Oakridge

Oakridge is a bustling area—a mix of residential neighbourhoods, a busy shopping mall, and Langara College. For almost a century, Langara Golf Course has drawn golfers to the area. Oakridge is in south-central Vancouver, south of the gorgeous VanDusen Botanical Gardens.

As a relatively young community, Oakridge is constantly evolving and growing in terms of its features and makeup. The Oakridge Centre mall – Vancouver’s first shopping centre – is perhaps the largest draw bringing people into the neighbourhood. Langara College, which delivers a number of educational services to more than 23,000 students, is also located in Oakridge on West 49th east of Cambie.

Oakridge has expanded even more with the construction of the Canada Line along Cambie Street, which was completed in August 2009. Two stations, Oakridge – 41st Avenue Station and Langara – 49th Avenue Station, lie within Oakridge.

The city is conducting a “master planning” process for the Oakridge Centre area, potentially increasing retail, residential, commercial, office and community uses on the site.

Neighbourhood history and heritage
Although neighbouring Marpole and Kerrisdale experienced steady growth between 1908 and 1929, the community of Oakridge remained in its natural state until the early 1950s, when the CPR developed its land holdings for residential and commercial use.