Welcome to the Vancouver Lexicon. Its purpose is to pin down the patois of the City of Vancouver by recording its toponyms, nicknames, slang terms, personalities, places, and other Van-centric things. Full A-Z here.

Active Pass | strait, toponym | The narrow body of water that separates Mayne and Galiano Islands and connects the Georgia Strait to the Trincomali Channel. It was named after the American coastal survey vessel (USCS Active) that first navigated the 5.5 km route in 1855. The east and west entrances to Active Pass are where BC Ferries captains loudly blow their horns, startling the living daylights out of tourists sunning themselves on the top deck.

Usage: “I accidentally stabbed my face with my vanilla soft serve when the ship’s horn blew through Active Pass…”