Anmore, British Columbia, is a charming village nestled in the heart of Metro Vancouver, Canada. Located north of Port Moody and along the shores of the Indian Arm, Anmore is one of three politically independent village municipalities in the Greater Vancouver area. The other two are its neighbour, Belcarra, and Lions Bay.
The name "Anmore" has a unique origin story. A local homesteader, F. J. Lancaster, combined the names of his wife, Annie, and his daughter, Leonore, to create "Annore." Over time, this evolved into the village's current name, Anmore.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Anmore had a population of 2,356 living in 744 of its 768 total private dwellings. This was a 6.6% increase from its 2016 population of 2,210. With a land area of 27.53 km2 (10.63 sq mi), Anmore had a population density of 85.6/km2 (221.6/sq mi) in 2021.
Anmore is home to the Buntzen Lake recreation area, a popular tourist destination known for its two beaches and a network of hiking and biking trails that surround the lake. Managed by BC Hydro, the lake powers two hydroelectric stations located on Indian Arm.
In 1978, a plan proposed for the village to have 15,000 residents by 1988. However, the residents vocally opposed this plan, insisting on preserving their "semi-rural" goal. In a 2002 referendum, 70% of Anmore citizens voted in favour of maintaining the existing RS-1 zoning (1-acre lot size), with 77% voting against half-acre zoning.
Anmore's transportation network is primarily made up of two main streets, both of which terminate at Port Moody. Sunnyside Road runs primarily north–south from the near sea-level western entrance of the village to the entrance of Buntzen Lake at the northern end of the village. East Road enters Anmore from Heritage Mountain and runs primarily north–south until about the 4-kilometre (2.5 mi) mark, where it turns and runs east–west until its termination at Sunnyside Road.
As part of Metro Vancouver, Anmore is connected to the TransLink public transit system. The 182 Community Shuttle bus serves the village, running down both major streets, Sunnyside Road and East Road. During the summer, the 179 service from Coquitlam Central Station provides additional service to Buntzen Lake.
