The Village of Belcarra, incorporated on August 22nd, 1979, is a rural residential community situated on the east side of Indian Arm (see map and arial photo below) in the Northeast Sector of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD), Belcarra is surrounded by mountains, forest (Regional Park) and a majestic deep-water fjord (Indian Arm). Belcarra is located 28 kilometers (18 miles) from downtown Vancouver, with a travel time by car of 45 minutes. Vancouver International Airport is within 35 kilometers (22 miles), with a travel time under 60 minutes.
Epitomizing the relaxed West Coast lifestyle, this well wooded residential community overlooks the magnificent North Shore mountains and the picturesque waters of Indian Arm (which includes Bedwell Bay, Belcarra Bay, Cosy Cove, Whiskey Cove, Farrer Cove & Twin Islands). Belcarra enjoys a superb natural setting providing residents and visitors alike with ample opportunity to enjoy a wide range of land and water-based recreational activities. The Village, in some respects, can be described an "island community" in that it is surrounded by either the waters of Indian Arm or the forests of Belcarra Regional Park.
The current population is 700, and has been growing steadily at a rate of about 4.5 percent per year since 1976. The population is expected to peak at approximately 800. Belcarra's residential development pattern roughly parallels its two main arterial roads: Bedwell Bay Road and Belcarra Bay Road (see road map). Most of this development is oriented to the water and mountain views and natural setting characteristic of the area, and the majority of dwellings are single family units. The prices of these dwellings are at the higher end of the GVRD residential market and reflects the spectacular setting and rural nature of the community. Belcarra is a friendly and cooperative community whose household incomes are amongst the highest of any municipality in the Vancouver region. On the other hand, property taxes are low compared with those in neighbouring municipalities. The Village Council is strongly committed to keeping public costs to a minimum and maintaining the unique rural setting of the municipality.
Conceived in the 1966 plan for Regional Parks on the Lower Mainland, Belcarra Regional Park ranked among the top few sites when compared to all existing and proposed regional recreation areas. Much of the park lies within the boundaries of the Village of Belcarra. Today, it is a major attraction for residents and visitors alike, offering a rare combination of ocean shore, inland lake and forested hills. Complete with the accessible and attractive public beaches, picnic areas, camp grounds and waterfront parking. The shore, wharves and floats at the Belcarra picnic grounds provide a staging area for the increasing number of recreational boaters travelling up the fjord-like waters of Indian Arm. Administered by the GVRD Parks Department, Belcarra Regional Park is one of the largest (twice the size of Stanley Park) and most visited parks (900,000 visitors in 1996) in the GVRD park system.
Belcarra is part of School District 43, with the nearest schools being Anmore Elementary School (located in the Village of Anmore), Moody Middle School (located in the City of Port Moody) and Gleneagle Secondary School (located in the City of Coquitlam), all being within fifteen minutes drive of the Village. A local shopping centre is situated at the intersection of Heritage Mountain Boulevard and Ioco Road in Port Moody, and the large regional shopping facility, Coquitlam Centre, is also within fifteen minutes drive. Hospital facilities are located at Eagle Ridge Hospital on Guildford Way in Port Moody and includes 24-hour emergency service.
The Village provides minimal services to its residents such as road maintenance and a garbage compactor and recycling depot. Water and sewer are the responsibility of individual property owners who are required to provide wells and septic tank disposal fields that meet the requirements of the local health authority (Fraser Health Authority of the BC Ministry of Health). Electricity is supplied by BC Hydro, telephone is supplied by Telus, and the area is also serviced by cable vision (Shaw) and natural gas (Terasen). Fire protection is provided by the Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) which is a function shared jointly with neighbouring Village of Anmore. Policing is provided by the RCMP Coquitlam Detachment, and Belcarra enjoys 100% participation in neighbourhood Block Watch.
Except for the Community Hall, the only recreational facility operated by the municipality is the tennis courts located near the head of Bedwell Bay. Both the Community & Recreation Association of Belcarra (CRAB) and the Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) are operated by community volunteers.
The following are annual CRAB activities held in Belcarra:
Belcarra Day (fair)
Halloween Party (kids)
Fall Barbecue
New Years Eve Dance
Belcarra Summer Program (Day Camp for children aged 6-12)
The goal of Belcarra Council is to maintain a high quality, rural residential environment with as little disturbance as possible to the rich, natural setting which makes this unique area one of the Lower Mainland's most desirable communities.
