Since the end of the last Ice Age, most of British Columbia has been inhabited by various Native American tribes, such as the Squamish, Coast Salish and Lil'Wat tribes residing in the region that is now Vancouver, Coast & Mountains. The first European to discover the area was Spanish explorer José Maria Narvaez; in 1791, he and his crew were the first to navigate the Strait of Georgia and the Fraser River.
One year after Narvaez's expedition, Capt. George Vancouver voyaged to and charted the waters of the present-day Burrard Inlet (that borders on the shores of Vancouver). In 1808, Simon Fraser reached the inner mouth of the Fraser River, landing in a Native village called Musqueam. Around 20 years after Fraser's journey, the Hudson's Bay Company established their first post in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region: Fort Langley, situated on the Fraser River, east of present-day Vancouver.
In the 1850s, the Fraser River gold rush brought many miners, merchants and other individuals to the area. During this time, transportation along the river was essential. To further facilitate these voyages, many towns were founded along the shores of the Fraser River.
In the 1880s, the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway provided an additional amount of transportation for people living in the region; it gave them the opportunity to connect with the rest of the country they had joined in 1871. During this time, the town of Granville was renamed Vancouver. The main purpose of the city was to be a transportation hub. This role ensured its prosperity in social and economic wealth in British Columbia.
In 1986, Vancouver hosted the World Exposition, marking its 100th year running. This "birthday party" of sorts had a transportation and communication theme, recognizing Vancouver's responsibility as a Canadian transportation area. In 2003, Vancouver was chosen to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, awarding the Canadian region with further recognition for its importance in British Columbia, Canada and the world.
