North Van’s Historic Cement Plant Evans, Coleman and Evan
One of North Vancouver’s most significant industrial legacies lies in the cement plant once operated by Evans, Coleman and Evans, a company that became one of the largest businesses along Burrard Inlet. Established in 1958, the cement plant at 231 Esplanade was strategically located with the CN Rail passing directly through the site, linking it to various other industrial landmarks in the region, including Horne’s Shingle Mill and the Indigenous village of Eslha7an.
Evans, Coleman and Evans made its mark as a key player in the region’s industrialisation by producing both fuel and cement, serving the growing demand of the mid-20th century. The company also operated a dock in Vancouver at the foot of Columbia Street, facilitating the transportation of goods and cement from the plant to other areas. However, as time passed, the industrial landscape of the region began to shift. In the late 1960s, Ocean Cement Company acquired Evans, Coleman and Evans, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the cement business in Vancouver. By the 1980s, the once-vibrant plant was no more, as the waterfront lots were filled in by the city to make way for the creation of Waterfront Park, a popular green space in North Vancouver.
Today, remnants of the plant’s industrial presence have faded into history, replaced by the park’s natural beauty and recreational spaces. Yet, the legacy of Evans, Coleman and Evans still lingers, a testament to the industrial roots that shaped North Vancouver’s development over the years.
