A Wild Place. A Gentle Place.

The Village of Britannia will never grow any larger than it is now. It’s quaint today, it will be quaint decades from now. There isn’t even a stoplight in this seven-acre town.

The Village of Britannia will be a point of pride for the community. Crafted in a well-connected location and linked to the neighbourhood by walkable and bikable trails, the Village includes a full-service grocery market with liquor store, a cafe, pub, and other food and beverage options, a series of unique retailers, community gathering space, daycare and last but not least, art gallery. This mix of amenities will fill the big city needs of locals and visitors while feeling right at home in this special, small-scale setting.

  • This was the place where food was prepared and served to the mine workers, so what better location could there be for the new village Market? This important venue will have a variety of grocery items and pre-prepared meals for takeout, as well as being licensed to sell liquor. For Whistler bound traffic, this will be a perfect place to pick up weekend supplies.

  • The Dry was originally a place where the miners went to clean up after long shifts underground, leaving their wet clothing to dry there. It is now reimagined as a place to savour local beer and great casual food. This location right at the village entry provides the opportunity for a sunny terrace overlooking the ocean (part of which is covered). Two large glazed overhead doors create complete connectivity between the indoor and outdoor terrace spaces.

  • Originally a bunkhouse for Britannia miners, the York has 3 commercial spaces on the ground floor along with 4 rental residential units above. These retail spaces are ideal for smaller, unique businesses like ice cream and chocolates or other artisanal offerings. All the storefronts are sheltered under a porch running the entire length of the building.

  • Designed to accommodate three separate casual dining options, the School features seating that opens onto a large sunny terrace with jaw-dropping views across Howe Sound. It truly is the heart of the village, and is the only building that remains exactly in its original location.

  • Once home to live performances and screenings from the very early days of film, The Theatre is one of the earliest buildings at Britannia (approximately 107 years old). The retail space retains the original wood vaulted ceiling for a dramatic character space.

  • This building was the original community centre at Britannia, a use that will remain on the upper floor. Once again, this will be a focus for community activities and events including such things as yoga classes and fundraisers for the Volunteer Fire Department. Two modestly sized retail opportunities exist on the ground level, along with the main Village washrooms, immediately adjacent to the bus parking area.

  • This building was historically a place where newly married couples could celebrate starting their new lives together. Its new life will be as a Daycare for up to 20 of Britannia Beach’s youngest residents. This building is located adjacent to the adventure playground and the Creekside trail for a variety of childhood adventures right outside the door.

  • Originally built with volunteer labour shortly after World War II, the Church sits in an iconic location where the copper roofed steeple lines up with the center of Main Street. Its arched windows and high vaulted ceiling with exposed structure create two completely unique spaces that would be ideal for a gallery or restaurant overlooking Britannia Creek.

  • A historic bunkhouse adapts to its new use as the “must visit” bakery and coffee venue in the Sea to Sky corridor. Its prime location right on Copper Drive speaks to its new role as a community hub – the historical covered porch is a perfect spot for enjoying a relaxing coffee and pastry while watching the world go by. Three rental units occupy the former bunk rooms on the upper floor – perfect for employee housing.

  • As the only new building in the Village, this structure is purpose built to accommodate garbage and recycling facilities as well as space for all the activities involved in operating a vital commercial village. A caretaker’s unit is located on the upper floor – having a person on site to manage all the maintenance tasks will make sure the overall appearance of the village is consistently at a high level.

Building upgrades

All buildings will be fully sprinklered, with insulation and building systems upgraded significantly. In order to retain the heritage value of the buildings, existing windows are for the most part retained. Wherever possible, the existing wood siding is being kept, including the patina introduced through many coats of paint over the decades. Extensive structural upgrades have been incorporated, including the installation of structural steel where necessary to comply with current seismic standards.

Retail Programming

A large percentage of the retail / commercial uses were programmed as part of the overall commercial masterplan, with particular emphasis on anchor tenants such as Market, Bakery / Coffee, Pub, and F+B venues. In order to maximize success for all businesses, it is critical to have complementary services while at the same time ensuring a minimum of overlap in uses. Macdonald Communities recognizes the importance of the commercial programming in building a successful village and is committed to working toward an optimal mix of uses.

Greenspace / park / Creekside trail / playground

Alongside Britannia Creek there is a pedestrian path and children’s playground adjacent to the Community garden. This is a perfect place for dog walking or leisurely strolls along the rushing creek, and parents will welcome the opportunity for little ones to blow off some steam here during a stop at Britannia.

EV charging stations

As part of the village redevelopment, 10 EV charging stations are incorporated into the parking area so visitors can accomplish a quick charge at the midpoint between Vancouver and Whistler. Specific provisions have been included for tour bus parking and charging as well.

Planning and Environmental Analysis

Because these buildings originally sat in the floodplain of Britannia Creek, one of the key challenges was to raise the entire site above the flood control level, at the same time capping any potential contaminants from the former mining activities. Groundwater monitoring will continue on this site for approximately the next 5 years, with reports being provided to the BC Ministry of Environment.

After the site filling, individual buildings were then moved from their historical locations and aggregated into what constitutes the new commercial plan. For each building, the structure was picked up and moved, prior to a new concrete foundation and basement being constructed. Upon completion of this foundation work, the building shell was lowered onto its new and upgraded structure.

As part of the rezoning approval with the Regional District, the masterplan incorporates 14 residential units that will be rented at 80% of market rate in perpetuity. The principle behind this idea is to provide affordable rental accommodation for workers in the Village businesses.