite is Jericho, though we avoid it on sunny weekends when parking can be impossible. Here’s why: everyone comes out to play.





















































Disclaimer: As a general rule, if a photographer is shooting in a public space, such as a street or a park, s/he will usually have the right to do so without the consent of the subjects. Generally speaking if it is in the public domain, you can take a picture of it. Photojournalism and street photography would not exist if permission to take the photo was required. If anyone objects of course I don’t take the photo, or if it’s already done I have them witness me deleting it. In some countries, eg India, people love to have their photo taken, and frequently request it. I always try to be discreet. Quite frequently it creates lovely interactions between myself and the subject. I have found it to be an overwhelmingly positive experience.



Vancouver is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.








All words and images by Alison Louise Armstrong unless otherwise noted
© Alison Louise Armstrong and Adventures in Wonderland – a pilgrimage of the heart, 2010-2024.