Elsje Point, Cape and peninsula in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Elsje Point is a small cape and peninsula on the coast of British Columbia, sitting at the end of the Vancouver Maritime Museum's breakwater in Vancouver. From there, you can see the harbor, English Bay, and the city skyline on one side, with open water on the other.
The area around Elsje Point has been home to Indigenous peoples such as the Musqueam and Squamish for many generations, who fished and lived along these shores. In the 1800s, settlers arrived at Burrard Inlet and built sawmills and communities that became the foundation of modern Vancouver.
Elsje Point was named after Elsje de Ridder Armstrong, a woman connected to Vancouver's music scene whose father played in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Her link to the arts gives this small headland a story that goes well beyond its modest size.
Elsje Point is easy to reach on foot from the Vancouver Maritime Museum area and requires no special equipment. Wearing sturdy shoes is a good idea, as the breakwater path can be uneven underfoot.
The point carries the maiden name of Elsje de Ridder, who was otherwise known as Mrs. W.M. Armstrong, which is why many visitors do not immediately connect the name to a real person. It is rare for a geographic feature to preserve a woman's birth name so directly.
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