View source for Commercial Drive

{{Short description|Roadway in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada}}
{{Infobox street
| name                    = Commercial Drive
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| image                   = 1st & Commercial.jpg
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| caption                 = East 1st Avenue & Commercial Drive during the Italian Days festival (June 2019).
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| type                    = [[Street]]
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| length_km               = 3.4
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| length_ref              = <ref name="gmaps">{{google maps |title=Commercial Drive (Vancouver) |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2612863,-123.0454555,13z |access-date=August 25, 2021}}</ref>
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| location                = [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]
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| direction_a             = South
| terminus_a              = Victoria Diversion
| direction_b             = North
| terminus_b              = Powell Street
| junction                = [[Broadway (Vancouver)|Broadway]]<br/>[[Hastings Street (Vancouver)|Hastings Street]]
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| website                 = {{URL|thedrive.ca/}}
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[[File:Drive_Days,_Commercial_Drive,Vancouver,_BC,_Jun_2008.jpg|thumb|alt=Car-Free Day Festival|[https://web.archive.org/web/20130720221254/http://www.thedrive.ca/event/drive-festival Car-Free Day Festival] on The Drive, June 2008.]]

'''Commercial Drive''' is a roadway in the city of [[Vancouver]] in [[British Columbia]], Canada, that extends from Powell Street at its northern extremity, near the [[Burrard Inlet|waterfront]], south through the heart of the [[Grandview–Woodland]] neighbourhood to the Victoria Diversion near [[John Hendry Park|Trout Lake]]. The neighbourhood is so dominated by the businesses, cultural facilities, and residents along Commercial Drive that the area is far better known as "The Drive" than by the civic boundaries. The district is one of Vancouver's [[Business Improvement District|Business Improvement Areas (BIA)]].

The district is served by many different bus routes, as well as both the [[SkyTrain (Vancouver)|SkyTrain]]'s [[Expo Line (TransLink)|Expo Line]] and [[Millennium Line]] at [[Commercial–Broadway Station]].

Commercial Drive is a mixed residential-commercial area with a high proportion of ethnic and vegetarian restaurants, businesses, and [[public housing]]. The area has low property prices compared to the westside of Vancouver, yet has good city services and is a local transit hub. It has been the destination for generations of immigrants to Vancouver and has significant Italian, Asian, [[Latin America]], [[Indies|East Indian]], and African communities. As of the [[Canada 2001 Census]], English is a minority language in Grandview-Woodland, though still the most common.

Commercial Drive has many local ethnic stores and community groups, [[Edwardian]]-style heritage buildings, European-style cafes, bars, and [[alternative culture|alternative]] shops and entertainment venues. As of late August 2007, there are 93 restaurants on Commercial Drive between Venables and Broadway, of which 19 are coffee bars.

It is home to an active street festival culture; notable annual events include the Vancouver [[Dyke March]] in August and the [[Parade of Lost Souls]] in October. It also plays host to Vancouver's only queer spoken word and musician performance night, Unsweetened (and Outspoken).

==History==
The Drive was originally a skid road for dragging logs to the harbour. It was named "Park Drive" but renamed "Commercial Drive" in 1911, possibly to avoid confusion with other Park Drives in Vancouver. Commercial Drive ends in the south at 16th Avenue,
the former end of Vancouver/start of City of South Vancouver, when it diverts to Victoria Diversion and eventually Victoria Drive. A limited light industrial Commercial Street carries on to 22nd Avenue, and around the Selkirk school there, until 54th Avenue as a residential street.

During the pre-World War One period, a number of speculators—including McSpadden and Odlum (both of whom have nearby streets named for them) -- attempted to turn the Grandview neighbourhood, centered on the Drive, into a real estate area comparable to the West End and the newly opened Shaughnessy Heights. The global financial collapse around 1913 put an end to their hopes.

After [[World War II]] many Italian immigrants settled in eastern Vancouver, and the northern part of Commercial Drive came to be known as "[[Little Italy, Vancouver|Little Italy]]". A sizable Portuguese community came to the area as well. During the 1960s, immigration from Asian countries began to dilute the European influence. A wave of Latino immigrants came in the 1980s as a result of the turmoil and civil wars in Central America. Many came from the Mercosur Republics of South America as well. Vietnamese nationals also immigrated here.

Throughout the 1980s, The Drive attracted a large [[counter-culture]] demographic, including political activists and [[Punk subculture|punks]]. Around the turn of the millennium, local outlets of multi-national companies became the target of the [[anti-globalization movement]] and [[civil disobedience]] campaigns. [[SkyTrain (Vancouver)|SkyTrain]] opened into the neighbourhood with [[Commercial–Broadway Station|Broadway Station]] in December 1985. Increasing real estate prices near the downtown (e.g. [[Downtown Eastside]]) pushed many lower-income residents east toward Commercial Drive. Meanwhile, [[gentrification]] began to occur in the vicinity of the Drive, increasing housing prices, and driving housing development and new storefronts replacing old wood-frame stores.

In 2002, many restaurant owners were upset with the infamous "dancing police"; [[bylaw enforcement officer]]s who ticketed establishments hosting any dancing to live music. In late 2004, Commercial Drive gained national notoriety when the media complained that several cafes there were openly selling [[cannabis (drug)|marijuana]]. As of 2005, there are still very few large retail or restaurant chains on Commercial Drive. The Da Kine, an Amsterdam-style cafe, was raided by police and owner Carol Gwilt charged with trafficking.<ref>[https://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4029.html Vancouver pot shop reopens after raid<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530001052/http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4029.html |date=2008-05-30 }}</ref> She was eventually sentenced to prison.<ref>[https://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4814.html Activist and medical marijuana exemptee Carol Gwilt given 17-month jail sentence<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061024022054/http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4814.html |date=2006-10-24 }}</ref> The issue has publicised the city's lack of enforcement of Canadian drug laws, and demonstrated a commitment to its stated [https://www.vancouver.ca/fourpillars/ "Four Pillars"] drug strategy.

In early summer 2005, Commercial Drive hosted its first [https://web.archive.org/web/20090726221220/http://www.thedrive.ca/eventdrivefest.shtm car-free festival], in which 16 blocks were cleared of all vehicles and tens of thousands of people celebrated with walks, dancing, and food. The festival has since become an annual event, expanding to other parts of the city in 2008.

Today Commercial Drive is a multicultural and urban area.

== Events ==

=== Car Free Day Festival ===
Commercial Drive held the first [[Car Free Day Vancouver|Car Free Day]] celebration in 2005. Beginning in 2008, Car free days expanded to the [[West End, Vancouver|West End]], [[Main Street (Vancouver)|Main Street]], [[Kitsilano]], and [[North Vancouver (city)|North Vancouver]] (North Van). These celebrations aim to showcase the diversity and culture of local neighbourhoods, and increase [[Pedestrian|foot traffic]] and [[sustainability]] within the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carfreevancouver.org|title=Car Free Day Vancouver|website=Vancouver Car Free Day}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Car Free Days |url=https://www.carfree.ca/city/vancouver |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.carfree.ca}}</ref>

On Commercial Drive, Car Free day is held in early July, where the City blocks off Commercial Drive from [[Venables Street vancouver|Venables Street]] to [[Grandview Highway]]. The festival showcases local artisans, musicians, and activities. Local businesses are invited to move their production outside to the sidewalk and street for the day, creating outdoor spaces for eating and shopping. Since the festival's beginnings, it has become increasingly popular every year, bringing in more foot traffic as well as increasing numbers of local vendors and artisans.

=== Italian Days ===
Italian day is a day of celebration of Commercial Drive's Italian roots and the Italian influences that have fostered the neighbourhood's growth over the years. Beginning in the early 1940s, when large numbers of Italians immigrated to the area, street festivals were often held by the community for general celebrations of Italian culture. The last festival before the modern revitalization of the celebration was held in 1982 when Italy won the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] for the first time since 1938.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://italianday.ca|title=About Italian Day|website=Italian day on the drive|access-date=April 16, 2017}}</ref>

The festival was rejuvenated in 2010 and has run every year since, bringing in businesses and foot-traffic. Italian Day is the largest one day cultural festival in Vancouver,<ref name=":0" /> bringing in an increasing attendance every year. The festival continues to celebrate Commercial Drive's Italian roots today, and does so by engaging local vendors, merchants, restaurant patios, stages with live music and theatre, street performances, activities and displays.<ref name=":0" />

==Major intersections==
{{BCinttop|length_ref=<ref name="gmaps"/>|indep_city=Vancouver}}
{{Jctint
|km=-1.1
|mspan=2
|road=Victoria Drive
|notes=Roadway continues south as Victoria Drive
}}
{{Jctint
|km=none
|road=[[Kingsway (Vancouver)|Kingsway]]
|notes=Former {{Jct|province=BC|Hwy|1A|Hwy|99A|noshield=yes}}
}}
{{BCint
|type=trans
|km=-0.2
|road=Victoria Drive
|notes=Victoria Drive branches north; becomes '''Victoria Diversion'''
}}
{{BCint
|type=trans
|km=0.0
|road=E 18th Avenue, Findlay Street
|notes=Becomes '''Commercial Drive'''
}}
{{BCint
|km=0.6
|road=E 12th Avenue (to South Grandview Highway)
|notes=
}}
{{BCint
|km=0.9
|road={{Jctname|province=BC|Hwy|7|name1=[[Broadway (Vancouver)|E Broadway]]}}
|notes={{rail-interchange|vancouver|expo|size=16}}{{rail-interchange|vancouver|millennium|size=16}}&nbsp;[[Commercial–Broadway station]]
}}
{{BCint
|km=1.7
|road=E 1st Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{BCint
|km=3.0
|road=[[Hastings Street (Vancouver)|E Hastings Street]]
|notes=Former {{Jct|province=BC|Hwy|7A|noshield=yes}}
}}
{{BCint
|km=3.3
|road=Powell Street
|notes=
}}
{{BCint
|km=3.4
|road=''dead end''
|notes=
}}
{{Jctbtm|keys=trans}}
{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Vancouver/Commercial Dr-Hastings Park|Commercial Drive & Hastings Park}}
{{commons category|Commercial Drive, Vancouver}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040925181458/http://commercial-drive.com/ Commercial Drive Neighbourhood]
* [https://www.thedrive.ca/ Commercial Drive Business Association]
* [https://vancouver.ca/community_profiles/grandview_woodland/ Grandview Woodlands community]
* [https://www.vancouverdykemarch.com Vancouver Dyke March]
* [https://www.dustyflowerpotcabaret.com Parade of Lost Souls]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080724024706/http://www.edible-britishcolumbia.com/marketexperience/index.php Edible British Columbia Guided Tours of Commercial Drive]

{{Streets in Vancouver}}
{{VancouverNeighbourhoods}}
{{Vancouver landmarks}}

[[Category:Shopping districts and streets in Canada]]
[[Category:Streets in Vancouver]]