OnTheDrive.ca is a hyper-local directory for independent businesses that serve Commercial Drive and the Grandview-Woodland neighborhood.
I'm selective about what I include—not because I'm being snobby, but because we want to stay focused on what makes The Drive and the businesses in and around it special.
Here's how I decide if a business belongs in the directory.
The sweet spot for inclusion is Commercial Drive itself.
If you're on Commercial Drive between Hastings and Broadway, you're in.
This is where the heart of The Drive lives—the pedestrian energy, the neighborhood identity, the foot traffic that makes this place tick.
This is the primary focus.
Commercial Drive doesn't exist in isolation. The neighborhood extends in both directions.
To the West: I've includesd businesses as far as Clark Drive (roughly 3 blocks west).
To the East: There aren't too many businesses East of the Drive, it's mainly residential so there are only a few that have been listed out as far as Victoria.
Why these boundaries? Clark Drive marks the official edges of the Grandview-Woodland neighborhood and Victoria is where things seem to naturally peter out to the East .
It's the geographic area that identifies with The Drive, where residents and businesses see themselves as part of this community.
Beyond these streets, you're in different neighborhoods with their own identity—and that's fine. They deserve their own directories.
North of Hastings to Powell Street
I've included businesses north of Hastings, stretching to Powell Street. This captures the commercial and cultural corridor that feeds into The Drive's ecosystem—live music venues, artist spaces, community spots that people associate with the broader area.
South of Broadway to 14th Avenue
Similarly, I've extended the directory south of Broadway as far as 14th Avenue. This includes Trout Lake (John Hendry Park), cafes, shops, and services that are part of the neighborhood's daily life.
These are "looser boundaries" than our east-west lines, but they reflect where The Drive's influence naturally extends.
Some fantastic businesses almost make the cut but sit just outside our defined area. We acknowledge them here as "Honorable Mentions"—places worth knowing about if you're exploring the broader Grandview-Woodland community.
If you run one of these businesses or know of others that deserve mention, get in touch.
Beyond geography, I focus on:
Independent businesses — Local owners first and foremost but there are some chains (banks, coffee shops etc). I'm celebrating the character that makes The Drive unique.
Community-focused — Businesses that see themselves as part of The Drive ecosystem. You don't have to have been here 30 years, but you should care about the neighborhood.
Legitimate operations — Licensed, operating regularly, legitimate services. (We're not a yellow pages for every side hustle.)
If your business fits these criteria and isn't yet on OnTheDrive.ca, let me know. I'm always looking to keep the directory complete and current.
And if you think the boundaries are wrong, or I'm missing a business that absolutely belongs I'd love to hear from you.