Metro Vancouver neighbourhoods if they were local wildlife

Various Artists/Shutterstock

Even though all 24 constituents of Metro Vancouver are connected, each one is very different and has its own distinct flair.

Using information from Hinterland Who’s Who and our own local knowledge of Metro Vancouver, we matched the character of each Metro Vancouver municipality to local wildlife.

You might also like:

1. Village of Anmore – Elk

Harry Collins Photography/Shutterstock

People in the sweet, rural community of Anmore Village have plenty of space to roam. The elk, which is basically a massive deer, fits the gentle giant vibes.

2. Village of Belcarra – Beaver

P Harstela/Shutterstock

Because Belcarra is so connected to the waters of the Indian Arm, the beaver is a good fit because it’s a graceful swimmer.

3. Bowen Island Municipality – Sea Otter

Tom Middleton/Shutterstock

Because it “rarely ever comes to land,” the sea otter is definitely Bowen Island, where people live pretty separated geographically from the rest of Metro Vancouver.

4. City of Burnaby – Mandarin Duck

Johnsean/Shutterstock

Perhaps not local wildlife, no other animal causes such commotion as the Mandarin Duck that’s been routinely spotted in the waters of Burnaby. This “look at me” flair of the duck is just like Burnaby, which is towering behind Vancouver like a shadow city, waiting to take the limelight.

5. City of Coquitlam – Blue Jay

Brian E Kushner/Shutterstock

The beautiful Blue Jay is the perfect local wildlife to represent Coquitlam because you’re likely to hear it before you see it.

6. City of Delta – Great Blue Heron

Joseph Scott Photography/Shutterstock

Every now and then, Vancouverites walk the seawall and are stopped in their tracks by the sight of a Great Blue Heron. “I forgot they lived here,” you might think, which is why it is a fit for Delta.

7. Electoral Area A – Wolf

Jim Cumming/Shutterstock

Electoral Area A is made up of all the wildest parts of Metro Vancouver that don’t quite fit into the rest of the municipalities, standing out like a lone wolf.

8. City of Langley – Loon

Harry Collins Photography/Shutterstock

Loons often carry their young on their backs, which reminds us how the City of Langley has become a haven for Metro Vancouverites who want to have a family and have to move further from the centre of Vancouver to find more spacious and affordable housing.

9. Township of Langley – Mallard Duck

Thorsten Spoerlein/Shutterstock

Langley is so varied. It has folksy rural areas and suburban centres. This dual nature reminds us of how different the female and male mallard ducks look with their unique colouring.

10. Village of Lions Bay – Orca

Tory Kallman/Shutterstock

Lions Bay along the ocean is best represented by a graceful Orca whale because of its connection to the sea. Also, because Lions Bay can be insular, it matches with an Orca, which might eat you if it got the chance.

11. City of Maple Ridge – Cougar

Georgia Evans/Shutterstock

By the time you’ve moved to Maple Ridge in search of affordable housing, your back is up against the wall of forest just beyond. That makes you fierce, like a cougar.

12. City of New Westminster – Striped Skunk

Geoffrey Kuchera/Shutterstock

According to Hinterland Who’s Who, the skunk “produces an odour that is strong enough to be carried almost 1 km on the wind.” But at least it’s cute, like New Westminster is with its Quay and historic downtown.

13. City of North Vancouver – Porcupine

Warren Metcalf/Shutterstock

The prickly porcupine keeps you away with its layer of quills, just like how the bridge traffic and Seabus delays keep most Vancouverites from journeying to the North Shore.

14. District of North Vancouver – Black bear

Tom Middleton/Shutterstock

If you live in the District of North Vancouver, you’re likely to run into a black bear as often as he runs through your trash can.

15. City of Pitt Meadows – White Tailed Deer

metro-vancouver-wildlife

Pitt Meadows is a great community for raising a family because it’s relatively safe and quiet. So it fits with the deer, who can safely leave their babies unattended for hours while they play.

16. City of Port Coquitlam – Red fox

Sandra Standbridge/Shutterstock

How is the city of Port Coquitlam like a red fox? It’s not a riddle, but the intelligent and playful nature of the fox reminds us of Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West and his quick wit on Twitter.

17. City of Port Moody – Raccoon

MarclSchauer/Shutterstock

The general hell-raising nature of the quirky raccoon fits Port Moody, where you could go for a hike, vibe on Brewer’s Row, or go wilding for trash through the alleyways.

18. City of Richmond – Rabbit

Ultraskrip/Shutterstock

Rabbits fit with Richmond because not only do you see them everywhere but Richmond also has condo towers multiplying faster than rabbits all along the Canada Line.

19. City of Surrey – Chipmunk

George Schmiesing/Shutterstock

The way a chipmunk can fit so many nuts in its mouth reminds us of how many different personalities Surrey has.

20. Tsawwassen First Nation – Canada Goose

Adrian Eugen Ciobaniuc/Shutterstock

Families from all over Metro Vancouver go to hit up the mall, water slides, and take the ferry. And if you’ve ever seen geese parents crossing the road with a lot of entitlement, then you’ll understand why Tsawassen is a good fit for these birds.

21. City of Vancouver – Coyote

Ian Dewar Photography/Shutterstock

We resisted the urge to crown a rat or a pigeon as the Vancouver wildlife representative, but considering all the Stanley Park coyote drama in recent years, this has to be the fit.

23. District of West Vancouver – Bald eagle

Chris Hill/Shutterstock

Since West Vancouver has such a bird’s-eye view of the rest of Metro Vancouver, it’s fitting that the powerful Bald Eagle represents the district.

24. City of White Rock – Northern Giant Pacific Octopus

pr2is/Shutterstock

Imagine an unbothered, intelligent octopus meandering its way along the ocean floor. Now, do you see how it’s a good fit for White Rock, full of folks meandering the seashore and the pier?

Did we get each Metro Vancouver municipality right? Let us know in the comments.